Fire Emblem: Darkness Returns (Muse & East)

ImaginaryMuse

ImaginaryMuse

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Jun 27, 2021
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West Coast, USA

It'd been three years since Ike and the Greil Mercenaries had ended all of the conflict and wars. Everything had seemed to go back to normal. All had been well ... or so it'd seemed. Peace, unfortunately, was never a permanent state, and the residents of Begnion were quickly finding that out as of now. Enough people whom had wanted the old days to return - the kind which allowed for slavery to be legal, grouped and banded together. Numbers eventually overpowered people like Ike and others who had fought so hard for justice and equality, and now, the Laguz were seen as little more than property once again. But Laguz weren't the only ones in danger. So were the Branded, ones with special marks that labeled them as the offspring of a Beorc and Laguz couple; a topic that many had considered taboo.


In the capital of Sienne, auctions were already underway for those unfortunate enough to have been captured and dragged into the town square. Most were transported from other cities and nations of the continent of Tellius. A very specific set of orange ears were rapidly flicking, the owner looking absolutely livid about the state of affairs. Hell, she'd even fought with Ike and his group, precisely to avoid having these sorts of heinous acts being legal once again.

So what happened?! Where did everything go wrong?!

Her fists clenched tightly, the act causing the chains wrapped around her wrists to jingle slightly. Indicating and hinting to all of the Beorc surrounding her she was doing something, but with how light and weak the noise was? It wouldn't be enough to warrant any suspicion to be put upon her; then again, even if that wasn't the case, they had no reason to worry about her. A shock collar decorated neck, and that was one of the things that kept any of these slimy bastards bodies - particularly the hands - intact and still very much attached.

Not at all to say she accepted this state. Far from it. But Lethe knew when to keep her emotions in check and when to fight. Sadly, no was not a time for the latter .... even though she really wanted to. But stronger than her primal desire to use her claws and fangs to tear these fools open .... was the very urgent and frantic need to find and save her sister. Something Lethe had been beating herself over; the fact that some disgusting beorc had dared to drag her away and claim Lyre for himself.

Unfortunately, Lethe hadn't been able to see which exact person this had been. She only heard rumors through the grapevine, specifically from one of the guards who had ensured she and the other Laguz arrived here. Thought it'd be fun to mock her by letting Lethe know of this. Sure, she earned a shock by sinking her teeth into his neck ... but it was very much worth it.

Violet eyes narrowed as the chain attached to her collar was yanked. It seemed it was her turn to be bid upon. Her eyes temporarily softened as she watched another feline begging and pleading for mercy, only to be hoisted over a tall man's shoulder and carried to who knew where, let alone if her pleas would be heard.

Not likely, she bitterly thought, her gaze returning to the sea of beorcs. Why should they care?

But then she remembered Ike and the others .... which caused her to roll her eyes and internally scoff.

Fine, but lest they're with him? None of them will give a damn about you.

She wasn't expecting that to be the case, anyway. All she could pray for was to be proven wrong .... but since Lethe wasn't banking on that, the most likely scenario would be getting bought by someone generous enough to give her a swift, painless death. Because no damn way would she willingly serve any of these low lives.

"Her name, apparently, is Lethe," the auctioneer stated, pointing to a charm attached to her collar that did indeed have her name engraved in it. That was one of the absolute smallest of blessings; the fact it had her actual name and not something degrading. Even still, it didn't change Lethe's disdain for having to wear such an item as if she were a common, domesticated pet.

"She's ... got quite the attitude. Very feisty."

That seemed to amuse enough people to earn a chorus of chuckles. Lethe, meanwhile, looked less than pleased at the reaction as she turned her head away, looking more up towards the sky than anywhere else. "I'll start the bidding at her for ten gold pieces. Start naming your prices! She is still pure if any of you are hoping for that sort of prize!" That seemed to help inspire the men not to be as hesitant. Apparently, the idea of having a slave that would likely be uppity didn't appeal to many of them. But now that they knew that bit of information? Quite a few were willing to take the risk, it seemed.


Meanwhile, in the outskirts of Salmo, heavy breaths and panting resounded from a young, raven-haired woman. A grimace appeared on her face as she still heard footfalls close by; not right behind her, but close enough that the echoes indicated her assailants were still very much chasing after her.

"Damnit all," she cursed under her breath, looking around frantically. But all that reflected in her hazel eyes were trees. Tons of them. Sure, she could climb, but ... was that honestly the best place to try hiding away?

Before she could contemplate too long on that thought, a shocked gasp elicited as she felt herself stumble, crying out in pain as she collapsed onto the grass. Her head jerked downward, clicking her tongue in annoyance as she found the source of her pain; a raised root from an old tree that the girl had been unfortunate enough to trip over. And given the pain her ankle was feeling? It was definitely at least sprained ... but at least nothing worse.

Still, she'd already used a considerable amount of her energy and mana over the past few days. Add in the fact she'd had little, if anything, to eat or drink .... her fists clenched as she understood the very dire situation she was in. Even still, the maiden refused to give up. Shakily, she crawled towards her tome that had fallen out of her hands.

"So be it," she muttered to herself, "If I'm going down, it'll definitely be fighting."

Right as her hands gripped the book and she turned to look in front of her, indeed there were already at least five armed men slowly approaching her. No doubt taking notice of her injury and that there wasn't many places to run to, let alone away from them. "Come on now, wench. Surrender peacefully, and maybe we can offer you some leniency."

"Fuck off!" she venomously replied, earning some sadistic chuckles from her assailants.

"Have it your way. At least we tried."

Her teeth latched onto her lower lip as the girl's grip on her book tightened, now clutching it firmly against her robes. She gulped anxiously and internally cursed. Just from trying to muster any of her magic, she could feel it just as swiftly fade away. Not even a breeze from her wind magic would attempt to conjure and help protect her.

Tears formed and most definitely wanted to fall, but .... no. She wouldn't give them that sort of satisfaction. If she couldn't fight, fine. But she wouldn't dare give them any displays of emotional weakness, either.
 
Soren & Aril​

It was hard to watch an entire nation regress in a mere three years. The senate had not been willing to listen to the voice of Sanaki the apostle who preached about peace and freedom for the Laguz. They saw slavery as a way to bankroll themselves, and the people hadn't been ready to hear about the genocide of the Heron Laguz and Begnion's other atrocities. It was too large a wound uncovered far too quickly and the resentment it caused brought about the end of an era. The Senate moved to dispose of Sanaki, and remove the apostle from power.

Those who voted against the disposal of their former hierophant and leader were soon to find themselves with little in the way of allies publically. Aril had been a coward in the first vote. He had assisted in smuggling Sanaki out of the country before she could be executed, but publically he endorsed her removal, not wanting his own lands and provinces to be taken from him. He was walking a fine line between the loyalists to Sanaki, and those that wanted things like the slave auctions, and for the atrocities of Begnion to grow worse and worse each passing day.

Because of his public actions, and the fact that the slaves he did buy seemed to disappear after reaching his estate. He had earned himself a darker reputation. There were rumors that he violated and murdered the slaves he bought. Publically he seemed to enjoy the torment of subhuman women. It was a rumor he disliked internally because he knew the truth. His estate was close to the shoreline, his family had access to shipping boats that dealt with Crimean affairs. Laguz and branded slaves often found their way onto his family's boats sending them far, far away from this country.

