Post by Tracen Tenshou on Aug 28, 2015 5:02:35 GMT
The original plan to go after Kotone had failed. It was troublesome to admit, but a reality he had to come to terms with. After approaching her near the Templars HQ, Tracen had been forced to flee. And like an idiot, he'd used his roar. They'd probably be combing the area for an unknown dragon slayer, and a guy in a mask was bound to raise suspicion. So as soon as he finished with Kotone, Tracen fled that part of Fiore and decided to change tactics. He'd go after Raven first.
Unfortunately tracking the fire dragon slayer down was far more difficult than Kotone. The man was keeping a low profile, and Tracen really couldn't find much about him at all. That's when he remembered his conversation with Razhiel - she had a lead on Raven and was going after him first. If Tracen could track down Razhiel, she could lead him to Raven. Finding information on Razhiel was easier than tracking down Raven, although still not a small task. He found enough to lead to Hargeon town, and ended up convincing a fisherman to ferry him across to the port.
It was out in the sea, with the town visible in sight, that he noticed a strange gathering on a nearby cliff. And then a figure jumped. With a lightning bolt and thunder clap, the water was broken by the spell first. Tracen was already standing at the edge of the boat, mask on, watching the scene in somewhat awe. The fisherman behind him also seemed bewildered. They were only catching the tail end of something important that had happened - it had to be, with this kind of magic and a group of people.
"Razhiel," his eyes widened at the realization. Suddenly the strange seen he was watching had just become a lot more personal. Without thinking he began stripping down his gear, casting aside his cloak, leather bands, and even shirt to the floor. His fisherman companion was alarmed and said something, but Tracen didn't even here it. His hand hesitated as it went to his mask.... Swimming with it on would be hard; he needed an open path to breathe. But he had to face Razhiel, so...
He left it on and dove into the water. Powerful strokes getting him closer to the girl that had fallen all the way from the cliff. The mask was kind of in the way for his mouth and breathing, but he somehow managed. "Razhiel!" He called out to her, noticing the blood stains as he got closer. Water was getting in his mouth. Damn, this wasn't working. He'd get it later. One hand untied the red band behind his head, the mask coming free. To its credit, it did float. No time to think about it now. He summoned his strength and pushed her up, though she hadn't gone completely under. With those wounds, which he couldn't see and estimate where not to touch her, but neither could he sit and do nothing... Unfortunately he didn't really have a plan beyond this point. Fortunately for him his ferry ride had more sense. The fisherman had followed Tracen as soon as the other had jumped overboard. It was only a few minutes before the boat caught up to him, and after some help managed to get both of them back on board... Only for Tracen to turn and dive into the water again, in search of his mask. The other man shouted at him, but still Tracen searched. The mask... it was nowhere to be found, and he was already fatigued from swimming so much. There wasn't much he could do before giving up and returning to the ship.
While the other man tended to Razhiel's wounds, Tracen first reached for his cloak. Without even putting the rest of his clothes on, considering he was still completely wet, he draped himself over with the cloak. Mainly just so he could have his hood up. He couldn't really bring himself to turn around... it probably wouldn't make sense to Razhiel, but he felt completely exposed without his mask. It was his identity, and he'd pretty much told her as much the last time they parted. Without it, he was someone not himself. He didn't even know if she was conscious or not, and there was a lot unaccounted for, like what in the world had happened on that cliff. They still needed to swap dragonslayer info too. And he really hoped she wasn't as badly wounded as he thought she was.
Despite the dragon having said she wouldn’t be killed so easily, Freya may just have put them in such a position. With the water, her blood would not clot. Her magic was nearly depleted. And she was getting tired. Her head slipped below the surface before she jolted awake, a rush of adrenaline had her kicking to the surface. Hadn’t she seen a boat and who called her name? She felt hands grab her and recognized Tracen, though the edge of her vision was getting dark. Razhiel grabbed his shoulders, more because she couldn’t kick anymore and she could feel her eyes closing again.
