Back Before Sundown (Lyra, Rickter/Telion)

[Fawn]

12th of Glade, 121xx

Fawn was heaving, blood dripping down from her bottom lip that she wiped away with a sweep of her hand. Naila fiddled with her fingernails as she waited on the girl to continue. They'd been at it for a solid half hour already, longer than the previous days, though this time Fawn had prepared and worn a tan sports bra with a set of loose fitted brown pants. They clung to her hips, tied with a knot from a pull string and bagged out until her ankles where they cinched in yet again.

"Are we done for today?" The woman asked, clad in her normal leather bodysuit. She was unphased, not even having broken a sweat and with every strand of hair laid perfectly atop her head. It contrasted the girls jostled appearance and wild mane as she flicked her eyes to her.

Fawn panted, readying her stance with a newfound vengeance. If it hadn't been for her visit to Mino perhaps she wouldn't have felt as invigorated. As determined to prove herself, to become better, stronger. And, to show off her skills to Rickter the next time they met, too. After all, Telion was to arrive any day now.
"I'm still goin'."

With that Fawn launched herself forward. Faster than their fist spar, but slower than she'd been earlier in the day. Naila could tell the girl was getting tired and sighed in the span of seconds it took for the girl to get across the room. It was still too easy, and it would be for weeks. In all reality Naila didn't expect the girl to land a blow for at least a few months, maybe even a year. With a swift sidestep, she dodged Fawns attack. The girl gasped and ducked, rolling out of the way just as Naila's fist came smacking through her shoulder and sending her spinning across the floor.

Naila blinked as her body rolled away. "Oh, you almost dodged that one." She said, honestly surprised. The girl was learning quick, which would have brought a smirk to her lips if it wasn't for the fact that in a real fight, the girl would still be good as dead. Which meant, no letting up.
The woman only let Fawn have a half second to breathe in her own surprise before, in a flash, she was back across the room. She saw her coming, felt her in the air that circulated and with barely enough time to realize what was going on jumped up off the ground. But it was too late, once again Naila's fist came down hard into her shoulder and drew a painted yowl from her as she staggered back against the wall. Naila followed through with punch after punch until Fawn's head cracked against the wall and fell forward. But she let it happen, ignoring as much fog of her delirium as she could and pulling herself down under the blows of Naila's fits. But instead of escaping her jaw came down hard on the woman's knee that rose up to blast upwards, sending the girl crumpling to the ground.

She coughed, blood oozing from a bit tongue and the busted lip. Naila sighed and backed up as she watched the girl struggle to regain her wits below her. "I'm not knockin' ya out again. Come on, we're done for today."


An hour later, steam rose from the waters of the bath as Fawn sunk below the surface. She calmed her heart as the warmth seeped into her bruised, sore skin and stung her broken lip. Naila had been right... she was as good as dead as she was now. Every day had been worse than the last, each swing harder to dodge. She couldn't tell if it was from the sore muscles or waning conviction, but she was exhausted and felt as though she was getting nowhere. Even the time she'd almost dodged had felt like nothing. Admittedly she knew she would get better over time, but, she wanted it faster. And Nailas insistence they end so quickly each day angered her.

But in her heart she knew it was the smarter decision- if she were too busted to move, she wouldn't be able to learn anything anyways.

Fawn rose from the waters then, letting out the breath she was holding and sucking in new, crisp air that filtered in through the open door. She never did like closing it, but at least it wasn't as uncomfortable to be in the small space anymore. She slinked out then, ringing her hair out into the pink-stained waters and wrapping a soft red towel around her form. The room had steamed the mirror in front of her but with a quick wipe of the glass revealed the reflection of her defeat; a busted lip, a slowly healing black eye, and multiple other bruises and scrapes among her skin. Though after Lyra's bandages, most of the scrapes had scabbed over nicely and the black eye was not nearly as puffy as it had been the previous day with Mino.

And now, staring into the mirror, she saw a new girl staring back. A fighter. Someone determined to get stronger and rid herself of any fear left over from Havershim. Whatever Lyra had done to her mind in the past few days had stuck with her. Clearly, the man was nothing. Had been nothing in comparison to her. But that didn't mean the irrational panic did not stick,. The stairs still send a chill to her bones, and closed windows made her nauseous. But it was easier now than it had been days ago, and she could feel that fear fading with each hour that passed. Surely, one day, she'd be rid of even his name in her mind.

