[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7fDcdLx.png[/img][hr][sub]Collaboration with [@Dezuel] | Location: Sun Temple[/sub] [/center] Paladice glanced over his shoulder, watching as the prince and princess continued along their way, alongside their guards. He thought he momentarily saw the princess turn to look back. While the interaction had been brief, it was telling him plenty just what kind of person Flynn was. His behaviour on the stage was entirely different to how he had just appeared. With such a heavy burden parted unto him, perhaps it was not an odd thing. But he wasn't the only one who had to bear a burden, at least the princess would be carrying it as well. Although the burdens would come in different ways. As they always did. Not all pieces upon the great board could move however they pleased. Prince Flynn was indeed a different person when he stood upon the stage than how he was off it. It almost felt like he wanted to run. As if he wanted to run away from a destiny someone else had decided for him. The warrior-monk could understand this fully, after all.. he had been the same. Although with some clear differences. When it came to the princess she had seemingly allowed the prince to lead the way. An odd sight considering what kind of man her father was, but perhaps she had inherited the other traits of her late mother. Perhaps that was for the better of everyone involved. No doubt there would be both more questions and answers to be had later. The blonde was intending to speak with them both again. Alone. It would be crucial, or the fate of the world would be to burn… Patience was the key. Perhaps even a greater key than the prophesied child that was to mend the world. The warrior-monk began to walk away from the path, tracing along the outer parts of Dawnhaven when the weather took a turn for the worse. [color=6ecff6][i]'Tch. Pestersome winter.'[/i][/color] He thought and narrowed his eyes, his hood blowing off causing his blonde hair to flow freely in the wind, and that's when he noticed someone far off in the distance, away from the buildings. Someone was out wandering through the snowy storm? [color=6ecff6][i]'Oh? Some unfortunate soul out there alone left for the wolves? Like I was...' [/i][/color]He thought and looked to the sky. [color=6ecff6][i]'Some men flee from the looming doom, others charge towards it in complete defiance. I will write my story ending myself. Watch my defiance and despair goddesses!'[/i][/color] Paladice began to move out into the deeper snow towards the figure in the distance, he raised his leather glove and called forth a gout of flame in his hand and used it to reach out from his hand, as if making a large hand of fire, then he show it through the sky from where he walked hurriedly through the deep snow. [color=6ecff6]"Over here! This way!"[/color] He yelled as he got closer, knowing that he had to yell many times the same line, the wind doing its best to silence him. He rushed over through the snow towards the slow moving figure, trying to get a view of who the person was. Knowing fully well it could be a hostile blightborn. The warrior-monk wasn't a born native to the Lunaris climate, while he had lived in the land, it was still not something he could get used to or enjoy. [color=6ecff6][i]'Wretched wind, wretched winter. Wretched snow witch.'[/i][/color] He mentally cursed Seluna and pressed forwards [color=6ecff6]"Who goes there?! Dawnhaven is this way! Need a hand?!"[/color] He yelled out as he got closer, now being able to see the snow-drenched person in front of him. Tia was exhausted. She was [i]cold.[/i] She moved forward inch by inch on unsteady legs. All the while, snow obscured her vision, an opaque white fog that swallowed her whole – [i][right]– an opaque purple fog sitting heavy on the land in the distance. It loomed like a spectre, waiting to consume.[/right][/i] Her teeth chattered in her head. She couldn’t feel her limbs. The weight of her own robes bore down on her, heavy with a thick layer of snow – [i][right]– with a thick layer of blood, a crimson so deep it was nearly black as it saturated the fabric. Her voice was gone.[/right][/i] Her voice was gone. Tia squinted through the storm. Something glowed in the distance – golden and [i]warm[/i]. Her last dredges of energy pushed her towards it. [i][color=lemonchiffon]Help.[/color][/i] Beneath the glow was a figure, dark fabric billowing around them. They were fighting through the snow to try and get to her. [i][color=lemonchiffon]Please.[/color][/i] She nearly collapsed into the person – a man, her sluggish brain realized – when they finally reached her. Paladice had acted quickly, reaching out to try catch her before she would fall into the snow. The warrior-monk reached for her face with one of his gloved hands, as if trying to cup her cheek to get a view of her face, to see if she was responsive and hanging in there. But also to see who she was.