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The click of Asterin's heels vibrated in her ears as she walked down the back alley that would lead out to the town square before the castle of King Vilen. She had traveled on foot from Eneles, which wasn't much of a journey since she lived near the outskirts of the kingdom. Asterin wished to go out and see the world. She wanted nothing more than to find an excuse to leave her dusty little wooden shack of a shop in west Eneles and experience life the way she felt it was meant to be experienced. For her, finding the crown wasn't a matter of gaining a higher quality of life in the castle -no- she would most likely pass the opportunity to a peasant.

See, Asterin was a young lady in a kingdom of greedy, self absorbed people, never bothering to take the time to stop and enjoy life for what it was; a gift and a miracle. It bothered her to no end. Day after day, all she could do was create pocket dimensions for those greedy hoarders to satisfy their need to posses and own. It was in Rin's nature, her blood, to long for peace. Such was the way of the Elkrit people, and Asterin knew the only way she would escape the foul life she had made for herself, was to set out on this quest. It was an opportunity given to her by the gods. A miracle. And Asterin would not let it pass her up.

Soon Asterin found herself standing among the bustle that buzzed before Vilen Castle, everyone speaking excitedly as they passed by. Groups of small children giggled and awed as stories were shared of the recent events; the stolen crown. Words came into earshot and quickly faded into the noise of people as Asterin walked through the clusters of people. 'It's around here somewhere...' Rin thought in a frustrated tone. Upon entering the city she had learned that there was an inn and tavern near the castle gates that was full of travelers looking to take on the challenge to find the crown. That was where she had to go to find a partner, a few traveling companions to protect her on this dangerous journey. Asterin wasn't an air-headed woman. She knew this journey would be dangerous, she had already heard the many stories of travelers being killed by bandits hiding in valley trails and forest paths looking for the crown. Asterin would need company to keep her safe, she was skilled with staffs and axes but she didn't have the strength to fight on her own, she was just a young lady after all. Just then Rin's eyes fell upon the sign that had been described to her by many other travelers and townsfolk. It was a sign made of iron rods, crafted and bent in a way so that they appeared as fantastical vines. At the center was a blue crystal that shimmered in the sunlight. Here was the Mayburry Inn.

Asterin stood up straight and held her chin high as she pushed open the wooden door to the tavern. She wasn't afraid, but she didn't want to appear timid to the adventurers within. As the door swung shut behind her Asterin's eyes calmly scanned the area with a look of settle content. The place was clean, free of dirt and dust as was common in most taverns. It was obvious that the location of the Mayburry Inn helped to bring in enough profit to keep the place tidy. Glasses clinked and men chuckled and rambled out stories to their buddies as Asterin strode confidently to a wooden table near the bar. The click of her heels on the stone floor warranted a couple of glances from the patrons but Rin didn't mind it. She pulled away the metal stool and sat at the table, her legs tucking comfortably underneath her. "And now to wait." Asterin sighed to herself, stretching out her arms. She would sit and listen to the conversation around her. Silently picking out the Inn's regulars from the newcomers and the foreigners beginning their quest. When she thought she found someone suitable to travel with, Asterin would approach them.

(Mind if I remake my intro post?)

Like many others who had caught wind of the quest to recover King Valin's stolen crown, Karsten made his way to the Mayburry Inn. This was the main place travelers and townsfolk came to rest and unwind after long days of journey and work, so it was usually always bustling with activity from what Karsten had heard. Right now the place was filled by aspiring adventurers, and there were even more people outside preparing themselves for the journey up ahead. Some bought food and supplies while others had their weapons and armor examined, repaired or made by the skilled blacksmiths of the town.

Karsten himself was already prepared to take on his journey. He carried a pack with him large enough to hold several food items, drinks, and supplies, but it was small enough that he could carry it around comfortably without habing to worry too much about tiring out quickly. Unlike others, he carried no armor with him, just a skillfully crafted, sharp, and ornate sword by his side. It really was a beautiful piece befitting of his luxuror status, and other folk noticed this along with his nice clothing. Most stared at Karsten for a while before minding their own business, but there were some people who apparently weren't too fond of his kind. They gave him a few scowls and comments, but Karsten ignored them and continued to carry himself with authority and pride. He sat himself at a nearby table and ordered some food and a drink from the person at the counter. Might as well have a good meal before setting off. Afterall, Karsten could usually hold off his hunger for a long period of time so long as he had a sizeable meal to eat however many hours ago.