It was unfortunate Aril couldn't afford to buy every Laguz that went up for auction. Rather he only managed to get one or two. He had to be selective with his family coin and his own reputation. So he waited and hated every moment of it. The next one they brought out was a redhead cat.

Lethe

That name was familiar, he hadn't met her, but he knew of her. She was part of the Greil mercenaries or had been with them at some point. So why is she here? She should have known better than to come back to Begnion.

They were calling Feisty, and pure. When he heard that information he knew her price was going to go high. Saving her was not going to be easy, but thankfully it seemed no one else really knew who she was. If they knew she was a war hero the price wouldn't have started so low that common folk could bid on her. "30 gold!" He cast his hand in for her. He raised the price by three times trying to cut out any high bidders immediately.

"Oh a Senator is bidding on her! can we get 40?" The auctioneer gave a jeering yell announcing Aril's presence, and so Aril decided to stand taller, and walk toward the stage. As another person announced his attempt to snatch the prize from his grasp Aril rolled his eyes.

"50 for the subhuman kitty!" Aril tried to stay ahead of the bidding and called her kitty. It kind of escaped his mouth at the moment, he tried to belittle her to try to keep people from realizing who she was. If she was just a cute kitten no one else would realize they were dealing with the Valkiery of Gallia. Unfortunately, his eagerness sparked a bidding war, and her price was quickly rising.

"100"
"250"
"500!"

"Can I hear 650?" The auctioneer had to increase the number by ten for the next vote, Aril had hoped to purchase two more from today's auction, but it seemed he would have to settle for quality over quantity today. "1,500 gold!" and so far no one else was coming close to his bid. "1, 2, Sold to Aril of the Begnion senate."

Walking up on stage he pulled out his coin purse and quickly handed over enough gold for a silvered spear. The wealth was heavy off his person and would be a considerable dent in his movements for the next few months, but at least this all came from his personal coffers. He approached her and grabbed the chained leash. "Come on Kitten let's get you home."



Things had fallen to shit pretty quickly. The Greil Mercenaries had come to Begnion at the behest of Sanaki, and despite managing to sneak through borders they were caught in an ambush and routed. Soren was forced to scatter in various directions Soren had been running blindly through the wilds of a country he barely recognized. He was supposed to be the tactician of the group, he was supposed to be smarter than this, but somehow he had been taken off guard, and the last he had seen of Ike they had all been running in various directions.

Separated, and with no army to command Soren really only had his own powers to help him. His options were to try and find someone who would help his cause, or fall back to Crimea, but he was lost in the wilds. The map had been destroyed in the ambush, all better for it as it showed invasion plans that his friends could still safely follow.

Since he was running blind it was really only luck that brought him to the brook where he saw the girl fighting Begnion soldiers. He hadn't exactly needed a reason to fight against the militia of this country, but saving a young woman from a terrible fate didn't hurt either. He was hungry and disheveled. As he stepped into the clearing his black hair was a wild mess, and his dark robes were dirty he was sweaty and kinda gross from having run for so long. Thankfully his long hair was also covering his face, and the mark on his forehead so as he approached he could seem human.

"Civilian don't interfere!" Soren didn't hesitate as he drew their attention he raised a hand and wind like a crashing wave charged through the men sending them hurtling to the ground away from the girl. While he may be tired he had thankfully conserved a lot of his casting power and had plenty of years of experience to draw upon as he sent the wind hurtling into his enemy throwing them into the woods.

Soren's own conjured wind did expose the truth that was written on his forehead. He approached the young branded girl. "Can you run still?"
 

And there they went. The numbers quickly began increasing, literally tripling just from the very first bid alone. While Lethe had no real care about which beorc was making each bid, she did still sneak peeks out of the corner of her eye. If only to get a glimpse on the kind of .... owner she was about to have. She really did want to be proven wrong about being with a shady and cruel human - if they could even be called that. It wasn't likely ... yet despite knowing that fact, some part of Lethe was praying like mad she could have her anxieties silenced, or at least lessened. Because even if some part of her would be fine with her life ending, there was another that was very much against it. Namely the portion that still was determined to find and reunite with Lyre.

"100!"
"250!"
"500!"

An eyebrow quirked as a look of disbelief appeared on her face. Could these people truly afford to spend that much on her? It seemed impressive and equally disgusting. Who even were these people? Were they all senators, much like how it was implied the first bidder was? Clearly, they were more well off than the commoners of Sienne, because no typical person would have been able to offer a three digit offer, let alone as much as 500.

No, Lethe was by no means an expert in beorc customs. However, given her time with Ike and the others, she had learned a few things. That plus the trait most people lacked known as common sense helped her make these deductions. And then ... came a number that neither she nor anyone else in the crowd would have expected, evidenced by the silence that lingered in the air.

"15,000!"

.... Seriously? Are they insane?

That was enough for a house, maybe even a few of them! He could have literally bought just about anything else with that sort of gold. And yet, he used it on herself? Her fists clenched tighter, her own claws actually getting close to drawing a bit of blood from her hands. There were zero doubts that she was beyond livid at this point; she was furious and humiliated.

Being called kitten most certainly did the man, apparently named Aril, no additional favors.

"Lethe, not kitten!" she snarled angrily. Even though her tone could have given him all the concerns in the world to think she'd fight against him ... no aggressive moves were made, thankfully for him. It was just a not-so-subtle warning that there were very certain things Lethe would not tolerate, regardless of her 'position' or not.

She'd wait until they were far enough away from the square before speaking up once more, unable to help her curiosity. "So what in the world were you hoping for? You didn't spend that amount just for the hell of it ... I doubt. So what are you going to be wanting from me, exactly?"


... Had they stopped? Did the soldiers get a sudden surge of mercy and chose to leave her alone? No, definitely not. Her head lifted in time to see another mage ... or some sort of magic user. The outfit at least implied as much. And she quickly got a confirmation as he did indeed cast a spell. A wind one, to be precise. That certainly made her heart soar a bit. It was good to find someone else that was similar to her in some form or fashion.

Of course, Selene didn't realize how alike she was to her savior yet. Time, however, would help her understand that realization soon enough.

"I .... "

Her body instinctively tensed up. The fact was, even with the display she'd just seen, Selene was too accustomed to being chased around for the past few days. This man was but a stranger. For all she knew, he'd simply acted for his own selfish desires. For all she could guess, he also had less than pure intentions, and was simply waiting for the opportune moment to act.

... Even if that was the truth ... she had to take the chance.

"Don't know about run. Move? Probably, though not as quick as usual."

Her head bowed, a small bit of crimson appearing as frustration and shame mingled in. Yes, it'd been her fault she tripped ... but she certainly hadn't asked for a goose chase against some of Begnion's soldiers. Far from it, so as far as she was concerned, it was their fault she was injured now.

"I don't think it's broken," Selene nodded towards her left leg, "But ... definitely hurt somehow."

Interesting ... she mused as her head lifted back up. A quick glance could easily make it look like they were siblings to any other pair of strangers. It wasn't true, of course. But the hair color, if absolutely nothing else, allowed that illusion to be believed well enough. An irked huff elicited from her, mainly with understanding well enough what she'd likely have to do.

Selene hesitated for a few moments, before extending her hand out. "I guess we'll find out together what I can or can't do."
 