Before darkness closed in, her last thought was Tracen or Eclipse… his mask. Mask. It was a good thing she lost consciousness because the process of them getting her on the boat was sure to have caused a tremendous amount of pain. Though it was not good for them as she became dead weight.
A burning sensation down the center of her chest had her screaming awake, wooden planks hard beneath her as she lay upon the boat. An unknown man met her eyes as he apologized explaining the alcohol was all he had to clean the wound as she stopped almost immediately and just panted quietly. About to respond she turned to the side and coughed up sea water. When the coughing subsided, violet eyes lit upon the hooded figure turned from her. Tracen. As she recalled his face without the mask, she remembered her conversation with Eclipse. Whoever she faced, whichever version, he had saved her… From her own stupidity. Contemplation interrupted as the man above her talked about taking her to port and a healer. Her head turned. “No. I don’t need a healer. I have…” Razhiel’s voice trailed off as an image of her jacket on the tree branch sprang up within her mind. Besides the fact that she had an ointment in her jacket that worked similar to stitches in keeping a wound close, her jacket was something she couldn’t part with. “My jacket is on the cliff. “ Her voice a bit forlorn as she uttered the random comment. “Just stop the bleeding. Sew it if you have the supplies. Bandage it.” A shallow cut adorned her side from hip to navel and it had already stopped bleeding. The more pressing concern was the damage done by Raven’s dragon blade. A deep cut from her collar bone down the center of her chest to just above her navel. Her shirt, soaked with sea water, blood, and now brandy was knotted at her navel holding the fabric together enough so it just displayed the cut.
The man muttered something but Razhiel had already turned her attention back to the silent Tracen. She did not know why he was here, though she was glad he was given her situation. She had been pretty sure she would not see him any time soon given his tone when she offered him to follow her in Magnolia. “Thank you Eclipse.” Simple and direct, she went with her gut since he had called her by name when he pulled her from the water.
Post by Tracen Tenshou on Aug 31, 2015 3:08:26 GMT
With Razhiel unconscious, enough time had passed by for Tracen to calm down, at least a little from his initial panic. When he'd first seen Razhiel fall from the sky and bleeding in the water, and without the safety net of concealing his face, his initial reasoning had left him. But after some minutes to himself he at least calmed down enough to dry down properly and put all his clothes back on. Still, a lot of his time was spent with his cloak, especially the hood, on figuring out how to exactly position it. Regardless of how hard he tried though, it was still going to be just a hood, and not really hide anything when talking with someone. When Razhiel didn't awaken right away, he had walked by once to the fisherman taking care of her. While Razhiel had suffered a serious injury, at the very least her life wasn't in danger. Just a few more moments in the water could have changed that, though. As crazy as Tracen had been to jump out and save her, it had been the correct decision.
He spent the rest of his time facing away from Razhiel, eyes out to the ocean. Just waiting to awaken, hoping that she could recover. He tensed when he heard his voice, listening silently as she instructed the man on what to do. One hand reached to the top of his hood's cloth, pulling it down as far as it would go. She was alive, and that was what mattered. Razhiel had proved how willing she was to chase the dragon slayers, and paid with her blood. He felt like an idiot for doubting her resolve. When they had met in Magnolia, a part of him didn't believe that she could really pursue the dragon slayers as fervently as he. And now that seemed like such a shameful thought to have even considered.
“Thank you Eclipse.”
Even after his last parting words, it seemed she figured out who he was. Or had she even really understood what he'd been trying to tell her in the first place? The resulting sigh or sound he gave in response could only be something of frustration. He wasn't even quite sure why himself, he wasn't upset with Razhiel. Maybe the situation, and he still felt on edge, but he held no animosity towards her at all. "How... are you doing?" He asked awkwardly, still facing away from her, still one hand holding onto his hood. There was so much he wanted to ask her and tell her, so much worry that she'd actually been injured for life. But all that he could think of to say right now was that, and of course she wasn't okay, regardless of what she'd answer.
