[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/jHL17eH.png[/img][/center][hr][sub][color=lightpink]Location: Outside the Inn[/color][/sub][hr][hr]
It wasn’t a moment after Elara left Amaya’s side that a stranger filled the space. Amaya had to crane her neck to look up at him, looming above her like an evergreen. It was the second time this morning she’d found herself in a man’s shadow – and the second time a man’s sudden approach set her on edge. 

He looked at her with such… [i]anguish[/i]. Like she’d broken some part of him, simply by not being what he’d hoped for. It cut through Amaya, freezing the blood in her veins. Even as he seemed to put that part of himself away, smothering his panic with something more expressionless, Amaya was still captivated by his eyes – and how desperate he seemed to want something from her that she didn’t know how to give. 

His smile was charming. And hollow. She knew the shape of it like it was her own. 

And then with a shout he was crumbling in on himself. Amaya pulled away instinctively, gasping to her feet. At the same time, Elara jumped forward, helping to steady him and sit him down on a stool.

Elara, with all her quiet compassion and patience, whose first instinct always seemed to be to move towards those in need. Not Amaya, though – no, where Elara moved to embrace, Amaya withdrew, always looking for who she needed to guard herself against. And something about this man set her on edge. 

There was the clatter of armor, as a few guards standing at the perimeter of the square hurried towards their Princess, in the face of some potential threat. But Amaya glanced at them, her hand raising slightly at her side. Amaya [i]would not[/i] be the source of a commotion, not on her first real outing amongst the public, and [i]certainly[/i] not after she’d assured Flynn that she could be left alone. The guards stilled. Then they approached at a more casual pace, stopping when they were close enough to act, should they be commanded.

[color=lightpink]“Perhaps some space would be best,”[/color] Amaya said, her fingers touching the side of Elara’s arm lightly, over the thick cloth of her sleeve – a quiet signal to step back. She wanted Elara [i]away[/i] from this man. [color=lightpink]“So that a healer might see to him properly.”[/color] She met the eyes of the nearest guard. He gave her a short nod, then turned towards the inn in search of someone who could provide care. 

Flicking her gaze back to the man, Amaya looked him over. Her magic seemed to rise in her chest, awakening bit by bit. Something about this man, his demeanor, didn’t add up. The way he’d looked at her. How his entire expression had dropped, like he was a puppet whose strings had been cut. How suddenly he’d collapsed, revealing an angry, fetid injury that even now he tried to hide. Amaya couldn’t get a good look at it, but even still she could tell it was something garish, all slow oozing blood and colorful flesh. How had he even [i]walked[/i] on it?

[color=lightpink]“You must be in tremendous pain,”[/color] Amaya said, soft and soothing. But she caught Elara’s eye for a heartbeat. And then she slipped back into her role again. [color=lightpink]“I assure you, the feast was not so important that you needed to risk further injury to yourself to attend.”[/color] Her mouth quirked up into a half-smile, practiced humor staining her voice, even as she looked on with an expression of concern. 

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[sub][color=fa8072]Location: Inside the Inn[/color][/sub]

The guard entered the inn, pausing as he saw some sort of performance taking up everyone’s attention. He glanced around, eyes scanning for someone familiar, but it was difficult to move about the crowd without disturbing the festivities. Finally he settled on approaching a large Aurelian man with a red nose, tilting in his seat and oddly entertained by the show. 

[color=FA8072]“Is there a healer in the vicinity?”[/color] the guard said in a low voice, trying to not disturb the performance or draw too much attention. [color=FA8072]“No cause for concern, but there’s been an incident outside.”[/color]

The man looked up at the guard, seemingly annoyed at having his attention pulled. He shrugged. 
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[color=lightpink][sub]Interaction: Elara Moonshadow [@Qia], Vellion Hurst [@Dark Light], Aurora Halliwell [@BlackRoseSiren][/sub][/color]