The Lookout was deathly quiet as if the wood sensed Hellstrom's foul mood and chose to leave him alone. His bear stayed hidden in the woods nearby in the off chance Hellstrom needed him. Hellstrom's mood shifted from darkest depression and fits of sobbing, to pure muscle shaking rage.
After a time Hellstrom finally stood up and called for his bear, who shambled out of the trees and sat down where Hellstrom had been sitting. Hellstrom concentrated and opened a door to where Elbryan was and stepped through. Elbryan as sitting in the same chair with the same book he had before open in his lap. Elbryan carefully closed his book and set it on the table next to his chair and studied Hellstrom for a minute. "I was wondering when you would be back." Elbryan stated.
Hellstrom paced for a few minutes trying to decide where to start as Elbryan watched patiently and waited for what he knew was coming. Finally Hellstrom stopped pacing and looked at Elbryan who asked, "I’m guessing it didn’t go so well?" Hellstrom looked at Elbryan for a minute still unsure where to start.
"Grobnak's poison words were too strong... There is nothing I can do..." Hellstrom finally began. "When you meet with her again Hellstrom, do not do so in the same place." Elbryan cautioned, "I am not the only one with spies." "You think I am being watched?" Hellstrom asked in surprise. "I don’t think, I know!" Elbryan said matter-of-factly. "Emalia is new to the order they will have people watching her actions for a bit... You can be sure you have come to the Jenovese's attention."
Hellstrom thought about this for a minute and finally nodded his understanding at Elbryan. "But, what am i supposed to do?" Hellstrom asked Elbryan with a tone of desperation tinging his tongue, "I...I mean we are going to lose her to the Jenovese."
Elbryan sat back in his chair and steeped his fingers in thought for a moment. "Do not cut ties with her." Elbryan said slowly and thoughtfully, "If you do she is lost to them forever. Do not accept her faith, that’s not what I am saying. But all the same try to stay a positive influence in her life. Maybe, just maybe, she will have a change of heart."
Hellstrom thought about this for a while. He wouldn’t be losing Emalia, he could still see her. It made sense to Hellstrom's confused mind. "Ensure that she understands where your loyalty lies though. For when the time comes, the Guardians will be standing with the rest to destroy the RoK, as will the followers of Kossuth." Hellstrom nodded his understanding again and turned to leave. His bear was warning him that someone was approaching the lookout.
"I have to go Elbryan...." Hellstrom says quietly. "She has returned.", and with that opens a new door and steps through back to his bear to wait for Emalia's appearance on the lookout.
After Hellstrom's departure from his residence, Elbryan looked at the spot where the door had been. "I’m sorry for using you Hellstrom..." Elbryan whispers to himself. "But it must be done for the sake of the world."
The Following
As Emalia departed Nyrul waited until she was but a blur in his vision he then began to trail her, using his cunning stealth and the aura of invisibility. He followed her until she was stopped by another unknown in which she told him many things. Nyrul waited behind a tree leaning on it, his hands folding up slightly into the crooks of his arms, his grey cloak making no sound as the wind pierced around it, blowing the frayed ends around him, his head hung low and nothing but darkness filled the insides of the hood.
Nyrul grinned as he witnessed Emalia crying upon this mans shoulders, maybe...maybe this one could be used in his ever thickening scheme. He remembered Emalia mentioning a man by the name of Hellstrom, it had seemed this was the one Nyrul was seeking out "All the....closer." he muttered under his breath to himself.
All the closer Nyrul was to finding everything out about this man that he could. The time was drawing near. 'Hellstrom will regret ever crossing Jihad.' Nyrul thought to himself. He then peered back over toward Emalia and this stranger, hoping that soon it would be over and she would take him to Hellstrom without even her knowing of it.
Nyrul grinned as he witnessed Emalia crying upon this mans shoulders, maybe...maybe this one could be used in his ever thickening scheme. He remembered Emalia mentioning a man by the name of Hellstrom, it had seemed this was the one Nyrul was seeking out "All the....closer." he muttered under his breath to himself.
All the closer Nyrul was to finding everything out about this man that he could. The time was drawing near. 'Hellstrom will regret ever crossing Jihad.' Nyrul thought to himself. He then peered back over toward Emalia and this stranger, hoping that soon it would be over and she would take him to Hellstrom without even her knowing of it.
