Ithradine

Self-Replicating Factory (Ithradine's Testing Grounds)

Potential XCOM RP

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The start of the 1980s saw an alarming increase in paranormal sightings and disappearances that coincided with said sightings. A number of nations had their own departments to investigate such events, dating as far back as 1950, but only the Japanese 'Kiryu-Kai' were marginally successful. A summit of nations was convened concerning the growing reality of a paranormal threat and the result of the discussion was the creation of the Global Investigation Bureau under the project name: X-COM. A small number of invited parties strongly voiced their concern and remain strong opponents to the project as a whole. The Global Investigation Bureau, or GIB, was tasked with investigating the unusual activity of certain criminal organizations and religious sects as well as reports of strange creatures. Their initial funding and power was limited until they could prove that such an initiative was worth it.

Over the course of the next decade, the G.I.B investigated incidents all over the globe relying on specialized, independent pairs of agents to tackle them. The agents of the G.I.B encountered all manners of creatures and hostile organizations seeped in the paranormal. It was not long after the G.I.B began to engage these hostile organizations that they were soon reclassified as 'Alien Cults'. Through battling these alien cults, the G.I.B. learned that an extraterrestrial force was responsible for all of it and fear of a possible alien invasion began to spread amidst the world leaders. A small, unidentified flying-object was detected and intercepted off the eastern coast of Canada. The recovery of the wreck confirmed the world's worst fear. An imminent invasion by a hostile, alien force. The certainty and severity of the coming crisis prompted the founding nations of the G.I.B. to reorganize it into X-COM, a professional and fully independent military.

Augustus Saul, a veteran G.I.B. agent, was selected as the commander-in-chief of X-COM. Saul immediately sent out agents and recruiters to every part of the globe looking for the personnel ready and willing to give their life to protect humanity. X-COM continued to battle the same threats that their predecessors had while they continued to expand their influence to bases and outposts across the globe. They managed to virtually eradicate all traces of the alien cults from the world by late 2005. The number of paranormal sightings also began to drastically decrease around this time. The nature of the threat had turned the X-COM Project from just a secretive military to a powerful organization with some of the greatest minds of the century.

The current date is August, 11, 2013 and a new batch of rookies is about to arrive at X-COM's main headquarters in a undisclosed location in Europe. This recruiting effort is occurring across the globe at every one of X-COM's bases in preparation for the coming storm, if old intel was to be believed. Every face that scrambled through the underground complex understood the mission entrusted to them by all of Humanity. Fight until the alien menace was defeated. Fight when all others had lost hope. Fight, if needed, to the bitter end.

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Commander Augustus Saul

Augustus Saul is the current commander of the X-COM project and overall leader of the organization. Saul was recruited by the G.I.B. at its foundation alongside his assigned partner, Mariva Silva (K.I.A), and was selected by the Council to lead the next stage of Earth's defense against an extraterrestrial threat. He can be cold at times but he is fully committed to the mission and purpose behind the X-COM project and its members. His experience during his time in the G.I.B., and other senior members, influenced most of the project's operating procedures and training.

Chief Researcher

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• Players are restricted to one character but may make a new one if their first character dies.

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Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Mentions:

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Arton's eyes had briefly looked to his side as Izayoi had darted past him, barely registering in his vision before he refocused on the beasts before him. She did him the favor of taking out two of them when the rest decided they were done waiting. Two were behind him and one came from the same direction that Izayoi had struck down the first two. Arton made the decision to face the two charging his flank, trusting in her to eliminate the other one. He was about to turn his back to faced them two shots ringed in his ears. One beast fell immediately and the other dashed off leaving Arton free to move. The steady burning in his shoulder told him the battle was far from over.

He had begun to move to regroup with Eliane and Izayoi when he noticed Neve take to the field as well. Arton had no lighting bolts or blades of wind to offer...just his flesh and blood. He felt himself humbled even further when Izayoi took down the largest of the creatures with both power and grace. A living work of art. The attack seemed to take a bit of her breath away so while Eliane moved to intercept the rest. Arton pressed up and positioned himself next to her. It was presumptuous to think she would even need his protection, but it was he knew.