[Rickter]

After a delightful morning spent eating breakfast and then watching Rickter shave, Telion had gotten dressed to pay Fawn a visit today as promised in her letter. The bard hadn't seen the girl in a long while and, believe it or not, her and Rickter both missed hearing from her frequently. While it was a delight for the bard to know that the ginger had been released to go home over a week ago, when she'd learned that the very place she rested her head was Lyra's, well the bard herself knew she ought to swing by and see how that was settled to say the least. Though she hadn't quite told Rickter a bit about that detail, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to express that fact in front of Lyra either.

In so far the dynamics between them had been iffy, mostly due to the fact Rickter still remained wary around her. It was a strange thing Telion didn't quite grasp, then again she'd moved on from the initial meeting they had. The wolf on the other hand barely ever let things go when it came to memory, something that she'd noticed last season before the end of his trials. Still, with the sun shining down from over the mountains, Telion walked along the streets of the Plaza toward the shop, passing by the Sky Forge along the way as she'd nod and wave to people who greeted her in passing. Kalzasi had to be one of the more friendlier places she'd ever visited, and with so much having gone on over the past few seasons, it was no wonder she really hadn't found time to move on elsewhere.

Not that she had any real reason to. Turning the corner onto the street where Ale'Epherium resided, the bard walked with a bit of a bounce in her boots as she drew closer. Turning the knob to enter the storefront she didn't waste time slipping in, closing the door softly behind her once she'd crossed within the threshold. Once inside the bard unfastened the clasp of her teal cloak, lifting it from her shoulders to leave it resting on the coat rack found near the entrance. "Hello Lyra!" She called out within the hallway from the corner she stood at, straightening out the wrinkles in her white tunic as she walked further in.

"Fawn here by chance?" She warmly inquired as she looked around, curious to see where either one of the two was located.

[Lyra]

Naila finished the last of her stretches some time after Fawn had left. She rolled her shoulders, crackling pops coming from her joints as she sighed and stretched her hands over head.

"Your instruction is truly barbaric." Lyra said softly from above, causing Naila to look up to the roof of the storeroom. There black smoke collected, spinning in slow circles that steadily flowed down the walls to the ground. At the center of the flowing mass a form took shape, a head with flowing silver hair looked down on the mercenary, her head cocked to the side.

"I told you I am not a teacher." Naila said with a shrug, not a hint of shame or abashment present despite the fact that the stones beneath her feet were stained red.

The silver haired head vanished in a puff as the smoke drifted downward, surrounding Naila and flowing around her body in twisting patterns. The mercenary ignored the display, bending down to touch her toes as Lyra formed just a few hands from her. Silver hair flowed over pale skin, gold eyes narrowed slightly as her body condensed into the shapely form of a woman draped in black robes that moved in an unseen wind. She hovered just a few inches above the floor.

"So you have said, time and time again. Yet surely you need not bloody her so every time." She glanced down at the red stains with distaste in her eyes, "She is of little use to me if she cannot function."

"Hey, I'm just doing what you told me to, and she's the one who decided to keep going." Finishing her stretches Naila pushed through the black smoke, walking through the door into the main lab. "Girls like her though... Well, lets just say she needed a good ass kicking. Her entire world got flipped on its head, and that does things to your head. Better she gets this sort of pain from me, and not the next guy who gets a taste for her body."

The smoke trailed after Naila as she walked, clinging to the woman as Lyra half formed around her shoulders.

"I could ensure that never happens." Her golden eyes flashed as Lyra smiled, running a black nail along Naila's cheek, "If she wished it, I could put down any who would try such a thing... So tell me, why does she seem to find this so distasteful?"

The mercenary swiped a hand through Lyra's form, which dissipated as her arm passed through only to reform directly in front of Naila, "For one, that's creepy as hell. It also doesn't make her feel in control, which is where most of her problem's come from right now."

With a shrug Lyra floated back, adopting a lounging position in the air as she looked sidelong at Naila, "Is control truly something mortals seek?"

Pausing at the potions bench Naila looked up at Lyra, frowning before shaking her head, "I guess you wouldn't understand... Whatever. You ready yet?"