Soren & Aril​

Aril didn't answer Lethe right away, rather he pulled her by the chained leash into a carriage, and motioned her to be silent for the moment. Once they were in the carriage, he took out the keys they had given him and undid her cuffs. A Laguz was pretty much harmless in their human form, she might have been able to scratch him pretty decently, but he didn't have to worry about her transforming without a totem stone, and he had the controls for her shock collar. Right now he was taking her to the home that he used while he was in this city.

"Okay Lethe, be silent till we get home and I will explain what you are to do." He said quietly, he had to be a little suspicious of the driver, technically anyone and everyone at the moment. Till finally the two of them were brought into his home estate. The building was a large three-story homestead. with a large garden. He practically pulled Lethe inside the house and only once they were alone among friends did he finally let out the breath he had been holding since the auction.

"Sorry for the name calling, I was trying to lower the price not that it seemed to work. I was hoping to buy two or three others, but I can't let a war hero stay here." He started to unlock all of her chains taking her off the leash and the shock collar.

"My name is Aril, I'm one of the few friends the Laguz have here among the senate. In a few days, I'll take you back to my proper estate, and get you on one of my family's boats sending you back to Gallia. Until then you just have to lay low and wait unfortunately I can't leave the capital right now and I can't risk the other members of the senate using my absence to pass the next phase." He looked at her genuinely searching her eyes to see if she understood the situation. "Till then, I have fresh food, clean clothes, and a bedroom you can have to rest with."



Soren groaned a little when she said that she couldn't run. "We have to keep moving, we need to find somewhere we can lay low for a while."

He searched the forest near them for a moment trying to see if there was anything of value in this place, he would have taken a few fruits if he could have. At this point he was going on day two of no sleep, not that it was difficult for him to stay awake. The threat of death certainly helped with that thought. "I've been running blind, do you know where we are? do you have a map?"

Soren had a million more questions he could have rapid fired them if he wanted to, but for the moment he settled on what they did have in common he saw the book, it was one he was very familiar with, as it was the weaker version of the one he was carrying. "You're a mage?"

"Good, that means if we can get somewhere safe, and get a chance to catch our breaths we might have a fighting chance at surviving this ordeal. Now, do you know of anywhere that is safe?" They needed a place that would at least work for a hide out for a moment while they worked on getting out of here. "And why were those men chasing you?" He said keeping the rapid-fire questions going as he started to walk with her, if she was too hurt to use her ankle he would offer his shoulder for support and help her walk.
 

Lethe scowled but - reluctantly, mind you - obeyed the order to stay silent.

Enjoy having this control while you fucking have it, she internally thought, shaking her head as the carriage came into view. Wow. She'd seen and heard of some humans that supposedly splurged like mad on material possessions. But actually meeting one? Well ... it was a new sight, for sure. And even the previous beorcs who fell under this category had all been against Ike, not with him. So it wasn't like anyone from his group gave her a negative impression because of gloating their wealth. Oh, but this man? He most certainly was quickly succeeding in doing that.

... And if his goal was to confuse her? That most certainly started happening as all of the chains and restraints were being removed. Even the collar, the one item she'd fully expected to stay on, was taken off.

"What's the catch, beorc?"

Her head tilted as her eyebrow rose up more. "War hero?" she repeated, "Then ... does that mean know of my previous associations? Are you a comrade of Ike's?" It was at least sounding like a possibility as he revealed he was - supposedly - helping Laguz out. It did seem like something any friend of Ike's would do, but ... he didn't smell like he'd been near the leader of the Greil mercs.

Lethe suddenly found herself .... torn. Relieved for certain, but on the other hand? Still very much conflicted and even a bit confused. Surely, there was a catch, right? The mere thought of someone buying a slave, only to aid in them escaping .. it sounded far too good to be true. And when that was the case ... there was typically a reason for it.

"No," she sternly replied, "Not unless Gallia is where Lyre is. Otherwise, we're changing destinations. But if you're not lying about what you're saying to me ... then the best way you can assist is by helping me get my sister away from whatever scum has her. If you have money, then surely you have the means and resources to help me find out. So ... you can prove to me now whether this is all real or an act. Will you help me with that, or prove I've been correct with being on edge this whole entire time?"

And particularly now that the collar and chains were off? Well ... she'd have no qualms in considering leaping out of the carriage and running away. Would she make it far? Not likely. But she'd rather try than stay put and just allow someone else to capture and claim her.


"N-No ... no map, I'm afraid. I've barely had time to get anything, really. Those bastards have been relentless the past ... two or three suns from what I counted."

The dark circles under her eyes would help confirm she wasn't at least lying, which was definitely something for Soren to be thankful of. Doubly so given Selene didn't trust easily, if at all. But as things were? This was easily the best chance she'd had in several days of getting any type of a break. She'd be more of a fool to refuse the help. And so far, it was at least seeming like swallowing her pride had been the correct move to make.

A faint grin appeared as she nodded, taking his hand and slowly getting back to vertical base. "I ... shit!" A surge of pain shot through her ankle, a hiss mixed with a growl eliciting as she grit her teeth and tried to bear with it for a bit. More accurately, she'd have to, whether she wanted to or not. Her eyes temporarily closed as Selene took a sharp, deep breath before beginning to hobble along with Soren.

... Though it was a small bit annoying, she knew this would be another correct move. So after swallowing another proverbial pill, Selene untangled her hand from Soren's and wrapped it around his shoulder, using it to help support herself.

"Yes though, I am indeed a wind mage like yourself."

Lucky. He's probably normal then if he doesn't know.

"I do think, however, given I was running from behind us ... we should be able to move forward and find a place eventually. Now, as for why you ... well ... found me that way. Laguz and Brandeds are being hunted. It's become legal again, apparently."

The 'apparently' was muttered in an icy tone. No effort was made to hide her disdain on the current situation. While keeping her tome tightly clutched, she cautiously moved her right sleeve away, revealing a mark similar to his, but different. Whereas his looked akin to an N, hers was an S. It also looked as if someone had gone over it with a blade of some kind in an effort to make it more prominent and obvious. Probably as a means to find and track her down more easily.

With her own hair being long enough, she'd be able to help guide some of her own onyx locks in front of the mark after he got a good enough look to see more proof this wasn't being made up. This was the cold, hard truth ... even if he wouldn't be happy with hearing it.

"So ... what exactly do I call you anyway? I doubt you'd prefer 'sir' or 'fellow mage'. I'm ... I'm Selene."
 
Soren & Aril​

"I wish, I don't know Ike personally, but from what I know of him I'd say we have similar goals." He said with a shrug. He had never met the Greil Mercenaries, three years ago he had just started his service in the Senate taking over his father's seat once the man was too old to vote or have a voice, but he had missed his chance to meet Ike and the others. He didn't have a catch, not really. He just didn't want his name to go down history as a slaver. He supposed he would settle for being 'one of the good Begnion senators' if such a person could exist.

Then something happened that he honestly could never have expected. She refused his offer of freedom. He blinked for a long moment thinking it over. "Are you... insane? You know you're turning down freedom..."

He paused for a moment and rubbed his temples as he considered what she said. He had a little sister, and he supposed if she was branded or Laguz and their situations were reversed he would be making the same kind of deal to guarantee her safety. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "Finding a single slave in the capital is going to take time. I have a few friends and resources I can put to it, but the longer you stay in Begnion the more dangerous it will become for you. The holy empire is not what it once was, the senate overthrew Apostle Sanaki, and things grow darker every day."

