midnightstar | Shionne and Alphen in Menancia

They've all come a long way since Calaglia, both in terms of distance and... other things. Things Shionne was forcing herself not to acknowledge. Because what would the point be to acknowledge those thoughts when she couldn't act on them - when at the end of this journey, she had no future? Ah... but that was something she hadn't - couldn't - tell the others, who she's begun thinking of as more than just 'tools'.

Particularly Alphen.

It was the hardest to think of him when she knew how much she was keeping from him. Much to her frustration, however, the group had decided to take a break for a little while since Shionne's pace had been pushing the others quite a lot - and they did just gain two new companions. Shionne was avoiding them as much as possible, deciding to go for a walk through the city almost...baffled by how accepting the Dahnans and Renans were.

It was ... nice. But it felt so alien to her, at the same time.

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Kisara shot a look at Alphen - well maybe the rumors weren't untrue after all. "It must be hard for you." She knew he must want to be close to her more often, but with Shionne pushing him away.. "You're a good man, Alphen."

"I don't know about that." It didn't feel hard. Just frustrating. As far as he was concerned his will to be there for her was more than enough to push through her protests. He just...hated seeing her suffer like that. Suffer alone. Especially now that he knew part of the reason why.

"I try to be. It's not like I know what I'm doing most of the time." Hell he never thought he'd become more or less the leader of this group. That was supposed to be Zephyr's job.

Kisara smiled, "Be by her side. But that part I needn't tell you about that. What you're doing right now is the right thing." Both as someone who had feelings for Shionne, and as a leader looking out for his team.

She could tell Shionne wanted to be with Alphen - would rather have been with him than her a little while ago. But Kisara wasn't going to say that Shionne would rather be comforted by him. That was like putting salt in the wound.

"So in other words keep doing what I have been? I guess I can do that. Just wish there was an easy clear cut solution for her troubles. She's been through enough." There was a faint flare of frustrated anger though not directed at anyone in particular other than the circumstances that Shionne found herself in.

Kisara smiled, "She has .. unique circumstances. I don't think that there is any easy solution for her condition. At least, there are only two more cores, and we should be in reach of the fourth one tomorrow afternoon if all goes well." Which it won't.

Unique circumstances. Kisara had no idea how much of an understatement that was. But Alphen still honored Shionne's wishes. Even though this incident will likely set back the time she actually tells them about the whole ordeal.

"I know. That's what makes it so frustrating." Not to the point of giving up though.

"Yeah. Tomorrow it all starts again..." two more cores also meant he was starting to run out of time a bit to say the least. Still he would persevere.

Kisara smiled sympathetically, "Are you worried?" She wouldn't blame him - their opponents were getting stronger and stronger, and they knew next to nothing about the final lord. Who wouldn't be concerned about what tomorrow brought? They just had to stick together and figure things out going forward.

"I am. This time we got a little lucky." He didn't want to say really lucky given Kisara's brother had to sacrifice himself to get through to Dohalim. But he had no delusions that the remaining lords would be anywhere near as cooperative. Not to mention he couldn't help but remember that horrifying warrior they had seen that night on top of the zugle pile in the mountains.

Kisara nodded, with a slight frown. "I wish I could provide information about Almeidra or the water Lord. All I can do is guard you from any attacks." Him and the others, of course. She patted his shoulder, "Go get some sleep, we have an early morning ahead of us." And undoubtedly a prickly Shionne to boot.

She'd probably be just as anxious if she had seen that man - but she'd get her chance. They all would!

Alphen smiled softly, the gratitude evident in his eyes and posture. "Yeah that sounds good. You make sure to get enough sleep too since we have a long trip to go yet." Alphen nodded and made to go back inside the inn finally though he was slightly worried what the mood in his room with Shionne was going to be like.

Lots of awkward tension. Rinwell apparently had chewed Law out, and he was sitting on his bed like a puppy that was scolded for chewing on a slipper. Dohalim was already long asleep - it seemed anyway, and Rinwell was balled up tensly under the blankets. Shionne was tucked into her bed as well, facing the wall and unresponsive when Rinwell and Kisara - one of the last to enter - bid everyone good night. Shionne was possibly already asleep or just staying awake until everyone else was..

If she wasn't asleep she'd hear Alphen exhale with a sigh before going over to the bed and quickly taking his armor off before slipping into bed as well. He knew no words he had now would get through to her. Not when those walls went right back up again because of thoughtless words. So he could only wait and start over though at least he was confident he wouldn't have to start from zero.

She was only half asleep - her dreams - no, nightmares - came back in full force when she did let herself drift off, but she tried to be quiet so as not to alert any of her companions. Especially ones who were painfully perceptive, and painfully capable of getting through the walls she put up.

While come morning, she had 'forgiven' Law for his accidental slip of words, she clearly got very little rest and was especially testy and impatient when everyone woke and had breakfast. Shionne skipped breakfast entirely, which .. certainly got the attention of everyone who knew her appetite.

But the moment breakfast was over and Kisara led the others out with Alphen to meet Shionne, the sniper didn't give them even a second to say anything to her - she just turned and started walking out of town, impatience in her steps.

Alphen just didn't want to linger too far from Shionne after that so he kept up with her and even during the first few couple of fights he would often stick closer to her. Not that he tried talking again just yet outside of the occasionally check to see if she was alright. He didn't want to push for too much after taking those steps back.

