High Hopes, High Standards
Ideology has admittedly never been one of Rickter's strongest points, as for him it has always been easier focusing on the here and now. The normal and the aspects of life he could control, that was where his mind thrived the strongest. So when talk of the Gods in general usually came into perspective, he was no more than a weathered tome with the pages still blank. And yet, Talon's words on the Dragon King did not fall on deaf ears, in actuality Rickter found himself wanting to believe what he'd been told. This was a path he hadn't planned to go down after all, much like it wasn't his plan to meet Telion and Hannah either.
What fate had in store for him? What plans did Vicis so carefully set in motion for him? Questions often rose in abundance with the talk, which was why Rickter often left the subject unattended at times. There were answers to questions he faced every day, so when faced with questions that had no immediate or easy answers... well, it wasn't worth wasting his time just to ponder them. If anything just the suggestion Talon made was enough, as Rickter could agree that simply trusting his... heart? Gut? Whatever it was that drove him forward, be that instinct or conviction no less, that would be the guiding star within his dark, long night. "I suppose that's all anyone can expect." He murmured in turn as he thought more about it, and how times were surely bound to become interesting in the days ahead.
After his trials he could only wonder what life would be like then, would he succeed as he and others hoped he would? Or would failure prove him not worth the cut? It suddenly became a surprise at how much he cared about the latter, not wanting to fall short of the expectations those around have already instilled within the wolf. He was strong but that strength wasn't refined, much like his power wasn't exactly cultivated as a warrior yet either. The road ahead would indeed be a long one, and Sahfri's words still resonated within him much as aether would within a dragonshard. The road before him would not be easy... Therefore he needed more than just the refinement of his strength and power, he needed to realize what it was he wanted to fight for in all this, what it was that made his convictions unshakeable when he charged into battle.
Even now as he sat there watching the city and the sky, Rickter couldn't help but continually imagine what the future held. While he could see it going a number of ways, however, it was the subtle change in Talon that led him to focus on reality once more. He seemed a bit troubled, or rather, bothered by something that troubled his mind. It became evident as to what it could have stemmed from not long after, as the raven-winged warrior Aoren came to return to the Prince's fold once more. In watching the Avialae return Rickter raised an eyebrow slightly, mindful of the quiet tension that seemed palpable between them. They were at a distance it would seem, a likely result of the punishment the Iron Queen projected onto the Knight-Captain. It troubled him slightly to see the two at such distances, because deep down the wolf knew he was already the same.
He kept people at arm's length for a very important reason, that reason being the fact he didn't want others burdened with his own matters. Rickter always remained guarded even when he felt lonely, because to risk others being involved with his life, felt more than just a burden on behalf of the wolf. Given the circumstances of his past growing up, it was no difficult task to see why that reason was. Two dead mothers and a father that walked out on him when he was young, neverminding that man wasn't really his father like one expected him to be. Regardless attachment of that level was rare for Rickter, mostly because he couldn't bear to live through the ordeal of losing another family member again. If the same could be said of his friends?
Well, he certainly wasn't going to fuss over the matter. Cold this period would seem between them, Rickter knew they'd come out stronger together because of it. Of that, he felt certain, which is why he simply lowered his head briefly, when Aoren joined his fellow guard watching over Talon. So when the time came to see what the Prince had to say about the soul gem, the wolf watched curiously in turn, waiting to hear what it was the silver-winged Avialae would have to share in turn. Mostly by this point, Rickter had found Talon as not just a voice of reason... but a voice of insight as well. There was no denying the wisdom found in his philosophy, and how much the wolf started to adopt those philosophies with his own. Perhaps he was changing for the better in this case, as he certainly wasn't leading the simple life of an ordinary man no longer.
But then would he ever?
The examination of the soul gem combined with the antics of the prince made Rickter softly groan, as he eventually came to accept the gem when it was handed back over to him. He was to be the new warden of this soul now?... The actions that led this poor soul... the consequences that made it into the very prison it served now... Innately he didn't want the burden of responsibility, but then the wolf would only be shirking his duties as the warden. It was in his hands now to determine how that soul would earn its reprieve, before the wolf himself would dictate whether its new purpose would set it free in the end. "Very well," He ruminated with a hint of reluctance, admittedly just barely able to maintain the eye contact Talon made with him prior, "I'll consider what purpose this soul shall carry out then. Rest assured I'll see to it that it helps those, instead of harming them as you've expressed. "
Although... he hadn't the slightest idea as to what that role could be just yet. It did interest him to consider it though, seeing as how he'd never been the judge of another's own soul. Power over an entity such as that never should have rested in the hands of mortals, and yet Necromancy somehow made it a practice many could do so easily. It still turned his stomach, to this day, just thinking about the horrors that soul faced when alive; leading up to its final moments before Sahfri herself gave the stone to the wolf. "Thank you for this, it's actually been a pleasant visit." The wolf admittedly plainly though with some small trace of humility in his eyes, albeit they were cast once more out into the open sky while he remained seated for the time. "In the coming days ahead I'll be preparing for the trials themselves."