[color=6ecff6] "Keep your hands in your clothes! This one-man carriage is taking off right now!"[/color] He said in a reassuring tone of voice, before taking off his cloak and attaching it around her. He then raised his left hand towards the direction of which he had come , he had made sure to walk in a straight line as much as he could. He then channelled his magic and shot out a line of fire from his hand, aiming straight ahead with as much force as he could muster. The fire wouldn't last long, but that was fine. He only needed it to carve a path through the snow and make the pathway easier. [color=6ecff6]"Excuse me!"[/color] He said aloud and then attempted to swoop Tia up into his arms into a princess carry, whilst neatly wrapped into his cape. Time was important, it was about time this piece on the board to move. [color=6ecff6]"My my you are quite light! Keep your eyes open! This will be over soon!"[/color] He said with a reassuring look on his face, looking at her face before he started to quickly move forwards, following the line he had made with his fire spell. The sooner they would be out of the blistering cold the better, the more he moved the more heat he would produce on his own and ward off the chill. [color=6ecff6][i]'This girl won't last long in this cold, and if I take too long, I will join her. Not going to happen you petty goddesses! Bring it forth. Try to stop me if you can!'[/i][/color] He mentally issued his challenge, not knowing if anything would hear him. But to him it didn't matter, he would aid this woman which fate had attempted to play a cruel ploy upon. His blue eyes would look down to her eyes from time to time to check on her, he had to make sure she wouldn't go unconscious no matter what. Tia clung to him, shivering under the layers of cloth and snow. But he was warm, as he commanded the fire. Her dark eyes fluttered, energy giving out as her body lost the urge to fight through the cold. [color=lemonchiffon]“T…temple…”[/color] Her rasping voice was almost inaudible in the wind. [color=6ecff6]"Hm?"[/color] Paladice glanced down, as best as he could, whilst being barraged by the snow, his hair now being fully swept backwards and for the most part with snow and ice all over it. His ears were taking much of the brunt of the chilling wind and his face, but his hands and feet were doing fine. The missing cloak did however expose his body to the cold more, but on the other hand, less air-resistance on his way forwards. 'Temper?' He pondered, what about his temper? That's what she said, no? Or did she try to mention the temperature? Well, he couldn't stop and ponder it. He rushed forwards, carrying Tia and making sure he didn't make any accidental steps or slipped. He was a trained acrobat and a monk, if there was someone in the world able to keep his balance. It had to be him. Soon he could make out the silhouettes of buildings ahead. Temporary salvation from the biting cold. He did feel some relief, but the buildings were not the same ones he had departed from. The one which caught his attention looked like a more formal building. [color=6ecff6][i]'A temple? I see the goddesses have a sense of humour after all. I suppose we shall have a little truce for now.'[/i][/color] He grunted as he thought about stepping into a temple again, as that was indeed what the building looked like. It had been many years since he had been in one or something like it. The monks very seldomly left the monastery, and when they did it was to acquire supplies or pray at the temple. How he despised being forced to accompany them to it. But that was then. It was time to focus on the present. These sorts of temples usually had braziers or places where they would heat up the buildings in question, there was no choice. He had to step into one of the den of sins, the other one being the inn. He made his way with hurried steps up to the building, momentarily letting Tia down, but leaning down to hold her steady as he opened the door and stepped inside, helping her lean on him. Then he used his foot to close the door behind them. The temple was alright. For a temple. There was a big fire lit. Perfect. The blonde man, who now sported icy hair looked over Tia, smiling softly before picking her up again, carrying her over to the fire and putting her down. [color=6ecff6]"I'll be right back."