"I had money, but I put it to use buying you. It will be a few months before I can throw around coins like that again. Without coins to trade, it means we will be going with favors, and if we end up in the wrong situation owing the wrong person I could make life substantially worse for every Laguz within our borders. I don't want to trade a hundred lives for one so there are some lines I won't cross even in the pursuit of your sister." He was an aristocrat he knew how to play this game.

He knew there was really only one way to buy her trust, or at least make her feel less vulnerable. He waited till the two of them got to his homestead, walking just behind her to try and keep up the illusion of power but once they were actually inside his house, he pushed something familiar into her hand. A Laguz transformation totem. "Keep it in a pocket, and don't use it unless we are going to die. You will be safe inside my house, but outside of my home you will need to wear the shock collar, and pretend to be a slave."



"Shit." Soren cursed when she said that she was being hunted because she was branded. Somehow the hunt was once more legalized within the country of Begnion. That put him in a lot more danger than he had previously thought. It didn't surprise him too much considering the Greil Mercenaries had been hired by Sanaki to try and investigate what was going on in her country and prevent war if it was possible, but if the hunt was once more legal it was only a matter of time before Gallia or Pheonicious became enraged.

"I've been living in Crimea for a long time, I didn't know." He said with a small sympathetic shrug and nod towards her. When she asked him what to call him he shrugged. "You can call me Soren."

With nowhere to go but onward progress was slow and steady. Walking till the sun started to get lower till they started seeing the signs of evening fires and life near them. torches were starting to glow in the distance, though it was clear they were stationary finding a break in the woods they were coming close to a town. "How many coins do you have on you?"

He had seen the etched marking on her, the fact that her symbol was an S was a little amusing, but what they had done to her made it all the more clear that this was not a situation where one could afford to be amused. "We are coming up on a township, and we might be able to find a place to stay for the night. I only have... 20 gold on me." He gave a quick count on him, of course he had his book which he could sell for a decent amount, but he would rather not part with his only weapon.
 

Lethe scoffed, clearly not easily believing that Aril had goals anything close to like Ike did.

He's definitely going the wrong, or at least unorthodox, way about it, she thought, barely keeping her emotions in check. Really, who had ever heard of a heroic rich man? There was none she knew of. If anything, it was precisely why she'd heard tales of the noblemen being robbed from, not vice versa, that were at least closer to being labeled as acts of good.

"Hmph. Says the beorc who just spent fifteen thousand gold on one Laguz. Regardless of whether you view me as a war hero or not, that's an insane amount to spend."

Lethe crossed her arms over her chest, feeling her agitation only increase as the man kept speaking. "Do you think I don't know any of these things?! Listen here and listen good, because I'm not repeating this again. I had zero intentions of even stepping foot in here, and that was long before hearing the other Beorcs decided they missed the old ways too damn much." She rolled her eyes before continuing, "That said, since I have literally been all but dragged here, I'll take the risks. If it helps me find and make up for failing to keep Lyre safe in the first place, so be it. I don't care about any of the other things; how long it takes, how dangerous it'll be for me. None of that matters. Hell, if it ends with me dying and Lyre being able to go free, fine by me. In fact, that'd be one of the more perfect ways to atone for letting her down to start with."

In case the tone of her voice hadn't made it clear enough, her resolve could be seen practically burning in her eyes. The whole time, her clenched fists had held tightly onto the seats of the carriage, keeping herself from wanting to give into the temptation to lash out and physically hurt him. It would have been a slap at worst ... but claws would likely have come out, more due to instinct. And if only to avoid any worse trouble ... it was more of the reason she was making any efforts to restrain herself as opposed to offering Aril mercy.

Besides ... if he wanted to really prove himself? Then, somewhat unfortunately, being on her best possible behavior would probably be for the best. But, as she just made it clear, she wouldn't dare allow certain things. Feeling as if she were being talked to as if she were stupid, for example. It may not have been his goal, but her pride had gotten wounded enough that Lethe quickly and harshly spoke out in retaliation ... or at least that's how some beorcs would probably see it.

"Hmm?" An eyebrow rose again as she was given not only a familiar item, but a sacred one in its own rights. A Laguz Transformation Totem. ".... Come out?" she repeated, scoffing at the thought as she tucked the totem away into one of her pockets. "I think not. There is literally nothing that would need me to walk out and about in the capital streets, nor am I giving you an excuse to put that cursed thing back on, act or not."


"Hmmm ... " Selene used her free hand to reach into the pocket where, thankfully, she did have coins. It would have been fair enough if Soren had wondered if she had any to start with, given how minimal she'd appeared. But after rummaging around and silently counting before letting them all fall back inside her robe, Selene relayed, "Seventeen gold."

Not much by itself for sure, but they could probably get a room and some food. Assuming there was an inn. There hadn't been too many, but some of the places Selene had run through were practically just large sets of ruins or graveyards. Clear evidence of all the past wars and conflicts that had ravaged the continent throughout the years. The wiser might think perhaps an incentive, something to try to avoid, but nope. Begnion revealed that if they were worried about losing a massive amount of people again, that was not their biggest concern right at this moment.

"A bed sounds amazing right about now," she muttered softly, gritting her teeth as she forced herself to keep moving. It was more so from fatigue than much else, though her ankle also wasn't exactly doing any favors for her. "Hopefully ... this place is more ... friendly. I don't feel like running anymore."

Screw 'feel like'. The more blunt truth was whether she could even do so or not. And even without admitting it aloud, it was pretty clear for Soren to see she wouldn't likely be able to; not lest some miracle from nowhere arrived, be it in the form of the proper magic, a priest or priestess helping her, or something else altogether.
 
Soren & Aril​

There was a strange disconnect between the two of them. Like Aril was hearing her words, and she may have been hearing his, but neither of them was exactly listening to the other person. He was trying his best to impart how serious this situation would be. He knew things from his meetings, that were only barely being held back, but he also learned how prideful Lethe was, and how her anger agitated him so that neither one of them could see the whole picture. When she said that she wouldn't leave his home, he scoffed a little. Lethe mentioned his wealth and he shook his head.

"That money could have bought three Laguz their freedom today, while it only managed to land me one rather large pain in my neck, it all came from my personal coffers, you understand that right? the difference between a lords war chest, and their personal wealth?" He didn't really know how Gallian politics worked but a Beorc army marched on its stomach, and food was expensive. Not to mention their weapons, and pay. He had to keep that money tucked safely aside and used only his personal wealth to try and free as many Laguz as he could.

she mentioned that she wouldn't go outside. "You just said you would do anything to find Lyre did you not?"

"I can pull strings, and find friends, I have connections through Begnion's senate who might be able to help find Lyre, but there are places I can't go alone. Also, most Laguz in this city won't talk to someone like me. To them, I'm just a human oppressor and if I don't play the part there will be a considerable price on my head if I step out as sympathetic, and then I won't be able to help anyone get out safely." He hoped he was making his point.

"So there will be times, where yes, you will have to wear the collar and go outside. Heck, I just spent fifteen hundred gold on a Laguz slave, word about that purchase will travel around people will find it curious if you're never around." The price he had paid for her honestly may have been a bit too high. It was bound to get noticed. "My cover getting blown is just as bad for me as it is for you, and if I am killed or removed, then your chances of finding Lyre go out the window."

The carriage was finally starting to roll to a stop.



"We are pretty far from anywhere maybe they won't notice us." It was late, and the two of them were exhausted. This was also the first town he had seen since running from the battle where the Greil Mercenaries had been routed, there was a chance that some of his allies had gotten here on their own, or would pass by here eventually. Maybe he could reconnect with the Crimean army or send a letter to find his way back to Ike. He would have to take the girl with him.