The fisherman left for a moment to retrieve his emergency kit, not exactly up to par but would do until Razhiel decided it was safe to see a healer. Returning, he assured her he knew how to stitch up skin having down so a few times on fellow men on long voyages. He pulled out what looked suspiciously like a thin fish hook without the large eye hole. Violet eyes glanced at Tracen’s back. Can’t show weakness. No sounds. Slow, deep breaths. The faster it got done, the faster she could attempt to get up and ensure Templars were not going to rain down upon them. There were other boats in the port but did they see her get lifted into this one? Now she was being paranoid. Deep breath. A tug at her skin. The fisherman was starting by her navel.
Tracen’s question had her turning her head towards him, she could feel his tenseness from where she lay. The laying helpless part was making her skin crawl. Her hands fisted at her sides. “Fantastic.” The word came out like a low growl although the edges of the wound began to numb. A glance at the fisherman/ insta-medic reassured her that he did indeed know what he was doing as he used a mattress stitch and was quite fast at it. She was not as worried about an infection, since her body ran hotter than normal most did not have a chance to latch on. Though the wound would scar between the salty sea water and the brandy used on it.
Eyes closed and the skin furrowed between them, the nails of her clenched fists were going to leave half moon indents in her palms. “There are a ton of Templars but you may catch him.” The fisherman made a sound and Razhiel fell silent once more. If Tracen left it would leave her alone. She ignored the slight panic she felt at that. But Tracen was intent upon fighting the dragon slayers and though she had landed only a handful of hits, she knew Raven had used a good amount of magic fighting her.
Post by Tracen Tenshou on Sept 1, 2015 4:59:42 GMT
Tracen wouldn't have been upset if Razhiel had answered his stupid question with more venom. Irony was really the only other answer, he supposed it was better than her lying or telling the truth. His gaze remained on the waves, the light fading quickly in the sky. "He did this to you." His eyes narrowed at the thought of Raven. The statement was simple; all the evidence he needed. Kotone had clouded his mind, made him think that the other might be interested in peace.... but Raven was much quicker to show what he really was. The same as any other human when cornered, willing to fight viciously. Not like how Kotone pretended to be part of some higher cause.
There was no point in chasing the man now. As much anger as he had, Tracen understood this. The odds of finding Raven were minimal, and the chance of winning a fight against him even slimmer. Razhiel was a warrior, so if she'd been bested... unless she'd given Raven an equally grievous wound, Tracen would be at a disadvantage. Not to mention, his mask was missing. And barring all that... he couldn't just leave her. Not after she'd just barely escaped death. "I can't leave now," he said simply. He'd accepted the answer and there was no frustration to admit it. "You said your jacket is still on the cliff, right? If we wait until nightfall, I bet most of the Templars will disperse from there. I can get it." A promise to help her, if she wanted to take it. In her current position, moving would likely be difficult. So he could retrieve her possession in her place - he couldn't find his, but he could search for hers. "Your reason to hate him... it's personal. Mine is..." Idealistic? Not as good? He had gotten the sense that Razhiel had something against Raven, but not Kotone, which meant it was more than just a national pride thing. So... when Razhiel had every reason to be upset, how was it that he felt like he carried more anger than her? "It's not right for me to finish it without you. Unless you consider your business concluded, I'll wait however long it takes."
The fisherman made a knot and leaned back. Tilting his head from side to side, audible cracks could be heard which had Razhiel opening her eyes. He grabbed an unidentifiable jar, twisting open the lid and releasing a potent smell. “Since yer being difficult, ye get me Grandma’s fixin.” Nose wrinkled, she opened her mouth to protest. Before she could utter a sound he slathered it over the newly stitched wound. Her jaw snapped shut, it stung whatever it was. He was right, she wanted to be difficult and not see a healer. Paranoia. Or common sense considering what happened.
The dice were cast. He placed a bandage over it, taping the top and bottom allowing the sides to let air in. “You’re a vet.” She did not know why it suddenly hit her. A military veteran. It made sense. The man gruffed. “I be a fisherman. Good as new.” With that he began to clean up, turning from her. Efficient at medical help, did not bat an eye at having to do it nor at the present company. “Thank you.” She said it sincerely.