[/color] He said softly in a reassuring tone as he went to relentlessly search for any blankets within the place. Once having found a couple, the warrior-monk returned to the young woman. They were both afflicted by the cold, they had to discard the outer layers of their attire. As Paladice quickly took off his gauntlets and his breastplate, which normally was quite cool, but now it was like wearing ice itself. He gave his arms a few stretches and then looked over at Tia. He had to show her that they had to momentarily discard their snow covered clothing. There wasn't time. He took off his shirt, revealing his muscular chest and the large tattoo on his chest depicting an alchemical symbol. The blue eyed warrior swiftly moved over to help Tia take off her coat, boots and outerwear. Leaving her wearing a base layer robe which was still dry. He then put one of the blankets on the floor, urging her to sit on it close to the fire, while placing the other over her shoulders. Lastly he grimaced at the blanket he was left with himself. How many pretentious priests had cuddled with it? He didn't know. He didn't care. They had made it. So far. [color=6ecff6]"What's your name? I go by the name of Gadez Paladice…"[/color] He said in a soft, slightly weary tone. The use of his fire spell, wandering through the blizzard and having to carry Tia had done a great job at tiring him. Or perhaps it was the thought of being in one of the homes of Aelios? The blonde reached out for her hand, trying to feel it. [color=6ecff6]“Still cold?”[/color] Tia melted into the blanket, nearly blinded with relief. She was still shivering violently, but the temple was [i]warm[/i]. She didn’t have the presence of mind to be embarrassed at this stranger undressing her, seeing the wicked scars that were carved along her neck. [color=lemonchiffon]“Tingara Tomae,”[/color] she breathed out. Her name was a soft, broken sound that fractured in the air. She turned her gaze to look at him, finally. But she was so exhausted, she had to fight to get her eyes to focus on him. [color=lemonchiffon]“Tia… Thank you.”[/color] [color=6ecff6]“Tia? Such a defining name, as defining as the marks upon your neck. I have a mark myself. Although mine is self-inflicted."[/color] He seemed genuinely intrigued, then moved his hand over to the tattoo on his chest, then reached over with his hand towards her neck. Seeking to softly trace two of his fingers along her scar, before ending his fingertip under her chin. [color=6ecff6]"Your name.. it means princess, or goddess.. depending on which interpretation one goes by. In our world, we all interpret things differently."[/color] He smiled softly, his blue eyes staring into hers. Tia froze as she felt his fingers trace her scars, breath stopping in her throat. All she could do was stare back at him, her dark eyes meeting his. [i]That is not what your name means,[/i] her mother’s voice whispered to her in a language she hadn’t heard in years. [center][color=2e2c2c][sub][i]What is your name, child?[/i][/sub][/color][/center]Tia’s hand tightened around the little ring that she’d been clutching since the lake. Then she tilted her head away from his touch, gaze shifting from stunned to apprehensive. She looked at him — really [i]looked[/i] at him, with his athletic build and his tattoo… but most of all, his piercing, searching eyes. And then she looked away, turning her gaze to the crackling fire of Aelios. But her attention stayed on Gadez. [color=6ecff6]"I hope my appearance doesn't unsettle you? I have seen various blightborn within Dawnhaven. A one-eyed one, a wandering living torch and someone with blazing eyes. I suppose I do stand out a bit."[/color] He chuckled softly as he moved a hand up to adjust his hair which was slowly becoming less frozen, the melted water trailing down his chest in droplets. [color=6ecff6]"But then again, so do you. That isn't a bad thing. Perhaps someday you'll tell me how you received that scar, or that ring upon your finger? Among other things. Such as what drove you out into the snowy storm?"[/color] He smiled softly and his eyes wandered over Tia from top to toe, he liked what he saw. The young woman was striking his curiosity. What in the world was she doing out in the snow alone? How did she manage to survive whatever caused that scar? This one was extraordinary. [color=6ecff6]"I will tell you a few stories later, if you wish. I suspect this storm may last for a while. The fire may be pretty to gaze into, yet I think there's something far prettier in here than it."[/color] He looked Tia over and then turned to the fire and closed his eyes, his mouth corner turning upwards slightly. Tia listened as his voice mixed with the popping embers, all the while feeling his gaze on her. It was… unsettling. Oddly familiar, in a way she couldn’t place. Guilt swam through her. This man had possibly saved her life, and now she wanted to escape a conversation with him. Perhaps he was just odd. Odd and harmless. His words were benign enough (if a bit… [i]bold[/i]) but something about him had her nerves spinning. Her scar tingled where he’d dragged his fingers along it. She glanced at him, relieved to find that he’d closed his eyes. Biting her lip, she turned back to the fire, and hoped the storm passed soon – if only so she wouldn’t have to find out what her savior saw when he looked at her.