The steps that led up to the grand fortress were familiar, just as the courtyard was once he was granted entry, A wash of magic that settled at first over the tips of his fingers before spreading out and across his whole form like a blanket draped across his shoulders. A place that felt eerily close to what might remain of a home for him, he'd had no others after his own was destroyed, and as such there was a sureness in his step as he moved about the place. Others may have held it for a time across centuries, but that did not erase the raw ancient nature of the magic that resided here, a comfort in the knowledge that such power had remained even as he and so many of his kin slept. And a reminder of what had been made here, of what had been unleashed. A memory brought forth then banished, he could dwell on what he had seen on those days spent in solitude another time. He had a purpose in coming here alone.
It was not as if he owned such a place, few ever truly did, but there was a familiarity that he could not deny. Tracing pathways without much thought, as if he had been hurled back in time to what was before. Nothing spoke of that more as he entered the main keep, magic once more brushing against him, that of the fortress and another. So it was true then. How odd it was then, to encounter the one known as Mythal in a hallway of all places. The mundanity of it gave the elvhen warrior half a mind to laugh, though he restrained himself from doing so, she was different yes - without a doubt. But the power, the essence of who she was, was the same woman he remembered. That for now, was enough to silence any thoughts of what if about her return, he'd had his doubts and then some, and now all that were left were questions. So many of them.
Such warmth was not entirely a surprise, yet there was a moment of hesitation before the corners of his mouth ticked upwards, just slightly in greeting before returning to something more neutral. [color=#008e02]"I find it is better to be, in strange times such as these,"[/color] Softly spoken and perhaps just as serious as she would expect from him, a small shake of the head to politely decline her welcome. As kind as it might be, here and now was not such a place for it, nor did he perhaps deserve such kindness from one he had failed to keep out of harm's way. The guilt still lingered, even if only faint now compared to what came later.
[color=#008e02]"Ah, you are likely correct my lady. Much has changed."[/color] Gentle words they might be, but he knew that look for what it was, a reminder. Even so unlike those who devoted themselves to Mythal without thought who would not dare oppose her word - it was law to those of the People - he did not turn his gaze away from her as many would. Stubborn like that, some had said, they were not wrong. Still falling into step, walking with her as she requested was not difficult, a half-step behind and done without conscious thought. The middle of a hallway was hardly the proper place to speak of all that had transpired in the centuries since.
It was not as if he owned such a place, few ever truly did, but there was a familiarity that he could not deny. Tracing pathways without much thought, as if he had been hurled back in time to what was before. Nothing spoke of that more as he entered the main keep, magic once more brushing against him, that of the fortress and another. So it was true then. How odd it was then, to encounter the one known as Mythal in a hallway of all places. The mundanity of it gave the elvhen warrior half a mind to laugh, though he restrained himself from doing so, she was different yes - without a doubt. But the power, the essence of who she was, was the same woman he remembered. That for now, was enough to silence any thoughts of what if about her return, he'd had his doubts and then some, and now all that were left were questions. So many of them.
Such warmth was not entirely a surprise, yet there was a moment of hesitation before the corners of his mouth ticked upwards, just slightly in greeting before returning to something more neutral. [color=#008e02]"I find it is better to be, in strange times such as these,"[/color] Softly spoken and perhaps just as serious as she would expect from him, a small shake of the head to politely decline her welcome. As kind as it might be, here and now was not such a place for it, nor did he perhaps deserve such kindness from one he had failed to keep out of harm's way. The guilt still lingered, even if only faint now compared to what came later.
[color=#008e02]"Ah, you are likely correct my lady. Much has changed."[/color] Gentle words they might be, but he knew that look for what it was, a reminder. Even so unlike those who devoted themselves to Mythal without thought who would not dare oppose her word - it was law to those of the People - he did not turn his gaze away from her as many would. Stubborn like that, some had said, they were not wrong. Still falling into step, walking with her as she requested was not difficult, a half-step behind and done without conscious thought. The middle of a hallway was hardly the proper place to speak of all that had transpired in the centuries since.
11-28-2023, 10:36 PM