Over the course of Winter up until this point Naila had slowly, ever so slowly begun to open up with Lyra in small ways. Thus this comment made Lyra pause as she studied the woman. She found it so odd to be challenged in this way, almost as odd as herself being so interested in the affairs of others. How long had she existed merely as a force? A presence? Now though she was talking with these people, interacting in ways she never had before. It made her consider things differently, and wonder after more and more.

The smoke had filled the room now, flowing over the floor, furniture and up the walls. As Lyra's body evaporated completely the smoke began to spin, spiraling in tighter and tighter circles as it was drawn inside of Naila who grew stiff, eyes rolling back slightly as Lyra too her place inside. In moments Lyra's smokie form was gone, and Naila's eyes blinked open gold instead of brown. As she turned Naila added their usual illusion, Lyra's human features replacing Naila's elven.

Lyra tested her control, experimentally clenching and unclenching a fist before nodding in satisfaction. She dressed in her typical gold trimmed black robes, tying the sash and checking the pockets to ensure everything was in place. She then made her way upstairs, closing and locking the door to the lab before passing into the main shop just as Telion entered.

"Si'fera, welcome." Lyra said, smiling to Telion as she entered before moving to her desk and sitting down. She pulled a pile of papers toward her, setting her space with quill and ink at the ready as she prepared herself for another day of bookeeping. She truly did need to hire someone soon to help with these minor details. Perhaps it was time to search for new workers.

"I am certain she is about." the shopkeeper said, sharpening a quill before uncapping an ink vial, "You may wait here, or search for her upstairs if you wish."

[Fawn]

12th of Glade, 121xx

Fawn stared at herself in the mirror for a while longer, running a finger over her bruised lip before leaving the smaller room and heading to the bedroom. She'd already laid out an outfit, and after the previous day with Mino had even shopped for a new Glade wardrobe with the remaining coins she'd saved up from her time in the cabaret. Thinking on it, she really should send Madame Lunaria the letter she'd written out.. part of her had been too shameful to send it, even after spending so long to write everything out. But leaving the woman with no word wasn't right either, and perhaps now she could leave the shame behind and send it off.

The girl sighed, a bit miffed at herself for not being brave enough to send it yet as she pulled a yellow dress over her head. Long sleeved but made of a light fabric, it hugged her breasts and waist before spilling out into a flowy skirt that came down to her knees. Aside from being a happier color, it was also the perfect warmth to take a walk in the fresh glade air, something she desperately needed. After tying the waistband in a bow, she slipped a pair of brown boots on over frilled white socks and turned to the bedside table. On it sat a small jar of paste Lyra had made her for her wounds, something she'd used nearly half of in the last two days alone. She scooped a small bit out onto her finger and began rubbed it into her lip, and the other small cuts over her body with small winces when the paste would warm and sting the open wounds.

It was becoming a pattern, one she hoped she would be able to lessen as her combat techniques improved- not that it seemed she was getting anywhere yet.

After placing the jar back on the table, she grabbed her leather bag and slung it over one shoulder before making her way downstairs. But there was a voice- when she was halfway down the stairs her ears perked up and she nearly sprinted down the rest of them with a wide smile as her hair bounced around her shoulders with each step.

"Telion!!!" She screamed, quickly bypassing Lyra at her desk with a newly practiced dexterity, and running headfirst into the blonde woman for a tight embrace.

"I"ve missed ye!" She said, face buried in her neck as she squeezed the woman tightly. Touch was easier now, though she hadn't realized how easy until Telion. With a content sigh she pulled away. "It's so nice to see ye, was yer walk over here okay? How are ye? How's Rickter? Hannah?" She rattled off her questions with a smile, blowing a strand of hair away from her face that had fallen in her excitement. She felt normal, finally, even if it would only last for a few moments. Though there was part of her that wondered if Telion would look at her with pity, or if she'd treat her differently after what had happened. She hoped not. And if she did, it just meant her sparring with Naila was all the more necessary.