As he waited, Karsten thought of all that he would see and experience in this quest he was about to undertake. It was all quite exciting really, he would finally be able to put his skills in combat to good use, and most importantly.... his magic. It was the reason he was confident in his ability to travel more lightly than the other adventurers. A few strong blasts of arcane power and a rune or two to debilitate a target, and Karsten coukd have any threat out of the way in no time. He hoped at least. Karsten had to ask himself though...

"Why am I even taking on this journey?"

Afterall, it would distance him greatly from the comforts of his home. The servants and the ability to have anything he wanted with so much as a wave, the food, the books... like he thought, everything. Karsten was no spoiled brat though. He took on this quest as a chance to test and improve his skills, and as an opportunity to do something good for the ruler of the kingdom and its stability. Along with an undoubtedly decent reward, Karsten had many motives why he was taking this mission on even though he could very well be killed during it.

"Honors are not given to cowards..."

Karsten's meal soon arrived much to his pleasure, and when he began to eat he noticed an Elkrit young lady sitting by herself. An adventurer? No... she could have just been a customer here at the Inn, but didn't her kind usually stick to their homelands and whatnot?

(I don't mind, also I've added a map to the OOC's "The World of Tailea" section)

Asterin was sitting at the table, listening casually to the chatter around her, her Elkrittian ears sharply picking up any conversation she focused on. She rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward, propping her head up with her fist against her jaw. Her free hand, hanging off the table, toyed with her belt and parallel acorn. Asterin's ears twitched around like antennae as she listened. To other's she would have looked rather angry when in reality she was just concentrating. A waitress walked up to Rin's table and asked if she would like anything. Having been caught off guard, Asterin perked up with a startled expression, stuttering out an apology and asking for a bowl of whatever soup they had at the moment. As Asterin nodded a thank-you to the woman, she caught a glimpse of a man looking at her from the corner of her eye.

Tilting her head, Asterin glanced at the stranger with a gentle smile and returned her gaze to the corner of the room where she had been staring all this time while listening in to the conversations around her. 'Strange' she thought, but payed little mind. 'Well I suppose I would see more well dressed people in a royal city.' Rin rationalized to herself. This was very true. Asterin grew up in Lupun, a simple village far from the Royal City of Eneles. There in that village where the people lived mostly off fishing and trade she'd rarely see people so well dressed; unless of course someone from the Royal City was passing through to the Royal City of Lusche and happened upon her shop as they were running out of storage space in their trunks during their long journey.

Karsten gave the Elkrit girl a quick nod of acknowledgement and greeting before turning his attention back to his food. He had been observing her for a few moments now and didn't want to come off as rude, strange, or even suspicious to her and anyone else that may have been watching him. That could have raised quite a few unnecessary problems in the Inn, and right now all Karsten wanted to do was relax for a while before setting off on his search.

The food was good, as would be expected from a well known and reputable Inn in a royal city. Perhaps it wasn't as good as the cooking in his home, but it was satisfying enough. Karsten usually wasn't picky with food either way unless it was downright awful. As he finished up his plate and drink, he thought back to the Elkrit girl. She was rather comely, and she seemed to have that "feel" of magical access about her. What skills she actually had was something Karsten didn't know, but it did make him wonder even more if she was another person about to set off to try and find Valin's lost crown. Why not go ask her? Karsten thought it would be nice to travel alongside someone for at least a brief while. Then there was also the fact that there were already several reports of criminals falling upon adventurers out on the roads, and a girl like her, especially a girl of a non-human race, could be vulnerable by herself...

Having set up his finished plate and cup neatly on the table and leaving the required payment with the Innkeeper at the counter, Karsten made his way over to her calmly. Hands in his coat's pockets, he spoke to her.

"Hello... I was wondering, are you considering taking on the search for Valin's crown?"

As the waitress set a bowl of some sort of fishy soup down in front of Asterin, the young man from before approached her table. She listened to him as he spoke though her eyes were on her food and she stirred the steaming soup slowly. He spoke calmly, though his hands were hidden in his pockets. This made Rin slightly uneasy. While anywhere else this would have been fine, common even, in a big city there were thieves and those wishing to do harm. For all Rin knew this man could have a knife in his pocket or some kind of enchanted weapon.