Despite her irritation, Alphen being closer was comforting, but she still wasn't inclined to talk to the others much. Uuuunfortunately their trip to the next town wasn't exactly peaceful, what with that ambush by that scary..mercenary? Who had been WAY too focused on Alphen.

So focused that Shionne had thrown herself in the way of a potentially mortal blow and... despite herself, Alphen's reaction - no, not just that, everything that happened afterward. That light, the man being chased off, and the subsequent interaction with the bastards in Mahag Saar. Shionne had always been prepared for that kind of reception, but it was Alphen standing up for her like that that still stunned her.

When the group finally managed to find a campsite to rest at before continuing their sear for the fourth Lord, Shionne felt exhausted; physically, mentally and emotionally. Kisara at first was unwilling to leave the campsite to get supplies - fishing mainly - but knowing Alphen wasn't about to leave Shionne's side even more, she gathered the others and left Shionne in his capable ..figurative..hands.

Sitting by the fire, a very pensive Shionne had been instructed to 'take it easy' by Kisara. Which was fine, because Shionne had something to ask Alphen anyway, ..just how to bring it up though...

That ambush had brought some...clarity as to how much he had come to truly care for Shionne. The very notion that monster would steal her away filling him with such rage and also fear deep inside that he had not hesitated even for a moment to attack. Yet he was so powerful. And still they did not know the man's name or identity. Frankly the fact that none of their party had died, especially Rinwell after that nasty blow she took with her back against the wall was nothing short of a miracle. Unfortunately even after the mysterious warrior retreated, their next destination did not provide any real respite.

At first he was resigned to not finding anyone alive given the state of the ruins. But then they did find people. And their leader...Alphen had never felt more enraged even in his days as a slave. The way that bastard spoke about Shionne. He'd seen red at that time and even he had to wander how he had not done so much worse to that so called boss.

Eventually they left in search of the fled ruler but they had to break camp for the day and Alphen sure enough was near Shionne, looking over her just as often as she would look his way. After all those words that had been said to her were still bouncing around in his head so he could only imagine what Shionne might be thinking of.

When Alphen had joined her at the campfire, Shionne was.. definitely more awkward. Funny how seeing someone be the target of a deadly blow - and taking one yourself for him - put things into perspective. Rinwell surprisingly was tougher than even Shionne gave her credit for, but she'd also been acting rather strange lately - almost backsliding into her prejudices from earlier.

But still she had been capable enough to join Kisara with getting supplies. She had to be feeling better if she was being civil with Law again. Sort of anyway. Whiiiiiich meant Shionne was alone with Alphen again. She glanced over at him, fidgeting a little, "... how are you feeling..?" She was going to beat him to the punch on that one!

Alphen looked at Shionne with a surprised look on his face that completely overwrote the previous sour angry look. Only to then shake his head with a sigh.

"I should be asking you that." Both in regards to the stabbing she took and the slander that fat asshole had sent flying her way.

".. I'm fine." She relaxed a bit more, "I healed myself, remember?" Because what that fat bastard said was nothing more than what she heard before, and what she expected to hear from others. "Although.. I was wondering, while we're on the topic.." She pressed her hands together, then against her knees, "..why did you get so angry...?"

That's not what he was asking about. Well not the only thing he was asking about. "That's good. Still can't help but ask." SInce that was a sword to the core so who knew if there might be a backlash later or something of the sorts. Her own question gives him a moment of pause. He knows why just not quiet how to word it right.

"Because no one should talk to you that way. Especially those who don't know you even a little bit."

"... he's not the first person, and he's not going to be the last. You shouldn't let it bother you so much... I don't." Not entirely true, really. She was used to hearing people say things like that about her, but that was the first time someone actually stood up for her to the degree he did.

It made her oddly ... happy to see him jump to her defense for her. That punch, that look of anger on his face.. if he weren't so disciplined, she somehow suspected he might have lunged at that man, especially if he kept talking. "... even so.." she bit her lower lip, ".. it made me happy, that you stood up for me."

Not just that he did, but that it was -him- to do it.

"I can't do that. Just because they don't know doesn't give them the right to run their mouth like that and just assume things about you." Alphen insisted stubbornly. Maybe he was being a little naive but he couldn't just override his feelings on that topic like a machine.

"I always will. Because you are...the one who made me take my first real step from no longer being a slave."

She sighed. This was a fight she was going to always lose, she could tell - and it wasn't even a fight, per se. But Alphen's stubborn insistence on defending her... was not actually something she wanted to change anyway.

At the last though, she felt herself blush, catching her breath slightly. "I think.. Zephyr was the one to do that, more than me. YOu always were the one to reach out, and I always tried keeping a distance from ..everyone." But then he ended up being the one that made her want to get closer to people - to him in particular.

He resolutely shakes his head at that.

"I would never have met Zephyr if you hadn't jumped on that cargo train, if you hadn't been there. I would have kept passively fighting against those guards waiting for a perfect time that would likely never come." He had time to think about his past self and realized that in the grand scheme of things his so called will was nothing that great. Because even if he glared even if he took blows for others, it would not change a thing.

She... supposed he had a point there. "Haha, okay.. Okay I surrender." Here she was trying to give him all the credit, and he kept bringing it back to her. "... I know I didn't have much of a plan when I jumped onto that cargo train.. but I'm glad that I did. Although I never thought I would have met someone like you in doing so." She started to lift a hand over the small gap between them- paused, and lowered her hand again.