[Rickter]

At the sight of Lyra entering the shop from beyond whatever room she came from, Telion offered a warm and generous smile to the Hytori in turn, admittedly surprised to see she no longer had the tattoos on her skin like she used to. "Thanks Lyra, love the new look." She enthused nonchalantly as she walked onward, totally oblivious to the fact Lyra had indeed gotten a new body. Not that it was obvious of course, for the compliment was as innocent as the bard who looked about. When told that Fawn had in fact been somewhere within the shop, likely upstairs somewhere, the blonde's eyebrows rose at the shopkeeper before she tucked her arms behind her.

"Really? So she does live here then, interesting!" The realization was shared with amusement as she heard running from the stairwell, turning just in time to see Fawn racing down to greet her personally. Almost immediately the bard smiled wide before laughing aloud, teetering on her feet just a bit when Fawn came in close to squeeze the bard. "Hello Fawn! I'm so glad to see you!" She cheered in return to the girl's ecstatic greeting, still giggling a bit as she reciprocated the embrace with a generous hug of her own in turn. When they pulled away from one another though, the bard's eyes moved to inspect Fawn. An eloquent yellow dress that accentuated both her looks and personality hung over her knees, giving the impression that Fawn had perhaps regained herself from the incident after all.

And then a gasp was pulled from the bard's lips, for she caught sight of the bruises and nicks upon her face, and questioned how on Ransera the ginger managed to attain those. Had she already gone and found trouble again? While Rickter and Telion were too far out of range to lend her their aid? It was a provoked thought of concern that left her worried, even when she faintly smiled at the bombardment of questions Fawn assailed her with. "We're all fine, Rickter and Hannah are both doing fine!" She enthused eagerly with her smile more genuine, the concern still prevalent in her eyes when she responded. "Rickter's living up at the palace now that he's a knight to Talon, he even asked me to stay there with him when he started settling in."

Letting her lips soften to a more compassionate smile in turn, she brought her hands up to Fawn's shoulders then, gripping them snuggly as she gave the ginger a few nudges. "What in Kalzasi have you been doing though?!" She remarked in turn before lifting a hand to delicately point, without touching, at the spots of injury found on her face. Telion honestly couldn't help but look over to Lyra as well, curious as to whether the shopkeeper would have an explanation to add as well. Regardless of what they told her she merely shook her head, almost with a purely amused smile on her face from the sound of it all. "I can't believe you." She teased lightly before nudging for Fawn to remain still, her hands held up beneath her jaw as the bard started to focus.

"Here, at least let me take care of that." With an understanding smile spared to Fawn Telion closed her eyes, focusing as blue lines started to trail out along her skin. The aether manifesting within them glowed a faint soft blue hue, as the lines spanned from her forehead down her cheeks, even along her neck as they traveled further along. While her clothes hid away the rest that manifested on her body, the lines ended along her hands as she generated a soft blue light within her palms. That light began to pulse out over the places she touched, Fawn's skin glowing similar in turn as the magic within her hands started to mend the wounds. The first to heal to a close was the mark on her lip, the crack there knitted shut by the accelerated healing Telion induced upon her. Then one by one the rest of her wounds started to fade away, even the black eye started to lose the purplish color beneath the skin, the bruise almost completely gone away by the time Telion had to stop and rest.

For a moment she appeared a bit unsteady, as though she nearly experienced an episode of syncopy, though thankful to have had Fawn there for support when she regained herself. "Sorry, been having a bit of a sick spell myself as of late." She clarified thoughtfully when she released Fawn from her gentle grasp, another glance spared to Lyra as she decided to inquire more about Fawn's residency. "Say, Lyra, if you don't mind me asking; when did Fawn start living here?" Her gaze became one of curiosity then as she looked to Fawn, admittedly with a light blush in her cheeks when she admitted this next part. "I honestly had to avoid telling Rickter that, since I wasn't sure how he'd handle the news."

[Lyra]

Lyra grimaced at the screaming girl as she passed, slipping slightly and cutting off the tip of the quill. This caused the shop keeper to frown, and then sigh as she began rehappening once more. She listened idly to the two women talked, but did not offer anything herself. Instead she focused on the papers on her desk. They were arranged in some particular order, stacks at different places and varying heights weighed in importance based on their specific location. When she was finally satisfied with their arrangement Lyra selected the first paper off of the leftmost stack, placing it before her before dipping her quill and beginning to write.