Selene was at best a novice mage in her own right, she didn't have a lot of skill, but then again they had both been running for what felt like days. Maybe he could talk to her about her abilities after they got some rest. He put the hood of his robes up and stayed in the looming shadows of the evening sun. He didn't want to draw attention and some part of him thought about waiting till sundown to approach the village, but it was best to approach when they could see if any town guard would approach them and not to act as complete strangers in the village.

Getting to the Black Lotus Tavern, and stepping inside he was greeted with the warm smell of dinners being cooked, and ale being poured. He kept his hood up as he approached a table with Selene in tow. Sitting down with her. He took a moment to catch his breath so far so good, and if he pulled off his Hood his mess of a hair still kept his nature as a branded concealed. A young, yet familiar redhead walked through the tavern collecting orders, and as it came to their table Anna smiled at the two of them.

"Oh, you two look like you have been traveling for days. I can get you a quick meal if you need, and if you will be staying long we have a single room free, and a bathhouse out back. A room's stay will set you back five gold, I will need a name for the room, but it comes with one meal free, and a drink. If you just want the meal and drink and then get on your way again it's 2 gold coins."

Soren looked at Salene and pulled out his purse, putting down seven coins on the table. "whatever is on special will do for me."

Anna pocketed the extra gold with a wry smile. "Welcome to town. Will get you both some hot soup and bread shortly with a stout drink."
 

Well ... that was an interesting confession. She couldn't help herself, and before the cat girl could even attempt to stop herself, an amused smirk appeared upon her lips. "Oh? Is that so? It's a bit intriguing to hear even you are forbidden from going to some places. So tell me ... if you can't go to certain spots alone, why would my presence do you any good? After all, I'm going to pretend to be little more than a mere slave. So .... "

Her eyes narrowed as a few ideas swiftly went through her head, causing her ears to flick angrily just from the mere thought. And just to avoid risking jinxing herself, she kept those 'locations' tucked away in the back of her mind, refusing to voice what she had pondered to her new 'owner'.

"I'll take your word, if only because you've been in Begnion much longer than myself, but it sounds just a bit odd to think me coming along to these forbidden areas will help out in any form or fashion."

When he dropped a decent hint on what it might be - that other Laguz here wouldn't be overly fond of him - Lethe had to hold a scoff back.

Well no shit, they won't overly be happy to see you.

Out loud, however, she merely replied, "Other Laguz, hmmm? Is that the only reason you can't go to those areas, or are there other factors I should know about now? May as well get a head start on fill me in on possibilities of what may or may not need to be done and happen, doubly so while we're away from prying ears and eyes."

At first, she didn't think much about his point regarding her not being around. But then after dwelling on it .... Lethe couldn't argue. She did see his point a bit, and somewhat annoyingly, that would draw the wrong type of attention.

Only after the carriage came to a complete halt did Lethe step out, though not before allowing Aril to exit first. A very small part, whether he'd believe it or not, was due to her etiquette. She did have some manners, contrary to popular belief - she just typically reserved them for people who gave her an iota to extend such gestures towards. And even if it was just a chance, the mere thought this Beorc would seriously aid her in finding Lyre and helping her sister escape ... that was enough.

The other reason .... was a lot simpler in concept. She'd let him lead her towards and into the house. Lethe wuoldn't know which way to go, nor what room would end up being hers.

Hopefully something decent enough, she silently prayed, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ears and following close behind Aril.


... Damn ...

That would likely be something she'd look into; an outfit that did have a hood. Too many of Begnion's finest soldiers knew her name and face as it was. If she could have anything to help conceal her appearance ... that'd definitely be extremely useful in the long run. Fortunately, it seemed that as they entered the Black Lotus Tavern, the atmosphere was calm. There were no indications they'd have to leave anytime soon ... something that made a soft sigh elicit from her lips.

Finally! A reprieve!

Her stomach growled just from hearing they wouldn't get only a meal, but a bed too! She'd very likely get some of the best sleep her body had felt since the last two or three days, and now that her ankle was hurting? It'd certainly appreciate something soft to lay down upon.

"Isabella," she replied, flashing Anna a small smile. "Forgive my brother for ignoring your question. We're both exhausted, haven't really had a break in way too long. But I'll let him introduce himself to you."

Also, she wouldn't dare choose a fake name for him, not if he felt safe and confident enough to use his real one. The lie about them being blood related? Well, she wasn't about to go back on that, it seemed. But at least it made sense and could be very easily believed. So why not go along with that story? If soldiers had been here, Selene may have understood and not used that. But with them appearing to be clear enough? It seemed like a safe and realistic enough 'background' for them to use. This was the best compromise, she figured. But gods help her, she was not about to risk losing that room just because he was as worn out as her. Possibly a bit more so.

"But ummm ... agreed. Literally anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated."

When the food and drinks were placed down in front of them? It took all of Selene's will power to avoid downing the beverage in one swift gulp. A good chunk of it was consumed though, hinted by how empty the glass would sound once it was set down. Opting to reserve the rest for later, she focused on her bread and soup. It might not be the grandest of meals, but it was something. And given she'd had next to nothing over the past few days? This was much, much better than starving.
 
Soren & Aril
​
As much as Aril knew Lethe would want to start the hunt for Lyre immediately he also knew that it would be best to wait for a little while. Paperwork would likely be their first clue, and he could spend the night writing letters to the various auction houses across the Bengion capital to try and find the one where Lyre was sold from. Those letters would at least give them an idea of where and how many cats were sold, and since he had someone who could provide a good description of Lyre he would have an easier time finding the person who bought her.

Aril walked in the lead of Lethe, taking her into his home. The house was not exactly a quiet one as it stood three stories tall, it was a manor by most people's definition. The interior was lit with gas lamps, with strong wooden walls. The place was not exactly lively, there were a few staff in the house. Though curiously enough the wait staff here had markings of branded. While Aril himself was most certainly a Beorc his staff members were all people he was trying to shelter, though Lethe would find herself to be the only Laguz among the house.

"While you are in my home you are among friends, please ask for anything that would make you comfortable," Aril said warmly. "For now, while I start writing letters, and getting paperwork in order, I would suggest taking some time to rest." He lead her to a bedroom meant for guests positioned on the third floor. It had no balcony, but there was a large window. The bed was also a comfy feather queen-sized bed. "While I have no doubt that you would be able to jump out the window and make a run for it I would suggest against it. The door to this room can be locked from the inside, and I'll have fresh clothing brought to your room soon as I can send someone to get things in your size." he eyed her knowing he would have to put her in a dress at some point and knowing he would likely get scratched for it.

"You have an adjoining bath, you can make use of, and I will call you once dinner is prepared, for now, feel free to explore the house as you please or refresh yourself, I know the journey has been a harsh one." Aril doubted he fully understood the extent of the horror Lethe had gone through, being made a slave and dragged out onto a stage was likely only the tip of the iceberg, but according to the auction house she had been spared the worst fate.


Damn...

Soren had intended to not give a name, a little extra cash would have bought them anonymity, and what's more the lie about them being blood-related meant that if either one of there status as a branded were to be revealed the other would be questioned as well. He understood why it was this way it meant neither one of them could cut and run, but at the same time he hadn't wished to be so directly tied down. He took a deep breath.

