Morning had come; a silent stalker entered the Kaustir camp. It was wispy, cold, moist, and it was something that the soldiers were not accustomed to. When Amalia left her tent at sunrise to relieve herself she nearly jumped in surprise. She ran her hand through the substance several times, eyes squinting hard. What was this...?
Her memory prickled in the back of her mind.
"It's fog," she said, and shuddered at how the vapors seemed to muffle everything around her.
But it wasn't just sound that was affected, the surroundings too were whited out. Amalia could only see ten, perhaps fifteen feet in front of her. She could make out the shapes of soldiers walking and starting fires, but sometimes forms would disappear in the clouds, or appear suddenly. It was unsettling, and the woman didn't like it one bit. In the desert one could seen an enemy or friend from afar. This... This was something neither she or many of the soldiers experienced. She swallowed, wondering if an army lurked somewhere in these vapors.
Crouching, the healer struck flint and steel together over a dead fire pit. Sparks flew, landed on a pile of kindling. Nothing. Growling, Amalia tried again, and again.
The sound of snapping twigs made Amalia whirl around. Dagger in hand, Amalia glared into the shifting whiteness.
"Who's there?"
A human form slowly walked threw the fog, it flashed an oddly familiar smile.
"I see you've been working on your reflexes while I was away." A hand lashed out from the void and grabbed Amalia's blade hand. "
But there is always room for improvement." his voice was calm. Takeda stepped out of the fog "
Hello Amalia." He let go of her and gave a long bow. "
It's nice to see you again." his trade mark smile was bigger then usual.
But she did not return the welcome.
As her former mentor bowed, exposing his backside, Amalia swung her leg. Bony ankle contacted with his cheek, sending the man sprawling onto his back.
The healer's eyes were bloodshot, brimming with rage and fear. For seconds Amalia lay in a crouched position, dagger clutched close to her chest. The hand was trembling. Her chest was heaving, breath coming in low, harsh grunts. With her ragged hair and sunken eyes she looked more like an animal and less like a human.
Matil limped past the healer and gave a pathetic meow. The disposition melted away like ice on a bed of lava.
"... Takeda? What are you..." The dagger thudded to the ground, blade sinking into the soft dirt. Amalia dug her palms into her eyes, groaning. Droplets of liquid fell from her eyes.
"I'm sorry. You - You frightened me. Are you alright?"
"
Well it would appear I need more training myself. Forgive me I did not mean to scare you." Takeda groaned. He sat up and eventually brought himself to his feet. He rubbed the side of his face, and dusted off. "
So uh might we go into your tent, we have a great deal to talk about." He had a bit of a nervous look on his face.
The two entered Amalia's tent. "
Would you mind if I put on some tea?" He pulled a small leather sack from his Gi. "
The east has amazing green tea." he began to heat some water just outside of the tent.
When the swordsman returned he sat opposite to Amalia. "
So, you must have many questions for me, but to answer your first... no I didn't find a suitor for you." he hesitated. Amalia's eyes went wide and her breathing rapid. Takeda put up a hand "
Wait wait look at this." He handed her a tattered, warn, thick scroll.
The woman was about to utter some excuse, some explanation as to why Takeda didn't receive the message until she unrolled the scroll. Eyes crinkling with puzzlement, Amalia realized that all of these men were suitors, and listed beside their names were reasons why Takeda thought they would suit her. Along with reasons why they were rejected.
Blinking, Amalia closed the scroll and set it down on the ground. She sipped her tea from its porcelain cup; the bitter taste couldn't penetrate her stormy thoughts.
"... You should know that I'm no longer First General. Therefore all of the work you've done is pointless. I am a soldier, with a rank that is inferior to yours or Rakar.
"I understand if you are mad at me. I would be if I were in your place."