There was a faint crackle in the air that made Lyra glance up, and her eyes paused to linger on Telion as she worked. Lyra raised an eyebrow as Fawn's injuries began to repair themselves.

So she is one of Ioniri’s Lyra thought with surprise. She frowned as she watched the divine magic work, brows furrowing before she looked back down at her papers.

She's a healer. Naila said with interest, Don't see a lot of them around.

Is that so? That seemed odd to Lyra, though she did not say as much to Naila. Though she and Ioniri had never been intimately familiar with one another, the fact that one of hers was here, and so close to Lyra, was troublesome.

When Telion asked her next question Lyra took a moment to draw a few symbols on the page, raising her quill and replying without looking up, "Some time in winter, though every day feels considerably longer since." Then Lyra smiled and looked up at Telion, "Care I not what he thinks child. So long as he does not damage my property he can object as much as he wishes. The girl is staying of her own accord in any case."

It was a half lie. She did not force Fawn to stay, yet no one need know the steps Lyra had taken to ensure her continued company.

[Fawn]

12th of Glade, 121xx

Fawn didn't much notice when Lyra grimaced. Then again, she didn't tend to notice any of the times she'd annoyed the woman. And when she did she often didn't care much, noting it was likely just her sour attitude. The woman really did need to lighten up.

"The Palace?! I missed him?!" She hung her head briefly with a groan then before raising it and beaming at the woman. "Oh well, looks like it's yer turn to get pampered then. They were very kind when I stayed, and the view of the city is breathtaking even from the room I was in." She reminisced, a twinge of regret in her eyes. Regret for perhaps not enjoying it more than she could have. Weeks of sulking, barely leaving her room when she could have at least taken scenic walks in the gardens. "I'll haf'ta visit ye sometime then, aye?"

Fawn raised a brow when Telion's hands came to her shoulders, placing her own hand upon one of hers curiously. "Nai-" About to reveal the truth of the matter as if it were the same as telling the woman what cereal she had that morning, her lips were suddenly shorted by a hiccup. Following the hiccup, she remembered her promise to the woman behind her, and shrugged with a sheepish smile. "Lyra's been teachin' me how to fight. I'm eh.. not very good."

More than the fact that Fawn wasn't any good, Naila was a master. Had she come across the woman instead of Havershim she'd surely have died within moments, perhaps just one if she were lucky. But instead she had her as a teacher, a tutor, a mentor. Albeit a rough one. But for that she was thankful, and silently apologized to the woman for nearly revealing their secret. What followed though drew a gasp from the girl. The glow of Telion's skin causing her bright blue eyes to reflect the sun-like luminance while she felt the skin on her lip stitch itself back to together, and the pressure under her eye lessen until it felt completely normal. Shocked, Fawn stroked the skin under her eye tenderly as if expecting it to hurt in return. But it didn't, and she stared back at the woman in awe.

"Telion... you-" As the woman staggered Fawn reached forward to catch her, worry then crossing her brow before a sigh of relief followed. "Iss' alright." She said, smiling softly and helping her to stand up straight while looking back to Lyra as she answered the question, though she had her own curiosity to the last statement. "Why wouldn't he like it?" She asked, adjusting the bag across her shoulder and peeking out the window as a gaggle of women walked by laughing in the mid day sun.

"Do ye wanna go fer a walk? I was about to enjoy the sunlight meself. Tell me about you and Rickter, how you've both been." She could feel something was different with the woman, but she couldn't tell if that was due to the strange new power she showed off or something else entirely. "Lyra, wanna come?" She asked, turning back with a smile towards the standoffish woman.

[Rickter]

Thread Title

Time Stamp

At Fawn's enthusiasm over missing them when they settled in, Telion could only giggle aloud initially while she beamed to the farmgirl. "Of course!" She then cheered at the idea of visiting. "You know we'd be happy to see you!"

When Fawn started to answer her inquiry though she paused, the word or perhaps name not quite caught when the bard listened. Thus her brows flexed curiously, before raising one in puzzled fascination at what she'd been told. "Really!? You don't say." Telion gave the shopkeeper a glance of admiration momentarily, certain curiosity now vibrant in her melody as she pondered that thought. Lyra knew how to fight? Strange how she never pictured that before... Then again what did she know of Lyra's personal life anyways! "You should probably keep your fists before your face, Rickter does that when he brawls at the High Hopes Tavern sometimes!" She recalled with a ginger smile flashed to the girl, before bringing up her hands to perform the miracle that was Mendicus.