A sigh escaped. More relieved than anything else. She did not deny Tracen’s statement. “It is complicated…” She replied to his first comment, not knowing where to even begin. A few deep breaths as she mentally prepared herself to get up. Eyes, previously on the bandage, travelled to Tracen’s back. “If it is there, please… Stupid it may be, but that jacket. It is important.” She did not see herself climbing that cliff anytime soon. Though, she wound not leave Hargeon without it. Unless… Unless Raven took it. Razhiel highly doubted he was anywhere near here.
About to push herself up, she was taken aback. ‘I’ll wait however long it takes.’ That was… admirable of him. He recognized the past connection she had with Raven and was deferring to her. She wasn’t sure she deserved it. Hers was personal, Tracen’s was his belief. “It is not concluded. Not by a long shot.”
She would tell Tracen. Everything. Even if, in the end, he decided he did not want to work with her. First, first she had to get up because he was not looking at her and right now she was not exactly firing on all cylinders. Check list- Get up. Get another shirt. Drink something. Talk to Tracen. His mask. She had seen his face in the water before she blacked out. He said only his mask was an invitation to hunt. But, no mask now and it was indeed Eclipse she was talking to. Side tracked, she needed to get up and not be so damn confused.
Running the check list through her mind, she rolled over. Biting her lip, palms against the hard wood. Her breath steaming against the wet planks. Best for the stitches to get up this way she reasoned. Hands and knees then stand. She would do that after a few deep breaths. Pitiful. Freya was laughing in the back of her mind.
Post by Tracen Tenshou on Sept 2, 2015 5:12:51 GMT
Tracen kept his gaze on the sea while the fisherman administered the last of the treatment. A vet of the war - well, there were so many wars in recent years, it could have been any. It certainly explained why he'd been willing to help Tracen with minimal cost, and manage to keep calm despite the strange and dangerous situation. Still, Tracen was wary of everyone, which was part of the reason why he had yet to use Raven's name. Although the dragon slayer tried to keep a low profile, people still knew who he was. Saying that they were trying to kill a war hero... it probably wouldn't go over well. The other man was cleaning up and already giving them their space though, more so that Razhiel could rest.
Tracen was relieved when Razhiel accepted the offer about the jacket. It was indirectly a sign of how well they could work together too; they wouldn't get far if neither accepted help. Razhiel hadn't given up against Raven, not yet at least. And so Tracen would keep to his word about waiting... well, he had his limits, but they rested primarily on how hard Razhiel tried. The thump behind him made him break his gaze from the sea. "Wh-" He turned around, hoping not to see what he saw anyway. Razhiel had rolled out of her makeshift rest. Before he could process everything, he'd already moved to her side. "What are you doing?!" His hands rested firmly on her, pushing her back to where she'd been resting. "You nearly just died moments ago! You can't move around yet. If you need something, tell me what you need." He realized a bit belatedly that they were now pretty much face to face, to which his gaze dropped immediately, though he didn't turn away again. The poor plan of avoiding her direct gaze had already failed. Well, it was never going to work to begin with, so he might as well get it over with. It was the first time she'd seen his face in years, and he honestly didn't know if she even remembered what he looked like back then... He just wouldn't be able to take it if her first gaze was pity. She wasn't responsible for what happened, and he wasn't a helpless animal.
About to get on her hands and knees she was suddenly back on her back, Tracen in an exceptionally rattled state. The sudden movement caused her to react defensively, hands on his chest to push him away before she registered what he was saying. Lowering her hands she gave a small grin despite the pain. “I merely decided to take a swim with the fish.” A joke. A bit lame but it was an attempt to lighten the situation and to push aside her feeling of helplessness currently. She relaxed back once again to show she would not get up.