Arton's eyes caught sight of a blight beast that weaved and practically skimmed across the ground towards Izayoi, likely sensing the momentary lapse in her defense. Whether or not it was true, he placed himself in between them and braced for the attack. The creature crashed into his shield and using its momentum Arton hurled it over his head. In the same motion, he plunged his sword into its stomach and cut a large gash along its length before it fell back onto the ground motionless. He had barely enough time to react to the second which appeared suddenly. The edge of his shield smashed into the beast's neck just in time to avoid a fierce bite. Arton kept the beast pinned which squirmed and twisted trying to free itself. The tip of his sword plunged just below where the shield held the monster and twisted in place. These attacks were far more savage than the ones he had dealt with deeper into areas afflicted by the Blight. They were lucky.

Fire Emblem: Crestfallen

Mentions: @Psyker Landshark@Ambra

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Roland had been rather surprised with his roommate's candor about their living situation. Their first real conversation was more like a negotiation between two nations, discussing the rules of their shared border. A divider wall served to separate their living spaces and grant them privacy. He wasn't exactly comfortable sharing a room with a woman, much less one he didn't know. Roland resigned himself to dealing with the situation as is, praying to the goddess that a dagger wouldn't end up in his chest one night.

The next morning he woke up rather early to prepare for the day. He then went over to her highness's room and knocked on the door so that he could escort her to class. Her highness had apparently got an earlier jump on the day than he did, so he decided to head to class on his own. Roland was already seated when her highness arrived "How was your night, your highness?" He attempted to inquire as she sat down, but it seemed other matters had her attention. Whatever had gotten her in this mood he hoped it would pass once their professor finally arrived. Roland being the punctual person he was had arrived five minutes early to the class. The tardiness of their instructor was not something he would be quick to forgive.

"Nothing was out of the ordinary." He chimed in. Roland was fully aware of the pressures her highness was under. It was his duty, after all, to bear some of the burden. His father had trained and instructed him to be her highness's right hand man, not just her bodyguard. Her will and dreams superseded any of his own "I agree that it has been a rough start, but I'm sure it will only pick up from here." He did his best to console the princess, even refraining from directly using her title. The only time one would ever hear Roland call her highness by her first name would be if they eavesdropped on a private conversation between them.

"You two seem to be getting along." Roland noted towards Doric after relaxing back into his seat after being ready to intercept the flying sandwich. Truth be told he felt like time was being wasted waiting for the professor to show up. He had plans to try out the training grounds and if there wasn't going to be class he'd know right now.

Fire Emblem: Crestfallen

Mentions: N/A

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Roland checked the board once more to confirm her highness's room number and excused himself from the larger group. He would need to be swift and efficient if he wanted to perform a proper sweep, unpack his things, and be in time for dinner. Roland knocked firmly on the door when he approached it to measure its sturdiness. Content with the results, he examined the lock and gave the doorknob a few rotations. It was not the most advanced security system he'd seen but it'd suffice against basic intruders and delay them until he arrived. With that finished, he entered the room but advanced no further than a few steps.

The furnishings and design of the room were of passable grade for her highness, knowing that the academy did its best not to cater to the nobility over commoners. Roland wasted no starting his examination. His first target were the pair of beds in the room. He had an idea of which one her highness would take but even so his duty required him to check both. Tripwires and magical runes came to mind first followed by secret compartments. Seeing her highness's luggage in the room, Roland was tempted to check them as well for sabotage. Her highness, however, was quite adamant about leaving her belongings alone so he relented.

Roland moved towards the window looking out at the monastery ground, searching for potential sniper locations and/or vantage points. His face tensed up a degree as he noticed plenty of angles an assassin could make use of. Peaks, bastions, outcrops...the architecture of the monastery would make infiltration from the rooftops difficult to detect. The only saving grace was its position on the mountain. Roland turned towards the interior of the room and paused for a moment. Concentration flashed in his eyes as his eyes dart from corner to corner, trying to picture how a potential assassin might rig the room.

