[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/necCR92.png[/img][/center][hr][sub][color=darkorange]Location:[/color] Guard Tower[/sub][hr][hr]

Elio cast a glance over his shoulder as he descended the steps.

[color=darkorange]“And spoil my fun?”[/color] he tossed back at the guard, a note of humor in his voice. His mirth left him though, when he emerged from the guard tower to find a familiar figure stomping his way towards them. His smile dropped. Anger reestablished its hold over him.

[color=darkorange]“Look alive, Cadet,”[/color] he muttered, eyes never leaving Aliseth. When he was close enough, Elio brightened, his voice clearing a path through the falling snow. 

[color=darkorange]“Guard [i]Kain[/i],”[/color] he called, smile wide and eyes sharp. [color=darkorange]“I was hopin’ to see you again. I wanted to thank you for pointing me towards the temple. Body wasn’t Zeph’s.”[/color] Elio watched him, taking in any hint of a reaction – confusion, guilt, [i]smugness[/i]... any clue to whether Aliseth’s bad info had been a lie or a mistake. 

In his mind’s eye, he saw that smile from the tavern again.

[color=darkorange]“Abel’s actually, may Seluna welcome his soul.”[/color] Elio’s gaze flicked over Aliseth’s shoulder, to find a lost little soul trailing after him. He paused though, as recognition flared: [i]Hightower.[/i] She looked dazed and forlorn, with vacant eyes as she floated after Aliseth like a specter. 

Elio found himself oddly… [i]disappointed.[/i] He didn’t know her well, beyond the passing look or comment and her answering flustered blush. But he was used to seeing her move with a certain surety of purpose. She was meant to be the best in her field, as far as Dawnhaven was concerned. Wasn’t she their resident blight expert? And she all but shut down in a crisis? 

Turning his attention back to Aliseth, Elio refocused. 

[color=darkorange]“That blighter must’ve really [i]fucked you up[/i] if you couldn’t tell them apart. Especially since I heard you and Zeph made a joint report to the old captain.”[/color] Elio faked a look of concern. He kept his voice loud, drawing the attention of any in the vicinity close enough to hear. [color=darkorange]“Is it the trauma that’s got you falling to pieces?”[/color] he goaded, lifting a hand to tap two fingers against the side of Aliseth's head. [color=darkorange]“Maybe you should go have a lie down. Seems you're not fit for much at the moment, and it'd be such a shame if the town had [i]another[/i] highborn girl go missing on your watch.”[/color] Elio let the edge back into his voice, eyes flicking back to the sage.

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[sub][color=darkorange]Interactions:[/color] Aliseth Kain [@Dark Light], Charlotte Hawthorne [@SpicyMeatball], Eris Hightower [@The Muse][/sub]