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[center][color=lightgray][h3]*   *   *[/h3][/color][/center]
[center][sub]Interacting with: [@Dark Light][@The Muse][@c3p-0h][/sub][/center]

[color=lightgray]As Aliseth called out, Charlotte found herself quickly following Elio down the stairs. The soft leather of boots landed gently on each step as she descended, her breath fogging before her in the still tower air. [color=A54343][i]Remember, stay calm. Ice cold, no emotions.[/i][/color] The recruit took a moment to tug at each of the buckles holding her half-plate chestpiece against her, before repeating the process for her shield. 

With a deep breath, she dropped her facial expression altogether before exiting the protection of the tower. She briefly winced as a gust of wind caught her off-guard and its icy chill hit the side of her face, but carried on with a confident walk towards the group before her.

[color=A54343][i]Ice cold.[/i][/color]

Stopping just shy, Charlotte planted the base of her shield into the snow at her feet before standing at attentive rest. Her dominant hand rested on her belt, eyes flicking between the figures before her as they spoke. Aliseth was familiar enough to her, the two had crossed paths in the barracks earlier. Then, there was obviously the strikingly gorgeous but-still-nameless stranger. Past both of them, however, was a woman of slim-build that stood as frozen as Charlotte felt. She raised a brow internally but remained unmoving otherwise. The time for questions would be later.

As Elio spoke towards Aliseth--and quite boldly at that--she bit her tongue to hide the smirk that threatened to betray her. The amusement within was short-lived however, as her superior landed a blow against her short-lived acquaintance and likely-saviour. The recruit’s eyes widened and she stepped forward instinctively.

[color=A54343][i]What the— [/i][/color]

Charlotte’s breath hitched as she watched the blow land, the sickening crack of fist against flesh echoing in her ears. Her fingers twitched toward the hilt of her sword, her trained instinct warring with reason. This is wrong. She knew it in her gut, in every lesson drilled into her since the day she took her oath. Guards were meant to protect, not brutalize. They were meant to be the role models, unwavering despite adversity.

And yet—her superior stood tall, almost unchallenged, the weight of rank shielding him more than any armor ever could. If she spoke up, what then? A reprimand? A demotion? Worse? She was still just a recruit, barely trusted with more than patrol duty. 

But Elio had helped her, given her information that had she lacked, would have probably earned herself a reprimand anyways.

[color=A54343][i]I guess it was never meant to be, being a guard.[/i][/color]

Before she could initially act, however, a blast of wind ripped the two apart like nothing she’d ever seen before. Charlotte’s eyes darted around looking for its source before landing on the slim woman. The mystery woman was a sage then, and a powerful one judging by the fluidity of her movements and the sheer force behind the magic she’d conjured. 

Charlotte found herself momentarily biting back the same smirk from before.

[color=A54343][b]“That’s enough!”[/b][/color] She shouted, unintentionally in unison with the other woman’s command. Charlotte’s voice was stern, firm and commanding despite her rank. It was practiced in tone and its volume clearly meant for the louder streets of Aurelia.
 
With a slow but deliberate motion, she approached and placed her dominant hand onto Eris’ wrist and gently guided it down. Charlotte gave Eris a knowing look before continuing onwards towards Aliseth. Every fibre of her being screamed at her to back down, but on the surface her demeanor was unwavering. Piercing eyes locked with Aliseth’s, her shield half-raised towards him and her legs spread in a defensive stance.

[color=A54343]“Stand down, we do not strike unprovoked.”[/color] Her loud tone dropped to a lower, not-quite-venomous one.

There was no backing down now.[/color]