The moment she lost her composure and quickly regained it, Fawn had helped keep her steady as the bard regained her bearings. "Whoo, had a bit of a dizzy spell there." She chuckled it off as it were nothing, her eyebrows raising to Fawn's suggestion with going for a walk. "It's still a bit chilly out, you sure you want to?" The bard remarked with a tilt of her head, taking note of interest in the time Lyra shared Fawn's residency in turn. "So this has been arranged for a while then, though you did recover at the palace the rest of winter." Now Telion seemed to grasp the situation here thus far, Lyra must've had her reason for providing Fawn a place to stay.

While that was awfully kind of her to do, Telion didn't quite see Lyra as the nurturing type. So there mingled a hint of perplexion in her thoughts, before her attention quickly returned to Fawn asking Lyra if she wanted to come along. "Well, how about it Lyra? Fresh air couldn't hurt." The bard left it up to her to decide, her eyes beginning to wander as though she were distracted by something internally.

[Lyra]

A few more symbols were scratched on the paper before Lyra looked up to the window down the hallway where the front door was located. It was true that the weather was beginning to warm, yet it was still frigid given how far North Kalzasi was located. Sprinklings of snow were still fairly common, though most of the northern adjusted men and women had begun to abandon their thicker clothing in favor of lighter wear. Lyra considered for a few seconds, looking back down at her work as she did.

"Care I not for aimless wandering..." She began before sitting back and pulling a piece of paper from one pocket, unfolding it and scanning its contents, "However, I do require a few items."

Naila stirred, stretching in the confines of the soul space, Don't forget about our little 'problem'.

Ah, that was right. She needed to source for higher-grade dragonshards as well. Not to mention a few special items for that man who was still in her other lab... His situation was a different problem entirely, though recent experiments had been moderately successful. She needed silver though, and a few special items if she were to finish that particular projected any time soon.

"Very well." Lyra said, standing and refolding the paper before slipping it into her pocket. She looked between Fawn and Telion before walking past them, heading to the door and the cloak which was hung on a peg next to it, "I shall go with you, though I must make a few purchases along the way. You may accompany me if you wish."

She tugged the cloak over her shoulders, tying it at the waist before walking toward the front door, opening it, and holding it open for the other two to make their way out.

[Fawn]

TIME STAMPxx

Fawn giggled at Telion, raising a brow with amusement. “I suppose he’s won most of them.” She said. She imagined the black wolf brawling in a bar, beer steins flying and his handsome face coated with an excited sweat.

“Of course!” She exclaimed. “A brisk walk is great to clear your head and steady your body, and it’s not that cold anyways.” Grinning, she remembered how cold the air was on her farm. With the open air, countless rivers and lakes surrounding them, and the wind bringing foreign flora, the city was no comparison in it’s chill.

Looking over her shoulder at Lyra, Fawn smiled widely in surprise. “Yay!” She smiled, “Seems like I get another look into Lyra’s secretive life~ OoOoOoo~” Fawn teased and wiggled her fingers at the woman as she passed, hopping down onto the cobblestone pathway of the streets.

The air bit her skin but there was a freshness to it. A novelty and yet a comfort in the familiarity with Telion there. A light smile graced her lips and she hooked an arm through Telion’s. She was warm, and the closeness of her friend filled her with a relief she hadn’t felt since the first time she’d gone shopping with the woman.

Truth be told, she wished Rickter was there to join them. But the other thoughts in her mind were of her necklace. The one always dangling from her neck. It’s black ring reflected the sun above as her fingers on her free hand toyed with the rivets on the edges.

The final sigil… the key… something else that was needed and until she found it there was no way to even attempt to use it. It frustrated her, but as she hadn’t been able to find anything in Lyra’s books or even her own possessions about it, the best she could do was wait.

And visit family.

But she was not alone. She had hope, and she had Telion and Hannah and Rickter and Talon and Lyra to confide in. So, smiling at the colder woman, she let her worries and anticipations rest in her mind.

“Alright, let’s go! You lead the way Lyra, Telion and I will follow.”