But then, he dropped his gaze and the smallish grin disappeared. “Don’t Eclipse. Please don’t hide from me…” Her tone low enough for only him to hear. She swallowed. “Not when you see me at my worst. My weakest.” It was an admission. Razhiel did not do vulnerable. She did not lay still. She fought against helplessness. She grew up in a world where weakness was taken advantage of, manipulated. A shiver wracked her body. It was a mix between the wet cold and the control it took to not stand up and put on a façade. Her feelings seemed to trigger similar feelings from Freya, the feel of a blade slipped between her ribs. A phantom memory, Freya’s. It was quiet once more inside her mind, seemed the two could relate.
If Tracen looked at her, he would see nothing but respect and caution within her gaze. Respect because she believed she finally understands a smidge of what Tracen feels. Her strength is her mask. Without it… you get a woman who feels like a caged animal, waiting for the whip to fall. He saved her despite his reservations. He let go of his security, his shield to help her and that alone was strength. Caution because she felt stripped of her guards, her walls and it left her... bare.
Post by Tracen Tenshou on Sept 3, 2015 18:15:27 GMT
It didn't really hit him why she was struggling against his grasp, until after he set Razhiel down and given her proper space. Even if it was instinct, it was still a sign of a lack of trust. While he couldn't really blame her for that, it was still a blow to his pride, that she would even consider him having ulterior motives even for a moment. Even though Razhiel tried to lighten the mood, Tracen had already taken a few steps back and fallen completely silent. His eyes flickered briefly to hers as she begged him not to hide.
This was Razhiel's worst? Her weakest moment? Although she was certainly injured physically, he had never considered her weak. If anything, the resolve to stand before an enemy and fight before such risks, never once doubting her path, made her stronger than him. They barely knew each other and already he could understand why so many had sworn to serve under her. The title had been stripped away, but the power remained. When he had met Kotone, he doubted his own convictions. But watching Razhiel struggle towards her goal was enough to make him think that it was worth it, that if she believed in something so steadfastly then it had to be right. Never had he considered that a woman could be so capable.
“No...” He wanted to tell her how strong she was, but didn't know how. That one of the reasons that he had trouble facing her was because he paled in comparison to her. “You were a princess, able to use your resources to achieve your goals. But even after losing that authority, you continued forward. That's not weak,” he kept his voice low. “What makes chasing him so important? If not revenge, why would you go on an impossible mission?” Revenge was the only answer, but Razhiel had said earlier that the reason wasn't why she chased Raven. Indeed, she didn't seem to harbor the same conviction against Kotone.
He went silent and she did not realize what she had done wrong until it was too late to take it back. She doubted it would help if she tried to explain her current state made her… defensive on all fronts. Unsure how to break the silence, he met her eyes briefly and she let out a breath she did not realize she was holding. Using her elbows, she propped herself up until she was leaning against a seat, her back against where a person’s legs would hang. She let her head rest on the seat so she was staring at the sky, the dark orange fading into blue.
The ‘No,’ was unexpected enough it had her lifting her head to regard him carefully. His defense of her strength left her expression unguarded. Goals? Her goals were a bit fuzzy at the moment. Everything was fuzzy. She was pretty sure most of it was the injury. Tracen’s question had her turning her head to the side with a frown. She owed him the truth, even if it was less than dazzling. “I failed my father, I failed my empire, and I failed my people.” The words dropped from her mouth slowly. “I met Raven before him and an elite squad killed my father.” Memories played before her mind’s eye. “I did not know what he was though I soon realized where he was from… I came to the realization that he was there to seek peace for Fiore.” A memory of Lily as she squatted to rub a dog’s belly, her face aglow with laughter. “Someone important to me passed away and I left, traveling far, to pay my respects. During that time the rest of Fiore’s heroes infiltrated the inner guard and killed my father sending Valland into chaos and subsequently Nox rose to power.”
Her lips pursed as she regarded the choppy water through the railing silently. “I failed because I did not eliminate the threat and instead broke bread with the enemy.” Violet eyes turned to Tracen, “My reasoning for chasing him is illogical and prideful.” It was a bit more complicated. As was her reasoning for not holding it against Kotone and the others for her father’s death.