Ithradine's Character Storage

Roland Amor Vaughann

[Full Name]
Roland Amor Vaughann

[Alias]
N/A

[Affiliation]
Galbia

[Starting Class]
Commoner

​[Status]
Son of Galbia's Royal Guard Commander

[Crest]
None

[Age]
17​

[Date of Birth]
2nd of the Radiant Moon, Imperial Year 763​

[Appearance Information]
Height comes in around 6'2", with a considerable amount of dense muscle weighing in at 205 pounds. His skin tone is fairly tan due to constant time outdoors. Hair is an ashen black color, kept short and tight with slightly longer bangs that is style to the side. Eyes are a distinct, vibrant amethyst color. Uniform is kept proper and well-maintained, with the only deviation being a decorative pin on his right chest.

[Personality]
Roland is an intensely loyal, fiercely skeptical, and extremely disciplined individual. There is nothing he cares for more than the safety of the one he has been charged to protect. With a duty un-ending, Roland views anything that isn't further his skills as a knight to be a waste of time. He views any strangers as a potential threat and questions the motives of everyone he comes across. Roland fulfills any task, no matter how mundane, with purpose and precision until it has been completed. While he can be forced to adapt, he prefers the security of rules, regulations, and traditions over improvising.

Despite his complete dedication to becoming a Royal Guard, Roland is deeply resentful of the fate bestowed upon him. This has tormented his thoughts and has occasionally led him to lash out at others. His tainted resolve pushes him to go beyond what is necessary when dealing with adversaries. There is little his twisted will won't do at the behest of Galbia's royal family.

[Personal History]
Roland was born to Julius Alvar Vaughann, Commander of the Royal Guard of Galbia. The men of the Vaughann family have served under the royal family of Galbia for generations. The moment Roland was born, at the beginning of the Radiant Moon no less, his fate had been decided for him. It was less than a year that the new heir to the kingdom was born and Roland's role decided. His training had started as early as the moment he began to walk. He was taught economics, civics, and a litany of military theories to prepare him to be both a protector and advisor to the young princess. Mistakes and deviance from his given path was met harshly.

The only time he was given any leniency was the time spent with the princess, and it wasn't much. The concept of a childhood was foreign to him, and the older he grew the more he resented the princess for his troubles. Every time his body was pushed to its limit. Every strike made against him from his father. Every day spent training so that the princess could safely live her life. This was all he had so despite the mental discourse, he pursued his fate to the highest degree. The only choice he felt was ever his was when a visiting mage discovered his aptitude for spells. Roland was sent alongside Sherry to the Officer's Academy, to further his own skills but to more importantly watch over the heir to the kingdom.

[Preferred Fighting Style]
Lance

[Equipment]
Training Lance
Vulnerary x 2

[Learned Spells]
Fire

[Interests]

Magic
Mount Riding
Military Tactics
Alchemy

[Likes]

Hiking
Exercising
War Games
Political Theory
Tea
Pastries

[Dislikes]

Sarcasm
Disorganization
Weakness
Being underestimated

Ithradine's Character Storage

Arton Yule - FF Lightseekers

GENERAL INFORMATION

Name: Arton Yule

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Race: Sollan

Origin: Skael

COMBAT INFORMATION

Class: Swordsman

Weapon: Arton bears a longsword and metal shield gifted to him by his late master. They never seem to leave his side. These weapons are plain-looking and lightly decorated, but are masterfully crafted.

Inventory:

• Plain Clothes
• Canteen & Salted Meat
• Emerald Silver-ring
• Amethyst Silver-necklace
• Armor & Weapon Maintenance kit
• Depleted Potion Flasks
• Worn First-aid kit

Materia:

• HP Plus
• Barrier

Limit Breaks:

• All-out Assault - Arton utilizes his shield as secondary weapon in flurry of blows against his opponent, using the blunt force to stun his target.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Appearance Details:
Arton stands at roughly 6'3" with deep blue eyes the color of the sea. He maintains a sturdy physique of dense muscle that is often hidden under his typical garb. Whether studded leather padding or his steel chestplate, Arton rarely goes anywhere without some form of armor. His face, while youthful, bears a few old scars on the left side of his face.

Personality:

You would be hard-pressed to find a day when Arton lacks a smile on his face. He persists to remain optimistic even in the most grim of situations with the determination to never surrender to despair. It is safe to say that Arton often thinks with his heart instead of his head and often makes rash decisions.

He is more than happy to listen to the tales and woes of others, but keeps any information about himself close to his chest typically replying with: "I'm not all that interesting." or something similar. Instances of injustice are often taken personally, especially if it is physical violence, and his reaction borders on berserk.