Asterin lifted a spoonful of watery flesh to her lips "Yes, why do you ask?" she gave him a sidelong stare while eating, never bothering to turn her head towards the stranger. It wasn't that she was trying to scare him away, or seem rude. Rather, this was how she kept her guard up. She motioned with her free hand to the stool on the other side of the table, gesturing for the man to sit.

Karsten took a seat opposite from the girl at her motion. He was slightly irritated after noticing that she hadn't even bothered to look in his direction as acknowledgement, Karsten thought that most of the people of the other races were more courteous to others, especially Elkrits who followed the ideals of peace and harmony. No matter, it wasn't like something such as her not looking in his direction was immediately going to make him angry.

"Right now this inn is bustling with activity," Karsten began to say in response to her question, "When usually its activity sparks up during evening and night time. It's midday, and many people are here because they're taking one last moment of leisure before heading off to search for the lost crown."

Karsten looked away for a moment and to the other people. Still full, although he did notice some new people at tables that were originally being used by others. They must have left already.

"I figured you wouldn't be here unless you were planning on doing the same. Also, I couldn't help but notice that you have that 'presence' about you," Karsten said as he formed a small ball of magic in his palm before making it dissipate.
"You know, the presence typically felt around those who also practice magic?"

Asterin finished her food as the young man spoke. She nodded occasionally and made eye contact between bites of food to show that she was in fact listening. She watched as the man demonstrated his abilities for her, controlling his magic and then shooing it away. Rin smiled gently, her eyes showing the smile as well. She didn't think she had to put this stranger off anymore. If he were up to any tricks he would have done something by now, and if he were scheming to do something later, well Asterin would be smart enough to see it.

"Heh, yes. I do know. In Eneles, I am known as the Parallel Magi." Rin giggled, her voice soft and welcoming to the stranger. She stood from the table, pulling her belt from under her coat. She held the center in her hand; an acorn wrapped up in between the strands of the rope that made up her belt. She slowly waved her hand across the notch, and as her hand pulled away a staff materialized in her palm. She then layed it on the table for the man to see. It was a six foot iron staff adorn at the top with a rose formed from the metal, and thorns wrapping around the staff midway down.

Smiling with pride in her eyes, Asterin sat back down, placing her hands on top of the staff. "So," Asterin sighed calmly, "What really brings you to my table?"

Karsten smiled at the Elkrit girl's display of her magic. It certainly was impressive to see even if it was just a mere fraction of what she was truly capable of. He thought a bit about the name of the magic he had just seen. Was that the type of magic that allowed its users to create "pocket dimensions"? Interesting, Karsten had read about it in his books and may have heard once or twice about it from his parents whenever they returned from depositing small portions of wealth, but this was the first time he had actually seen it in person. The girl then asked him a question, and Karsten promptly answered.

"I noticed you were alone first of all, and if you really were planning on adventuring in search of the crown I feared it may have been a bit too dangerous for you..."

Karsten paused. What he just said made it sound as if he were doubting her ability to care for herself or something of the sort, so he quickly came up with an explanation.

"Not to say I believe you're incapable of being on your own, I just know for a fact that many of the land's criminals have fallen upon other questers even if they were traveling with others. The... non-human races have also been prime targets for them. Didn't think it'd be good on my part to not suggest accompanying you, especially since I too am taking on the same quest."

He waited for her response.

The young lady squinted questioningly at the stranger. She took none of his words to offence, however she thought it was suspicious still that he had approached her so suddenly. The waitress from earlier stood by the table and asked Asterin if she was finished. She thought for a second before ordering a glass of cider. "Want one?" Rin's head tilted towards the man. "I'd like to sit and chat with you before I take you up on your offer... It's on me."

Karsten glanced at the waitress and then back to the Elkrit lady. A glass of cider didn't sound too bad, he always did like to have a drink or two while talking with other people. However, he'd be paying for himself, and he explained this to the girl before ordering a glass of cider of his own

"Let's not be indebted to others," he told himself in his mind. Though he was not an overly haughty luxuror, Karsten preferred to not bring himself to receive material aid from those of a seemingly lower class than himself.