As he expressed this Rickter started with slipping his shoes back on, more or less getting ready to head off whenever he did so, with an indirect stare given to Talon once more while he finished. "In that time you can expect me to consider the words we've shared today. Until then, Prince Talon, I look forward to our next meeting." He offered a very slight yet noticeable smirk, showing that he did at least enjoy himself while he visited. In rising onto his feet the wolf then gave a bow, for courtesy, before turning to leave the gardens that Talon rested within.
Ash 12th, 120th Year, A.o.S.
What fate had in store for him? What plans did Vicis so carefully set in motion for him? Questions often rose in abundance with the talk, which was why Rickter often left the subject unattended at times. There were answers to questions he faced every day, so when faced with questions that had no immediate or easy answers... well, it wasn't worth wasting his time just to ponder them. If anything just the suggestion Talon made was enough, as Rickter could agree that simply trusting his... heart? Gut? Whatever it was that drove him forward, be that instinct or conviction no less, that would be the guiding star within his dark, long night. "I suppose that's all anyone can expect." He murmured in turn as he thought more about it, and how times were surely bound to become interesting in the days ahead.
After his trials he could only wonder what life would be like then, would he succeed as he and others hoped he would? Or would failure prove him not worth the cut? It suddenly became a surprise at how much he cared about the latter, not wanting to fall short of the expectations those around have already instilled within the wolf. He was strong but that strength wasn't refined, much like his power wasn't exactly cultivated as a warrior yet either. The road ahead would indeed be a long one, and Sahfri's words still resonated within him much as aether would within a dragonshard. The road before him would not be easy... Therefore he needed more than just the refinement of his strength and power, he needed to realize what it was he wanted to fight for in all this, what it was that made his convictions unshakeable when he charged into battle.
Even now as he sat there watching the city and the sky, Rickter couldn't help but continually imagine what the future held. While he could see it going a number of ways, however, it was the subtle change in Talon that led him to focus on reality once more. He seemed a bit troubled, or rather, bothered by something that troubled his mind. It became evident as to what it could have stemmed from not long after, as the raven-winged warrior Aoren came to return to the Prince's fold once more. In watching the Avialae return Rickter raised an eyebrow slightly, mindful of the quiet tension that seemed palpable between them. They were at a distance it would seem, a likely result of the punishment the Iron Queen projected onto the Knight-Captain. It troubled him slightly to see the two at such distances, because deep down the wolf knew he was already the same.
He kept people at arm's length for a very important reason, that reason being the fact he didn't want others burdened with his own matters. Rickter always remained guarded even when he felt lonely, because to risk others being involved with his life, felt more than just a burden on behalf of the wolf. Given the circumstances of his past growing up, it was no difficult task to see why that reason was. Two dead mothers and a father that walked out on him when he was young, neverminding that man wasn't really his father like one expected him to be. Regardless attachment of that level was rare for Rickter, mostly because he couldn't bear to live through the ordeal of losing another family member again. If the same could be said of his friends?
Well, he certainly wasn't going to fuss over the matter. Cold this period would seem between them, Rickter knew they'd come out stronger together because of it. Of that, he felt certain, which is why he simply lowered his head briefly, when Aoren joined his fellow guard watching over Talon. So when the time came to see what the Prince had to say about the soul gem, the wolf watched curiously in turn, waiting to hear what it was the silver-winged Avialae would have to share in turn. Mostly by this point, Rickter had found Talon as not just a voice of reason... but a voice of insight as well. There was no denying the wisdom found in his philosophy, and how much the wolf started to adopt those philosophies with his own. Perhaps he was changing for the better in this case, as he certainly wasn't leading the simple life of an ordinary man no longer.
But then would he ever?
The examination of the soul gem combined with the antics of the prince made Rickter softly groan, as he eventually came to accept the gem when it was handed back over to him. He was to be the new warden of this soul now?... The actions that led this poor soul... the consequences that made it into the very prison it served now... Innately he didn't want the burden of responsibility, but then the wolf would only be shirking his duties as the warden. It was in his hands now to determine how that soul would earn its reprieve, before the wolf himself would dictate whether its new purpose would set it free in the end. "Very well," He ruminated with a hint of reluctance, admittedly just barely able to maintain the eye contact Talon made with him prior, "I'll consider what purpose this soul shall carry out then. Rest assured I'll see to it that it helps those, instead of harming them as you've expressed. "
Although... he hadn't the slightest idea as to what that role could be just yet. It did interest him to consider it though, seeing as how he'd never been the judge of another's own soul. Power over an entity such as that never should have rested in the hands of mortals, and yet Necromancy somehow made it a practice many could do so easily. It still turned his stomach, to this day, just thinking about the horrors that soul faced when alive; leading up to its final moments before Sahfri herself gave the stone to the wolf. "Thank you for this, it's actually been a pleasant visit." The wolf admittedly plainly though with some small trace of humility in his eyes, albeit they were cast once more out into the open sky while he remained seated for the time. "In the coming days ahead I'll be preparing for the trials themselves."
As he expressed this Rickter started with slipping his shoes back on, more or less getting ready to head off whenever he did so, with an indirect stare given to Talon once more while he finished. "In that time you can expect me to consider the words we've shared today. Until then, Prince Talon, I look forward to our next meeting." He offered a very slight yet noticeable smirk, showing that he did at least enjoy himself while he visited. In rising onto his feet the wolf then gave a bow, for courtesy, before turning to leave the gardens that Talon rested within.
"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."