Arton strives to be of assistance in any form he can no matter how tedious the work may be. Chores or other menial labor is often done without so much as a word from him.

Biography:
Arton hails from a small town in the nation of Skael on the outskirts of the capital. He has not returned to its borders in many years. Little is known about him from before his departure from his homeland and he appear intent on keeping it that way. He arrived in Edren as war erupted between it and neighboring Osprey, equipped with little more than some basic adventuring gear. Arton had traveled from village to village completing small quests before moving onto the next, always operating alone. He often would hitch rides on caravans, getting off on whatever its next destination was. Arton found many acquiantances this way, but he never let anyone underneath the surface of friendly conversation. This gained him a small amount of fame among the common folk as a mysterious, but helpful, wanderer. He began taking on more and more dangerous tasks as his confidence and skill increased.

Despite operating in Edren as a sellsword of sorts, Arton avoided the war altogether. Lacking his own direction, he didn't want to involve himself in the ambitions of something so grand-scale. Instead, he focused on assisting the villages and small town neglected throughout the conflict. A path that had its fair share of hardship. This often meant taking on infestations of monsters and other creatures trying to prey on their weakness. While he sometimes grouped up with a small party, Arton completed many of these tasks alone as it was the most many villages could afford. This grew his fame and influence even further that many inns that recognized him let him stay for free. The devastation left in the wake of the war increased his growing apathy to try to make any kind of change.

The Blight turned that life upside down. Nothing was going to turn back the tide if people like him sat back. Whatever it took, he was going to make a difference against this scourge of suffering. Arton showed up in the capital shortly after the call from the king reached the village he had been protecting. He vowed to return to the village after the blight had ended, but the look in both his eyes and the elder's knew they might never get the chance. Perhaps this was the purpose he had been searching for?

Traits:

• Talented Smith
• Brash
• Empathetic
• Cheerful
• Reserved
• First-aid expert

Relationships:

• Cyth - Arton's mentor and guardian
• Furi - Childhood friend
• TBD

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Mentions:@Ambra@vietmyke

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Arton had trotted up to the front of the caravan after finishing speaking with Izayoi, his curiosity sated from their exchange. His ears barely managed to catch some parts of the conversations behind him, but he didn't care to eavesdrop even if wasn't an explicitly private conversation. Everyone seemed to be getting along well enough, and that was all that concerned him. That was until the motion of setting up camp came up. Arton was an experienced outdoorsman used, spending countless nights underneath the watchful gaze of the stars. He had used a tent for awhile but it was ruined after a night-time attack from a blight-beast. After that, he typically would set up shelter either on a cliff-side or in a tree. There's no one to keep watch when you're alone so extra steps are needed to hear something approaching.

Despite the rising danger of the blight-beasts, Arton found himself more at ease in the countryside. The common folk out here were more honest, for better or worse, and were just trying to survive. There was no need to pretend and you were less likely to get stabbed in the back when shaking another's hand. His lips turned up into a smile at thought of passing through villages he had helped out. There was a few folks that could probably help them out with lodging for a night if they needed it.

Exhaustion had yet to reach him as they entered the tall grass, but the features of his face grew tense. His left hand rose to his right shoulder, squeezing the pauldron as he felt old scars begin to ache. Arton let go of his shoulder and slowly reached for the hilt of sword next, eyes scanning the area in front of him while carefully listening for movement. The moment he heard the grass tearing up he turned back to the rest, but the experienced Goug had already made the call. Blight-beasts.

"Neve!" He cried out as the beasts went directly for her and her chocobo. The swordsman had drifted farther than he intended from the caravan and was in no immediate position to protect Neve from the assault. Arton cursed under his breath at his mistake and had started to unmount when a larger one of the creatures leaped into the air, tackling him off the chocobo. The Sollan fell down a small embankment and disappeared into the tall grass. Arton fell into a patch of mud holding the creature by the neck that wasted no time trying to claw through his armor. His head twisted and turn avoiding razor-sharp teeth before he summoned his strength to roll the creature into the mud and position himself on top. One hand pressed against its neck into the mud as the other reached to a small hunting knife sheathed on his chestplate. He plunged the knife into the upper chest of the creature, just below where he was desperately holing it back. Pitch-like blood seeped from the wound and mixed with the watery mud, the gurgling growing muffled as its head sank completely.