“If you believe you cannot do something than you have already failed before you even try. The mind is a powerful tool. It is not impossible, merely strewn with large obstacles.” Razhiel, while logical in reasoning most times, did not give in easily. She would heal and recoup before she get through those obstacles.
Another shiver wracked her body. Razhiel could feel without reaching that her magic was like a candle flame. It would take a bit before she was back up to par, magical wise. She wondered if his offer of help was still on the table. “If… If you could find a dry shirt, blanket, and something to drink with sugar in it I would be grateful.” Why did it feel like she was walking on nails?
Post by Tracen Tenshou on Sept 3, 2015 22:08:43 GMT
Tracen still kept his hood up, even though Razhiel had seen his entire face now. He was trying not to 'hide', as she put it, but was slowly gaining small amounts of confidence when her first reaction wasn't poor. He remained a safe distance from her after their last contact though, knees up about halfway, with the hood it was mainly just his eyes visible. He remained carefully quiet, intent on listening and understanding Razhiel's story. It spoke of Valland, a kind of pride in her land that was logical and yet uncomfortable for him. The meeting with Raven was brief, and he got the feeling that she was leaving something out. Perhaps some kind of wound, or specific words that they had exchanged.
“So you trusted him, and he betrayed you...” He said slowly. Revenge wasn't the reason. Even if she hadn't told him the exact cause, he could guess it from her storyline. It was more like... a duty. Even though she'd lost her title, she was still trying to uphold her duty to her country. Maybe with the loss of a loved one, she felt like she'd made the wrong decision. That by correcting the present, it could bring resolution to the past. His eyes were able to meet Razhiel's. “If you hate him, it's not illogical. He did something to deserve it,” his voice was thin. “You'd be justified to hate Fiore. So for you to forgive my land, but to resent one person, tells me what kind of character he really is.” She might not have given him the specifics, but she didn't need to. It was enough for him to understand. Her own resolve, again to not give up – that this cause was possible, not impossible, inspired him as well.
Her quieter voice asking about necessities quickly returned him back to reality. Honestly he did see her as strong, so despite her poor condition, it was easy for him to forget. “Right,” he stood up hastily. He should have offered sooner. “Let me get those for you.” Although he mentally paused at her last request. Something to drink with sugar? Where would he get that on a boat?
In the end managed to get a clean shirt, blanket, and water – minus the sugar. Their route was already set for the cliff, although the fisherman had suggested going in a small circle first so as not to unduly worry the Templars, in case they were still watching. It would probably give enough time for at least a little sleep. He knelt beside Razhiel's makeshift bed, placing the blanket and cup of water in easy reach. “You don't need me to help you get changed, right?” He hesitated, clearly not comfortable with the idea, but still concerned about Razhiel. He hadn't exactly spent much time with woman given his Magic Council training at age 16 and then being kidnapped by Valland for a while.
Tracen had understood quite well what she had been unable to clearly express in words. “It was a lack of honesty. We had friendly interactions and the last time I saw him was when I received news of my… mentor passing. It was a sad time. He knew when he met me what his mission for his country was. He could have walked away. He did not.” When she looked at Tracen, now a safe distance away, the last glimmers of sun reflected in the depths of his eyes.
“I do not hate Fiore. It is logical for a land to go to the extremes to protect itself. It was only a matter of time. Though Fiore has numerous people with magic, Valland had technology and sheer numbers on its side. Infiltration and assassination was the best course.” Her tone was that of a person tired of the logistics as if she had told herself this same thing over and over again. It was logical. Her feelings did not bring reason to the equation.
She was not sure if she hated Raven. What she did know what that she wanted to clear the slate and put her demons to rest. It would not bring her father back nor would it reinstate the Valland royal line and that was illogical part.
Tracen’s speediness at bringing her what she needed brought a small smile to her face. She grabbed the cup of water, drinking half of it before setting it down. She had meant anything with sugar in it, like juice for example, the electrolytes helped in blood loss. But sleep would help her body most. It was good she had set the cup down because his next question would have had the water spitting out of her nose. A half smile, her eyes amused as she replied softly, Thank you but no your help in that area is not required.” As she reached out and grabbed the shirt from his hands, her hands covered one of his. “Thank you, truly.” Letting go, she placed the shirt on her lap. One hand covered her mouth as she yawned. “Be my look out?” Fingers at the makeshift knot she had made in her now destroyed shirt.