"Oscar." He said the first name that came to his mind but immediately regretted it. He didn't know why the name of one of his long-time friends came immediately to mind, but it would be an inconvenience if Oscar was the one who actually ended up finding them. Bread and soup, it was at least a hearty meal and gave him a chance to think as they ate. He looked to his 'sister' and decided they were far enough away from prying eyes that he could talk with her now.

"So, dear sister." He made it apparent that her choice was not the one he would have made. Not that it mattered in the long run. "How have your studies been going?" He pointed out the fact that she had been carrying a book of magic when he had first met her. If she could defend herself then it would make his life a lot easier. He still kept eating, though did so slowly not wanting to rush a meal and upset his stomach. "Tell me all of the progress you have made, maybe I can help you."
 

The wait staff were easily the first things Lethe took note of. Having been around some Branded before, she could recognize and understand the markings on these people, as well as what it symbolized. And it made her raise her eyebrows - not so much at the other individuals, but at the idea that this beorc truly did seem to be taking up the role of a 'savior' for anyone who wasn't one of him. That was to say another human. This was either a very convincing display or a genuine one. Only time would reveal which.

For now, Lethe merely tucked it away in the back of her mind before allowing her eyes to soak in the scenery of her new 'home' of sorts. It at least looked cozy and eve a bit inviting, despite the way she had just been 'acquired' being the exact opposite. She nodded slowly in approval, seeming satisfied enough with what her eyes were gazing upon. Not that she really had a way to object at this point, but still ... if he was so willing to adapt ad change things around, then she could have probably requested for something new to be added in and it'd happen. Not necessarily right at that moment though; after all, he had spent way too much gold on just herself, so if it would be a new material item, that'd mean waiting for funds which could be as soon as a few hours later or as long as several weeks.

Hopefully not the latter, she thought to herself, her ears flicking in annoyance at the thought. He was - supposedly - a Senator so ... it'd likely be sooner if she had to take a guess.

"Yeah, yeah," Lethe muttered, not bothering to hide her disdain as she waved a hand dismissively through the air while Aril insisted it wouldn't be wise to just jump out the window and try escaping. "You seem to keep forgetting that I've never really spent much time in this damn country. So don't worry - even if, admittedly, I do indeed want to leave .... "

Her head shook as she finished her sentence, "I won't. So go do your stuff, I guess."

Only after he left did her gaze shift back towards the adjacent bathroom. A soft huff resounded from Lethe. She didn't enjoy feeling as if she were giving into his words, but truthfully? It'd been quite a while since she'd been able to wash up properly, so ... his idea had been a damn good one, much as it irked her to admit to herself.

After carefully peeling her clothes off and draping them over her arm, Lethe wandered inside the actual bathroom ... and couldn't help but smile. The tub was more than big enough to fit not just one person, but two. Good. Extra space was always nice and appreciated. It allowed her tail and body to stretch out. The clothes were taken off her arm and set upon the sink before Lethe would lean down and turn the water on.

It wasn't scorching hot ... but it definitely favored warm over lukewarm or cold temperatures. A hand lowered, testing the water as it ran over her flesh and fur. Lethe slowly stepped in .... and let out a soft, content sigh as she sat down in the tub, leaning back and relaxing as the water began to surround her like a comforting blanket.


... Oscar?

It took every ounce of Selene's control to keep a straight face. Just from what she heard and not knowing the reason for why he chose the name, it really did sound silly. If she'd known, she wouldn't have dared nearly chuckled, but as it was, well ... it was by far one of the more actually hilarious things she'd heard in quite some time.

Well, time to play along then. Oscar then, got it.

She'd simply given him the option to use a fake name. Selene didn't necessarily expect him to lie about his name, but ... ah well. This would make their journey intriguing, if absolutely nothing else. She'd wait to finish her spoonful of soup before tilting her empty hand in the air and responding to his questions, "Well ... it's kinda been put on pause."

Now ... how to relay the truth while making it subtle to the patrons and staff in this inn?

"It started out great. However ... my instructor kinda up and vanished into the wind almost literally a few days ago. I've been trying to track them down, but ... no luck. I'd like to think something dire happened, but ... " Selene shrugged. "I have no honest idea what happened. When you found me, I had been in the midst of trying to locate him but, as you saw, no such luck was with me."

He seemed to have a smart head upon his shoulders, so Selene hoped he could decipher its actual meaning well enough.

"What about you? How have your travels been thus far? Or were, in this case?"
 
Soren & Aril
​
Aril went his way, leaving Lethe to her room and her eventual bath. In the meantime, he would join the house staff helping in some of the work as he let the rest of his staff know that Lethe would be staying with them, at least until such time that they could locate her sister, and get them both out to Galia safely. It was a change of plans that was a little worrying, it would put more stress on the need to keep everyone in the house safe. He retired to his study for a while to start composing letters that would eventually help him try to find Lethe's sister or at least where she had been sold from.

About 10 minutes after Lethe had set herself in for a bath there was a knock on her door, before a female voice beckoned to enter. A young woman in a maid's outfit walked into the room. She had a gentle smile about her features. "I brought you some fresh clothes, I'll take your old ones to be laundered properly." She said with a soft bow towards Lethe. "No need to get up, just here to deliver your clothes for the night."

"Aril has informed us that you chose to stay with us until he could find your sister. I think that's very brave of you." She picked up Lethe's dirty clothes and left out a Kimono sort of dress. the fabric was green to match her preference and a rich soft fabric at that. Along with a soft belt that ended in foiled gold bells. It wasn't exactly house attire, as it made her look far more formal. "We didn't know your measurements, so it actually belonged to one of Aril's sisters." She said with a slight bow. "Unfortunately she is no longer with us, but the dress should fit you for the time being." There was however a lack of any undergarments that came with the dress. Again a lack of anyone knowing Lethe's sizes. "We will send for a tailor in the morning, for now, dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes."



It seemed Soren was still bad at improv. He preferred to have a complete plan of attack and stumbled whenever he had to think quickly on his feet for a moment. For the moment the borrowed name of Oscar would just have to stick, he regretted it, but maybe it would be helpful, Ike and the others would know to search for him, using a different name that they would already be looking for wouldn't be awful. For now, he just had to sit and wait to be found.

He nodded a bit when she mentioned that she was self-taught. He had an education, but it was a cruel one, his own master had taught him magic, but also barely taught him a word to speak. The words he did know from back then had been cruel and not worth repeating. For now, he supposed he would take her up on the situation and try to teach her the best he could.

"I can teach you." Soren gave her a confident nod, when she asked him about his travels he gave a small glance around them trying to make sure he wasn't over heard at this point. "Well I am just getting back into town from being up north. Me and a few friends wanted to see the capital so we were originally going to head down that way, but now we are stuck here where as fortune had it I ran into you." He gave her north to let her know where he was really from.


"Hopefully some of my friends will be able to find us around here. They are good people you will like them." He returned to his meal, but once he was done, he looked to her. "Do you want to use the bathhouse? I can keep watch from outside."
 

Lethe's ears twitched moments before the maid walked in. The noise of approaching footfalls had been easily detected courtesy of her feline senses. Her body somewhat relaxed as she found one of the many Branded maids walked in, if only because it was someone of the same sex walking in as opposed to another male. It made her entrance less awkward and less ... coerced, for a lack of better wording. She sat up straighter, mainly to get a peek at the dress that had been laid down. And ... she'd felt better about it prior to learning whom it used to belong to, as well as the fact they were now deceased.