Takeda sipped his tea and let out a sigh "
Yes I found that out from a very angry towns person when I arrived yesterday." his voice was somber. There was an awkward pause between the two, the outside noises of soldiers going about their orders was the only thing that broke the silence. "
I am not mad you Amalia, if anything I though you would never look at me again for failing your request General or not." he looked her in the eye. "Please understand I tried my absolute best in finding you a suitor. Rules were put in place that I would I have applied to suitors for my daughter." he explained. "I'm afraid Viridos just doesn't seem to have the right man for you." a reluctant look washed over his face.
"So both Kaustir and Viridos failed me," she murmured softly. "Perhaps Pegulis would fare better."
The image of a hulking green scaled draken struck suddenly, forcing Amalia to close her eyes.
"What will you do then?"
The swordsman gave a faint smile "
Perhaps." he chuckled.
He finished the rest of his tea and set the cup down "
Well the winds of change are calling for possible war, and as a solider I must be the one who commands those winds, and if you'll have me I would like nothing more then to be by the side of a student and friend." he smiled. "
Also, as I recall I have much left to teach you, unless you've been practicing on your own." with a glint in his eye he raised an eyebrow.
Amalia gave a sour look "
Alright alright I get it." Takeda backed off. Again there was a pause, but this time Takeda studied the young woman infront of him... something was off. "
There is a darkness about you." he looked to a transformed darker Matil. "
What happened while I was away?" a look of confusion and worry ran across his face.
"We were given a mission and we failed," she said simply. "I got demoted as a result."
Matil limped away, exiting the tent through the canvas wall.
"It's odd that everyone I've depended on are appearing at a time like this. I suppose war does that... And if that's the case I should be expecting K'jol at any moment.
"And yes, I welcome you at my side." She lifted her chin, back straight. "Although I'm unsure where I will be if war does come."
"
Well rest assured I will be with you where ever you end up." he gave a slight bow.
"K'jol you say? What happened to him, as a matter a fact where is everyone? Arania is out securing a tent." he looked out of the tent flaps then shot quickly back to Amalia. "
We got her cured by the way. There was a healer there who 'cleansed her body of the demon' and placed it in this small orb." Takeda pulled out the black marble and showed it to Amalia. The swordsman smiled "
You would have loved it there, nothing but green hills and kind faces." his face went blank as he remember the town.
"
Uh but I digress, what of the others?" he looked to her.
She fought to kept the disinterest from her face, plastering an amused and polite expression for his benefit. "The others? Rakar is here, he has his own tent."
The healer waved her hand in the general direction of his tent. "As for others... I haven't a clue. Lut Sar and the Czar won't tell me. Rakar told me that he was incarcerated, but you can speak to him."
"
Incarcerated? I have been gone along time." he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "
Well I thank you for seeing me Amaila." Takeda stood up. He frowned when his gaze reached her face. "
Amaila whatever you are fighting you don't have to do it alone. We are still here to help you, General or not. Your spirit is broken, anyone can see that, and I can teach ways to mend it. I know what it's like to carry a darkend soul." he wanted to help her, it was in the tone of his voice, if only she would accept.
Except she wouldn't, waving a dismissive hand towards her former mentor. Her smile was full of warmth; reassuring and abrupt.
"Both you and Rakar are being overprotective of me. I assure you, I'm fine."
Takeda's face hardened "
No Amalia, you're not fine judging by the state of Matil. I have seen what hatred and anger does to people who bottle it up. I've seen darkness destory countless lives and relationships." his eyes dug into hers. "
Do not brush off the concerns of your friends as if they empty. Enough pity, enough depression, and enough contempt. You must train your mind and body to look past such rediculus emotions and push onward." his voice was that of a commander in the military stern but fair.
He paused for a moment to let his message sink in, never drawing his eyes from hers. "
If you never want to see me again after this fine, but know this no one can survive in this world alone." he turned and marched out of the tent, wind kicking the flaps closed.
And as the man left, with the tent flap closed, Matil returned with a limp. The Aux curled herself into a ball at the Crux's knee.
Amalia ran a delicate finger over the sand cat's ethereal body, cooing softly.