Post by Tracen Tenshou on Sept 8, 2015 5:48:34 GMT
Razhiel's explanation on Raven continued to affirm his initial suspicions. The dragon slayer had tricked Razhiel in some way, either in friendship or perhaps something more. He only looked away as she talked about Fiore's methods against Valland. The war held a strange place in his heart. He had never actually participated in one of the battles, but had little doubt that he would have in the past, given the chance. The own civil war between the law in Fiore had split his heart, and given him doubts about his country's direction. Yet the ideal of its people still sung to him. In essence, he had lost faith with the law, especially with the skirmishes between Crusaders and Loyalists. Little wonder that both had been disbanded into the Templars. Yet Valland's own methods of seeking power were impossible to overlook; far too personal after what they had done to him. People were fine when they worked on their own behalf, but for the sake of their 'nation' their beliefs altered on what was acceptable. Maybe there was no such thing as a government without corruption. Razhiel straddled a difficult line between being human and representing Valland. He didn't want her to be both, but it was an identity she was clearly proud of.
He was relieved when she told him that she didn't need help changing. Already he was turning away, so as not to intrude with his gaze, shirt in hand still outstretched. When Razhiel's hand reached out to his and kept him. He froze. "Y-yeah," he acknowledged, feeling stupid for unable to come up with a better response. Even though he already wasn't facing her, one hand had reached up to his hood and pulled it down as far as possible again. He wasn't used to being thanked like this, and wasn't sure if his face had a stupid reaction, so he didn't want to risk facing her. He was probably making it out to be a lot more than what it really was. He moved to the boat's edge again, his original position when Razhiel had first awakened. "Change and get some rest. I'll take the rest from here." The sun was dark already, and he doubted he'd be able to scale a cliff in the middle of the night. It would be best to wait until morning. The first night shift was his, before the fisherman took the second, and Tracen lay down to rest as well.
There were three types of pain. The first, was anger. The raw emotion to payback everything he had suffered to his captors. The second, was fear. Fear was anger but stripped bare. It only desired for pain to stop, in any means possible. A prolonged state was intended to break down the mind, to eventually wear down victims to relinquish information that was being withheld, but he had no information that they required. But beyond all that was a deeper, even baser pain than anger or fear. It was nothing. Just pain. It overtook any conscious reasoning, any emotion. In that moment, he would not have been able to have told his own name, remember anything about his life, or even form words. It would not have mattered if he was human or beast, for there was no difference between the two at this pain. It was this moment that frightened him the most, and it took all his effort after that moment to remember who he was and what his name was. He was... His name was... ?
He awoke with a start, his breathing heavy. Immediately his hand felt his face for his mask, but the mask wasn't there. Panic, again, because he knew it had his name. And then he remembered - they told him his name was Tracen. A former member of the Magic Council. He sat up proper, staring out into the sea... the sea? He pulled down his hood, confused as to why it had been up while he was asleep in the first place. Somehow he'd gotten on a boat. The sun was barely peaking over the sky, just starting to rise. He looked around again, this time noting two others in the small boat. A sleeping woman, and another man watching the sea. They were next to a cliff, the outskirts of a city visible in the horizon. Tracen rose silently, coming next to the man, unsure of what to say...
They didn't seem to be moving or traveling towards anywhere in particular, instead anchored oddly close to the cliff. "This's about as close as I can get to," the other man said, noting Tracen's presence. "Just a few more minutes and yer should be able to scale your cliff. Then when yer done we'll head to Hargeon."