Ugh, seriously. Why even bring that part up?

Now that was definitely something that made Lethe uncomfortable enough. Hopefully this Aril hadn't been one of those weirdos who lusted after their own sisters, because if he did or said anything stupid because he was envisioning her as his sister? No, that'd be too many degrees of fucked up for Lethe to tolerate. She'd definitely retaliate somehow, even if not necessarily by running away.

... But if only to help herself maintain what sanity she had left, those thoughts were hastily shoved away. Thankfully, the maid gave her something else to focus on, and it was the attempt to compliment her. Her ears flicked a few times as she stared at the maid. Brandeds meant they weren't fully Laguz, nor completely Beorc, but a combination of both. Unfortunately, the fact this woman had any Beorc blood in her ... made Lethe feel like the words were fake.

Yet the more she repeated them in her head, they felt a bit more genuine. But they were missing a certain tone ... sincerity? No, not quite. Lethe frowned as she failed to pinpoint what exactly was 'missing', but most certainly tucked it away into her mind. Her head turned as she casually shrugged. "I'd like to hope anyone with a sibling they gave an ounce of caring for would do the same as me."

And even though Lethe had more than that to add, she opted to hold her tongue. Not so much out of pity, but necessity. If Aril was really serious about helping her ... then it'd be wise for Lethe to be at least tolerant of not only him, but his staff. Instead of verbally saying anything more, Lethe merely replied with a simple nod to thank and acknowledge the maid, sighing as she left and exited the bathroom.

Only when the water started to shift in temperature did Lethe take that as her cue to finally grab the soap, shampoo and conditioner and begin washing up. Drying up would come afterwards, with extra caution used on her ears and tail. And then she slowly walked up, eventually staring down at the dress. Her ears flicked, then outright flattened. It still felt a bit ... wrong to wear a dress that belonged to someone dead. And a stranger, at that. It made her feel like a thief of sorts.

But ... it was true for the maid to take away her more typical outfit. Those had been in dire need of washing, as they'd been worn for at least a week, if not more. A soft huff left her lips ... and Lethe grimaced as she almost literally swallowed her pride, grabbed the dress, and slipped it over her figure.

"I suppose it at least looks better on me than I thought," she muttered, straightening the fabric carefully out with her hands. All while making sure she didn't accidentally rip or tear it apart with her claws. With herself presentable and ready, Lethe herself left the bathroom and sat atop the bed, waiting for the signal that dinner was finished.



"North, huh?" Selene repeated, trying to mentally conjure a map and figure out where exactly that would imply. Unfortunately, the map in her mind wasn't nearly as vivid compared to if an actual one was set down in front of her. "I'd love to hear more about your own adventures. You've likely met some interesting people up there, yes? Friends even, perhaps?"

Of course, there was an easy double meaning behind the word 'friends'. But given how he'd replied, she didn't need to elaborate. Soren was indeed as intelligent as Selene assumed, probably more so.

As she finished up with her own meal, the utensils were set down in the empty bowl. Her arms rose over her head as she stretched, lowering back by her sides afterwards. Selene mused over Soren's idea ... and flashed a sly smile towards him.

"Why not join me? It's not like we haven't done so before, and frankly, your hair looks like it needs to be washed as much as mine."

A huge ass lie ... well, the first part was. But the next half would help elaborate her intentions.

"Besides, with all of the shady figures I've had close calls with ... I'd rather have a friendlier and more familiar face nearby."

There might not be any of Begnion's knights or soldiers in this tavern, but that didn't mean there weren't assassins or other men who pledged allegiance to said country and were simply in more discreet clothing. "If absolutely nothing else ... " she gave a nod downward, specifically to her ankle, reminding him that even if she wanted to try to bathe alone, getting to it would be an easier said than done task. As would defending herself ... if she needed to for any reason.

Better safe than sorry, right? That was what she'd always been told, and given how the past several days had gone? It was proving to be a more and more accurate proverb.

"So ... let's be off. To the bathhouse!"

And even with the caution she used ... a faint wince that she made sure only Soren could even see would hint she wasn't being lewd or purposely selfish. The help really was going to be needed. She started walking with him, trying to make her steps look ... normal and not immediately give away the truth of her state; that she was indeed very much wounded and vulnerable.
 
Soren & Aril​


Lethe didn't have to wait for that signal for very long. A knock came on her door, and another staff member brought her to the main dining area. The main table was set for eight or so people, and surprisingly Aril was one of the people helping to bring out the food and get others seated for the meal first. With his usual ornate clothes, he kind of seemed more like a butler than some of the actual kitchen staff who were dressed in less formal cloth. When he did finally get a chance to sit he made sure that he sat next to Lethe.

"Thank you all for your work with providing us our food and drink!" The table became rather lively, and Aril leaned into Lethe for a moment to speak with her. "As I said the majority of people here work for me because they don't have the option to leave, or feel more connected to our home. When out of the house, they have to pretend that I'm some sort of slave driver, but here in the safety of our home, and especially in this dining room, we are all family." The dinner was ornate, from a large roasted bird to mashed sweet potato, and other vegetables, and even a sauce made from mango it was wealthy food for sure and it was shared generously. The lively conversations helped to cover what he had to say to Lethe next.

"For now I encourage you to eat as much as you can and recover some of your strength. I sent out the first wave of letters to the auction houses across the capital. Basically, I said I recently bought you, and I wished to acquire your twin sister for the 'forbidden threesome.' With any luck, they will get back to me in a few days with their records, and we will be able to find out who bought Lyre, if we are extremely lucky, she may have ended up not in a nobleman's home, but in a freedom cell, and that is where you will be needed to search rather than me. As a member of the Senate, they aren't going to listen to me or give me any trust, as a Laguz seeking freedom from an oppressive tyrant they will turn a sympathetic ear to you."



Soren couldn't hide the blush on his face, as much as he knew he shouldn't have blushed or nearly choked on his drink, that it was technically safer for them to bathe together he could understand that, but it still sounded so... scandalous. He regained some composure after a moment and started to drink again a bit more to help encourage himself before he finally set down his drink. "Yeah, just we were a lot younger when we did that last time." He said more for the playing along in the act.

But in the end, he did follow her to the bath house. It was only once he caught her wink did he really understand what the two of them were doing, and why. He wished Rhys was here, his long-time friend and the healer of his army would have been a much better choice, as it was if she was deeply wounded the best he could do would be to apply some bandage and maybe some rudimentary stitches, but he would try his best.

Thankfully the bathhouse was empty for now, and finally, Soren began to disrobe. With his hood off and his messy hair tossed aside for the first time she would get to see his mark and realize why he was so sympathetic to her plight. They really could have been siblings between the two of them. Then more of his robes fell away revealing the creamy pale body of a wizard in the late evening sun. Soren wasn't exactly a strong man, but staying on his feet, and a constant military life had done his figure some good, with lean muscles earned from hours of march and practice. The only real difficulty of his body was the fact that Soren wasn't exactly shaved around his pubic or armpits. His dark hair grew wildly around them as he hadn't expected to be showing them to anyone recently. "Let's have a look at you, how bad are your injuries."
 