Arton spit dirt back into the earth from whence it came as he stood up, leaving the dagger lodged in the beast. There was no time to retrieve it if he were to make it back to the rest in time. His slightly ringing ears could hear Galahad in the distance so he quickly oriented himself towards that direction. The grass was too thick and folded over to see through it. Lighting streaked across the sky as he heard Galahad's voice once more. However, he had no time to focus on the direction it came from this time. Arton's hands simultaneously took hold of his shield and sword, his feet tying to find solid ground as he glanced around him. Five lighting bolts had cracked in his immediate vicinity revealing five shadowy figures and five pairs of red eyes blocking off his routes of escape.

No fear shown in the swordsman's eyes as he stared down the beasts that closed in around him, even as his right shoulder began to burn. Five of the beasts here meant five that weren't after the caravan. Arton began to tunnel-vision on the enemy, lifting his shield close to his chest and drawing his sword back "WHAT ARE YOU WATING FOR?!?" Arton screamed into the night, taunting the creatures. Besides fighting better defensively, Arton did this to announce to his allies his position. The beasts, however, did not wish to wait and began to charge to answer his question with fang and claw.

Fire Emblem: Crestfallen

Mentions:@Yam I Am@Psyker Landshark@Ambra

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May the goddess give him strength. The very first day and her highness had revealed a weakness that the others were already scheming to exploit. That was when Theodoric approached them, a person he found slightly less intolerable than most other nobles. The information about wyverns had already been spilled so he was more so ready to move past this incident "You know that I don't have the luxury of extended personal time." He glanced over at the princess briefly "Otherwise, I'm healthy and in good condition to protect her highness so I have no right to complain." He expressed with a forced sense of contentment in his assignment.

Before he could return the courtesy of the question to Theodoric, he felt the familar, chilling gaze of his liege "Of course, your highness." Roland quickly turned to Theodoric and Eleventhia and half-bowed, exchanging a look with them that he hoped expressed they would talk later. He assumed his position alongside Sherry off her right-side, trailing a couple steps behind so that she might lead. Roland's expression remained neutral throughout the rest of the tour, merely nodding and exchanging brief replies to her highness when spoken to. The monastery was a place where the promising youths and nobles of the continent would hone their futures and dreams. It was difficult to feel excitement when he was an outsider in that regard.

Despite the long day, Roland appeared steadfast and alert as they entered the dormitories. He was under the impression that he would be rooming with her highness so that he may keep her safe during her time here. His brows furrowed when he heard the names her highness spoke and moved quickly to join her in examining the list. His stone-cold façade briefly broke from the surprise that he would be paired with someone else...a stranger at that. It would seem his majesty's influence had its limits. Her highness seemed equally disturbed by the revelation of their rooming assignments.

Roland moved to break the line of sight between her highness and Leonid "I will begin moving your belongings into your room. I'll also conduct a sweep for anything suspicious. I humbly ask for you patience while I finish, your highness." He would have to voice his objection and put in room transfer request to the Arch-bishop, but in the meantime her highness would need to...parley with Leonid. Here he thought looking after the world's most spontaneous princess was already a major pain. Was it possible she would grow during her time here? The idea was almost laughable.

Fire Emblem: Crestfallen

Mentions: @Click This@Yam I Am

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Roland pinched his forehead just above his nose and mentally sighed as Parthenia spoke, watching the situation unfold "I do not have to worry about unemployment, it seems." The delivery was dry but it was Roland's attempt at humor. Parthenia was undoubtedly going to be an attributing factor for the increased workload. Brief visits between her and Sherry were manageable but this was practically living together. It was enough to send a shiver down his spine.

Before he could see the small wyvern crawl out of Alphonse's coat, he was approached by an unfamiliar noble. Odd. He maintained a straight posture as she introduced herself that confirmed his initial assumption. The daughters of the nobility must have been fed well so have grown so tall. His expression softened slightly but didn't match the smile she put on display. Pernachis. He didn't recall ever meeting one in person but he knew to step carefully. Amethyst eyes flashed to her extended hand, processing the proper response, before he quickly gave Elevinthia his hand to complete the greeting.