It seemed like the other man knew what Tracen wanted to do already. Sometimes he'd wake up but get the feeling that he'd been trying to do something important, only to forget. This was the first time someone had been around when he woke up; someone to tell Tracen what he'd been trying to do. He nodded uncertainly, but ... was looking forward to completing whatever he couldn't remember to do. He returned back to where he'd originally awoken, checking through his pack. Even though he didn't normally wear the mask, it was something important to him... his name was literally etched onto the inside. So that sometimes, when he didn't recall putting it on, he'd awaken it there with his face. And then taking it off, the first thing he'd see was his name.
Changing was not as challenging as she thought it would be. The buttoned shirt was a lot easier to put on. The getting some rest was a bit harder. Yes, she was tired, uncommonly so. But, she her adrenaline was still running high. Drinking the rest of the water, she pulled the blanket over herself. Eyes staring into the sky as she reflected on the day’s events. He said to rest, she would show trust by doing exactly that. Taking a few deep breaths, she leaned her head to the side, eyes on Tracen before they slowly closed succumbing to what her body had been yearning for.
She was flying. Strong, dark wings stretched behind her. The feel of the wind caressed her face. This was her favorite time. There was no past, no present, no interruptions. Just the wind, the sky, and the feel of her wings slicing through the moistened air… Until she remembered she could not fly. Widened eyes glanced over her shoulder to see empty air, leathered wings no more. Suddenly she was falling, flipping through the air. The greenery of the land growing ever closer. There was no water to catch her fall this time. Despite the amount of air that rushed past her, her lungs were frozen and not a sound escaped. The unyielding ground rushed closer and closer. Thoughts running through her mind faster than she could grasp until all went still and she accepted her fate. Her body relaxed. When she should have hit the ground, she instead fell through it. Darkness. She felt incorporeal. A panic began to build within her as she searched the void for any light. She stopped and focused as two small pits of light came into focus. As they became clearer, she realized what she was looking at. Or rather, who she was staring at her as it was not light but the sun reflected within his eyes that she saw. ‘Eclipse.’
Violet orbs opened as she inhaled deeply, as if it were her first breath. Blinking the last dregs of sleep from her eyes, she ran a hand through her hair before stretching preceded by her wincing. Her body felt like she got hit with a train. Not that she ever experienced a train but the analogy worked. The rifling of items against cloth broke through the normal seafaring sounds. Propping herself on her elbows she was greeted by the back of Tracen. She noted his hood was down. She had fallen asleep watching his hooded darkened outline against the already darkened sky. “What are you looking for? Good morning by the way.”
Post by Tracen Tenshou on Sept 11, 2015 4:29:40 GMT
Tracen paused as the woman awoke. When she hailed him, he turned to face her. Past her initial appearance it was difficult not to see her wounds, and judging her tender movement likely was much worse beneath her clothes. But past that, she was exotic in a way unlike the other woman of Fiore. The way she met his eyes, her greeting, made her feel familiar. "Good morning," he smiled faintly, returning the greeting. Although he couldn't remember her name, she felt familiar. Or maybe it was just that the way she looked at him, and intonation, were different than how one would approach a stranger.
He was considerably more concerned about missing a possession than waking up on a boat with two strangers. Maybe it was because he trusted himself, even without memories, that he would be someone he was proud of. And it was a certain kind of adventure. He didn't like how onlookers became concerned, because there was nothing to do about it so he might as well enjoy the experience. “I'm not sure if this would be a strange question, but...” He attempted once more to sort through his belongings, still not finding the missing item. “Well, I have this mask, but I can't find it. Not exactly something I'd wear, but it's like a memento to me. Have you seen it?” The inflection in his voice, was lighter than other times Razhiel had spoke to him.
The entire bag had already been turned inside out, to no avail. Even if the exact spot moved slightly, he'd always had the mask close at hand. That and his spear... they felt very important to him, the only possessions he had when the Templars found him. "Ah... don't worry about it, it's probably gone," he gave up. Plus, he didn't want to bother someone who was already injured. He re-packed his bag, moving closer to Razhiel. "...Is there anything I can do for you, though?" His brow furrowed slightly as he met her gaze. Unlike the previous night, this Tracen had no trouble meeting her eyes.