"Now then," he spoke up with a small smile, "I believe we've yet to introduce ourselves. My name is Karsten, and you are...?"
The luxuror extended his hand to her in a formal greeting.

Asterin watched as the man ordered for himself and the waitress carried on her normal duties, walking back to the bar with her notepad in hand. "Karsten... Okay. I'm Asterin Coleridge." she repeated his name over and over again in her head, Rin was never very good with names. She took his hand firmly. While they waited for the waitress to return with their drinks Asterin decided to begin on some light conversation. "You look very well off. If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing risking your life to search for something so useless to you?" Asterin leaned on the table, resting her hand on top of her staff.

Asterin Coleridge. That was a rather nice name, thought Karsten as he shook her hand with a nod. He took the time listening to her question about why he was risking his life even though he was quite well off. It wasn't really that hard of a question to answer.

"Me? I'm doing this to finally put my skills into use, and to bring even more wealth and recognition to my family. On a deeper level though... personal honor. I do this to actually do something of meaning in my life, and to consider myself worthy of having all that I own."

Despite the serious, thoughtful tone in Krein's voice, Asterin felt slightly uneasy about his reasons. This man, though he looked wealthy and intelligent, seemed to be making an uneducated mistake. "Oh..." Rin shifted slightly as she sipped her drink, "don't you think that's a bit... Silly?" Asterin paused. "I mean- just the thought of it. There are poor, needy people going out and risking their lives not for the sake of saying they could, but because they need the stability and protection under the King." the blonde reasoned gently. She didn't realize just how offensive she sounded.

(You mean Karsten's voice xD?)

Karsten bit his lower lip slightly when he heard Asterin's words. She technically was right, and he had admittedly not even considered the people who were of a lesser class than he was. Did it even matter to him? While Karsten occasionally pitched in a few helpful donations to help those in poverty, he never really gave them a second thought and probably didn't even care as much as he was supposed to. Now that this girl mentioned it though...

"I suppose you have a point. But still, who's to say I personally won't use my bolstered influence to make the king pay a bit more attention to those in more impoverished conditions?"

(( Whoops, that's what I get for posting while in class, huh? Sorry 'bout that))

A smile wiggled across Rin's lips. She was glad to hear it. "Ah I see... Are you from here?" She sipped away at her drink, listening the all the conversation going on around her. She wondered if she should find someone else to join her in her journey. She glanced casually over her shoulder and scanned the room, the place was filling up. The chatter grew louder and the place took on a sort of exciting vibe.

"Yes, my family owns much of the open land around these parts," Karsten explained. "We've done some searches for the crown in our parts though, so starting there wouldn't do much good."

Karsten noticed the place begin to fill up even more. How long had they been here already? He also wondered when they'd be leaving for the quest, if Asterin did accept his offer of aid. If not, he'd just head off on his own.

"Mm." Asterin mumbled in response. She finished off her drink and leaned against the table. "So what makes you so confident about this journey? Do you really think you can stay alive?" her tone held a gentle curious note and she summoned up some coins from her pocket dimension to pay the waitress for her drink. As the woman walked up to take the silver from Rin's hands she presented another silver coin and slipped it noticeably into the pocket of the waitress' apron. "Thank you for serving us so well on such a busy day, Miss." Asterin smiled up at the lady with closed eyes.

Karsten smiled a bit at Asterin's demeanor, reclining back a bit himself as he fished out some coins from his pocket and handing it to the waitress.

"Keep the rest," he said, obviously giving her a generous tip. Karsten often would do this whenever he went out and was waited upon by others, simply as a sign of appreciation and as an attempt to help them out a bit with their pay.

"So..." he started turning back to Asterin, "For your question.... I've been practicing my magic and sword fighting techniques for quite a while now. Contrary to popular belief, not all luxuror families allow their children to be spoiled and lazy."

Karsten began to form a small magic sphere in his palm that he then launched at an empty mug on the table. It knocked it off, but before it could hit anything the magic warped itself around it at Karsten's command, basically holding it in place midair. He then brought it back to the table.

"Now just picture that, but on a larger and more powerful scale. That's just a mere display of what I can do, and my magic goes deeper than just this."

Karsten looked at Asterin once more, noting her deep violet eyes as he made eye contact.

"So you tell me why you're confident on taking this journey on."