"Roland Vaughann, guard to her royal highness." He spoke cleanly, gestured with a tilt of his head over to the red-headed princess. "I'm afraid I do not recall meeting, my lady." However, there was something familiar about her that Roland couldn't quite put his finger on. Frankly, he was glad that there was one person that hadn't immediately jumped to harass the princess.

Roland had been keeping his eyes on the princess the entire time. He was grateful for the Arch-bishop's presence. It was too soon to be having an incident. The princess's scolding brought his attention just in time to spot the young wyvern.Goddess Above. Roland raised a hand to stop her but he quickly lowered it back down. It was already too late for him to intervene, though he doubt anyone would have been capable of stopping her in that moment. Luckily, her highness seemed to realize her mistake and return to a proper sense of decorum. This was going to be happening all year long...

He turned his attention back to Elventhia, whom he had been walking alongside on the way to the mess hall "Her highness has a...fondness...for wvyerns. Please excuse her passion." Roland wasn't sure what use damage-control was at this point, but he had to at least try.

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

&

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Arton felt a weight off his shoulders hearing the king speak and the high-strung tension slowly relaxed. His majesty’s words only strengthened Arton’s opinion on Galahad as a person to put his faith in. Between him and Ranbu, there was much he gained to learn from them. The viera, in particular, had shown him that in order to protect the others he would need to get not only stronger but faster. He lowered his eyes and took a slow, deep breath letting the events of the night settle in his mind. This quest had already shredded what preconceptions he had and they had barely taken the first step

“Of course, I’m looking forward to seeing you work.”

The peace lasted only for a moment as he heard Ranbu inviting the Skaelian woman to the group, turning his head to them. Her appearance and fighting style was too refined not to be a student at the Academy. He supposed that any of the Skaelians here would be seeing that the Academy produced the best of the best of Skael. As Ranbu approached them, Arton tried to find a place to avert his gaze after realizing he had been staring a little. Neve had been the one addressed so he held his tongue for her to reply first.

At the very least, these otherwise hot-headed individuals were quick to apologize to her. Neve’s smile returned to her lips as she gave Izayoi a nod of understanding, then did the same to Eliane. They appeared to be approachable, after all. Before she could give them a reply, however, Izayoi wandered off and began to speak about a chain of command. That was something that Neve knew that she shouldn’t be part of.

”No worries, friend. With so many people here, misunderstandings are bound to happen.” she told the red-haired woman in turn. Then, she glanced back up at Arton, silently suggesting that they be on their way.

Arton nodded and had begun to walk away from the group alongside Neve when Zeidgram dropped his name for leadership. The notion was not one he had harbored in his mind for a moment. Whoever was in charge wouldn’t change how he would act nor affect his goals, though he supported Ranbu’s nomination. The Skaelian warrior had practically frozen in place with a bit of color washing from his tanned skin. What had he done that warranted the red mage’s confidence?

Arton turned to face the group with uncertainty in his eyes. The words of Galahad and Leifur stung slightly but he was in agreement. He worked fine and well as a lone mercenary solving issues of petty bandits and invasive monsters, but he had never once led others on something as dangerous as this quest. He shook his head to dissuade Galahad’s worry “I admit that there is much I have to learn. I will do my best to be of help, but Neve and I must get going if we are going to help the injured.” With that, he turned to Zeidgram “I may not be ready for such a mantle, but I will earn it. You can be sure of it.” He spoke almost like a promise. Arton took another deep breath as he regrouped with Neve, gesturing with a nod that he was ready and eager to get moving.

The two made their way into a large chamber inside the castle that had been converted into a makeshift field hospital for the injured. Arton followed Neve’s lead as they treated the most severe injuries first. His job was mainly to stabilize and prepare the next patient while Neve used her white magic to quickly heal the wounds. While she focused on the patient, Arton did his best to raise the spirits of those next in line. He exchanged warm words and laughter with many of them, taking their mind off their pain. Despite Ranbu’s advice, one could say the two of them may have overdid it. Arton walked closely behind Neve as they returned to their quarters, wary she might faint or lose her balance. Arton stripped the bare minimum of armor to be comfortable and practically collapsed on his bed.