Once the cue registered to her ears, Lethe would stand up and follow the maid out of her room and eventually enter the dining room. Her head gently turned, glancing around at not only the other maids, but the room and how exactly it was set up. A lot more organized than she would have originally assumed. Then again, Aril was supposedly a Senator, so it made sense that everything was relatively orderly. She nodded after mulling over that thought and slowly sat down, feeling ... torn. Relieved on one hand. If she had to end up with anyone, well .... Aril was at least seeming like he was wanting to prove his words were real. And he was taking the right steps into gaining Lethe's trust.

Not to say she was perfectly accepting of her new 'home' or 'owner'. Far from it. But if life could really be this peaceful, this tolerable ... maybe it wouldn't be the absolute worst. Especially knowing fully well there were more brutal and sadistic beorcs she could have wound up being claimed by.

Poor Lethe damn well nearly jumped as Aril whispered in her ear and helped tug her away from her thoughts. Her ears briefly flicked, not bothering to hide her annoyance at being startled ... but she merely nodded, acknowledging she heard and understood his words.

Be glad I've got great self restraint. Otherwise, you could have gotten scratched or worse ...

".... Thank you for the meal," Lethe finally managed to say aloud, her eyes now studying the various foods laid out on the table. Her stomach grumbled ... making Lethe burn a deep red. Wordlessly, she pulled her plate closer and began eating, eliciting a content sigh. Well ... that was another bonus in her books. He'd been able to provide her with decent clothes, a damn good bath, clothes, a bed, and now a great meal.

Yeah ... maybe this wasn't the absolute mess she could be in. It wasn't much, but it was still something to be grateful for. Something was, as they said, better than nothing.


Selene barely managed to hold a snicker and chuckle back. Granted, his reaction was perfectly fair. But it was a nice change of pace to see someone else's face turn crimson aside from her own. Not that anyone had made her react in such a way .. not recently. Still ... the change was a nice and rather welcomed one.

Well, here goes everything and nothing ...

As they left the inn portion of the tavern, she felt her heart race. Would he actually go through with this? Some part of her wouldn't overly blame Soren if he tried to just drop her off in the bath house and stand guard outside. Truthfully if things were reversed and he was the injured one? She wasn't one hundred percent sure if she'd be able to heed her own plan ... hypocritical as that may sound in her own head.

"I know I've kinda shoved an invisible script upon you, and I am sorry about doing so abruptly, but -- "

And that was as far as she got. Her eyes widened as Soren deftly began to strip.

Oh. My. God!

Had he done this before? He either had no shame ... or was just keeping his priorities straight. Either way .... goddamn. He wasn't without some scars or whatnot, but honestly? That made him just a bit more attractive. But what really grabbed Selene's attention ... was the tell-tale mark on his own forehead. "No way ... " she whispered, moving carefully forward as she gently moved his bangs aside to get a better look ... and then finally chuckled softly out loud.

"Wow. Well ... I couldn't have come up with a better lie if I'd tried, it seems! We really could pull the sibling act off pretty damn well."

A genuine smile appeared as she slowly lowered her hand. Well ... that at least got rid of her doubts from earlier. If he was another Branded like herself, then there weren't many reasons for Selene to be afraid of him. If anything, she'd seemed to be found by one of the best possible people.

" ... Touché, I suppose. Well ... here goes, I guess," Selene muttered, allowing one deep exhale to be heard ... before peeling her own robe off. And ... Soren would find they'd done quite the job at hiding some very specific things. Two of them, in fact ... though once the reason why came into view, it would make sense.

A set of bandages was bound around her chest. Her face burned brightly as she skillfully untied them ... and revealed her D-sized breasts. The bandages would be gently placed atop the discarded robe, with socks being next. Although she had to briefly borrow one of Soren's shoulders to help keep her balance. Finally, the white pair of lace panties would be removed and unlike Soren, she was bare. Not only in her underarms and around her crotch, but also with her legs.

Although to be a bit fair, a lot of men didn't actively shave any of those areas to start with, so it wasn't her place to try to judge his own appearance.

Now that she was nude and in full view for Soren to observe ... he'd find that injury wise, there weren't too many others aside from her sprained ankle. The bad news? She had experienced enough run ins with some other soldiers that resulted in Selene receiving some other wounds. A stab wound on her right shoulder. Given it didn't go all the way through, it was easy enough to assume a dagger had been used as opposed to a full sword. There was a slash that just barely missed connecting with her left kneecap.

"Fuck!" she hissed through gritted teeth, grabbing back onto Soren's shoulders as enough adrenaline died down that she was feeling the effects of the pain again. Though she managed to remain standing, it was only just barely. But it was clear her leg looked very ready to cave in at any moment's notice.
 
Soren & Aril
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It quickly became clear that Lethe had no desire to speak with him. Aril took her look of annoyance not as he had startled her, but that he had somehow offended her, probably because of the crass words of his letter. He had thought by now that Lethe would understand that such crass language and actions were more part of the disguise that allowed him to walk among the higher society of Begnion, but she had also only been with them for a day, and so he simply returned to his own plate. She muttered thanks for the food and he nodded to her.

"It's really the least we can do for you." He was a bit sorry for her. It would have been much easier for Lethe if she had taken his advice and he had smuggled her out of the capital like he had other would-be slaves. He at least wanted her to know that while she was in his house she was safe, and to a further extent, he wanted those who worked for him and whom he had tried his best to protect would eat well under his employ.

Still, these meals came with a strange, special kind of guilt. He helped in the kitchen when he could, but his station still put him above everyone in this house. He was still a master benefiting from a system that people had put into place, and when there had been a chance to effect massive change, he had been too afraid to side with the Empress and had instead stood and let the more corrupt senate declare Laguz as less than people. He would spend the rest of his life trying to fix that error, but it made him responsible for the plight of everyone in this house.

Slowly he finished his meal or at least a small enough portion of the food that he could feel like he had eaten. "Please enjoy the food to your heart's content," he said to Lethe giving her a more forced smile. "I will be in my study for a few hours, please drop in when you have time I do need to talk with you." He decided, for now, to let her eat in peace, and that it was for the best if he took his leave, he got the distinct feeling that if he kept forcing her to talk with him he would get scratched by the end of the day.



"I don't mind the script, I'm just not that good an actor," Soren admitted, he really wasn't that good when it came to talking, he could tell her eyes were on him especially once he was naked, and while his eyes did stray along her skin, and down her breasts for a moment or two, it was her wounds that garnered the majority of his attention. Suddenly the eagerness to share a bath made far more sense between the two of them.

Soren was quick to bring his face close to her shoulder blade, at first it almost looked like he was about to stick his face between her breasts, but it became more clear that he was looking at her knife wound very closely for a moment. He gave an audible sniff of her shoulder and sighed content for a moment. "It doesn't seem to be infected, so we are lucky about that, and while I am not much of a healer I know from my times assisting my friends that you don't stitch a stab wound."

He checked over the slash on her leg. "Lucky with this one that the slash is on the outside of your leg, if it was on the inside you would have died of blood loss rather quickly." He said assessing the damage, but without a healing staff the best he could do for her was to help clean the wounds, thankfully they were in a bath house, and as she put weight on him, he helped to carry her into the water. Treating her wound with Aloe would help ward against infection but it stung like hell while he applied it to her shoulder. The warm bath water would also help her clean out the wound, while he grabbed a few more clean towels and rags and started to make bandages. "Best we can do is keep you wrapped up cleanly, and let the wounds heal on their own, until we find a good healer, or we get back to my friends and find Rhys the best we can do is just make sure you don't end up with an infection, and heal you up the old fashioned way. With vulneraries and bed rest."
 
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