Fear
Grobnak had returned to the compound and Emalia sat a bit longer in the bakery. Tom stared at her in open disgust, and others that had seen her sitting with the leader of both the Jihad and Talosians whispered and pointed - sharing looks of irritation and indignation. Emalia looked down, and unable to finish what was left of the pie, hastily rose and scuttled from the building.
There was no way she would go back to the Clan Hall at this moment. She felt frozen in a place where she didn't want to be, but couldn't help to be. Embarrassment trailed behind her, mocking her, but why should she be so ridiculed for her beliefs?
No one noticed her passing through the west gates of Westbridge on her way to the Jihad compound. When she arrived, she stared up at the entry, not taking notice of anyone leaving. A gaunt figure knocked into her shoulder and Emalia apologized profusely. He looked her over with a grin... he knew her name... and within a few moments of welcoming her home, he knew the rest of her tale.
"I....would say....talk to him perhaps? It....sounds....best..." Emalia agreed. She pulled from her bag a tome given to her by Grobnak. In it was history written before her time, or his. She would give this to Hellstrom and hope he would read it. Perhaps if she couldn't get him to see, this would.
She set off, leaving the pale figure behind, and made her way through the streets of Westbridge. As she headed north, the sight of the mountains caused her to slow. He was up there and she was terrified. 'Perhaps,' she thought, 'I will sit here and look over the book once more...'
It was not long before Colin's voice rang out. She told him everything and before she knew it, she found herself sobbing uncontrollably on his chest. She was afraid to go into the mountains... afraid that after this trip... she might never see Hellstrom again.
There was no way she would go back to the Clan Hall at this moment. She felt frozen in a place where she didn't want to be, but couldn't help to be. Embarrassment trailed behind her, mocking her, but why should she be so ridiculed for her beliefs?
No one noticed her passing through the west gates of Westbridge on her way to the Jihad compound. When she arrived, she stared up at the entry, not taking notice of anyone leaving. A gaunt figure knocked into her shoulder and Emalia apologized profusely. He looked her over with a grin... he knew her name... and within a few moments of welcoming her home, he knew the rest of her tale.
"I....would say....talk to him perhaps? It....sounds....best..." Emalia agreed. She pulled from her bag a tome given to her by Grobnak. In it was history written before her time, or his. She would give this to Hellstrom and hope he would read it. Perhaps if she couldn't get him to see, this would.
She set off, leaving the pale figure behind, and made her way through the streets of Westbridge. As she headed north, the sight of the mountains caused her to slow. He was up there and she was terrified. 'Perhaps,' she thought, 'I will sit here and look over the book once more...'
It was not long before Colin's voice rang out. She told him everything and before she knew it, she found herself sobbing uncontrollably on his chest. She was afraid to go into the mountains... afraid that after this trip... she might never see Hellstrom again.
Pie and a Side of Tears
Finished with the tears, Emalia made her way down the mountain toward Westbridge. Her face was hardly recognizable it had turned so red and puffy from her tears. She hoped somehow, that if she went into a tavern, she might find Tarran. Surely her brother could help her - even if she really knew in the back of her mind she wouldn't find him.
The Blue Moon was a rowdy place, enough that no one really noticed her with her dirty clothes and bowed head. She made her way to the table as far away from everyone as possible and sat down, plunking her head onto the table and wrapping her arm around her face. A waitress came by and deposited a glass of water without a word, and left Emalia alone.
Every so often, she would let out a sob, for she felt truly lost now. She sat there mired in her own sorrows until a familiar voice hissed, "You look troubled, Child." It was Grobnak, and the ability for Emalia to release all of her thoughts to someone.
It was the perfect time to ask him about murdering, to which he admitted to doing, minus the joy that was believed to be had when he did. He admitted to being part of the Talosians... there were no lies.
Emalia hung her head at the admissions, and pressed on to her heart. She told Grobnak that she was losing someone very dear to her. "All I ever wanted was his approval." "[Ao] will use those he has deceived against you, and the greater your love for them, the greater the weapon." “How can I deal with this pain?" “Take comfort in your new family.”
Emalia sat stock still, trying not to let the tears that threatened her to fall. "I'm going to lose him... I'm going to lose them all."
"If he truly loves you, no matter the hurt, then perhaps he should trust you and respect you enough to accept your Faith, even if he does not share it. If not, you must remember that you are your own person now. Blessed by The Apprentice with Absolution. He must learn to accept that, or it will not be you that loses him, but perhaps, he that loses you."
Grobnak leaned over, kissing Emalia on the forehead lightly. "If I'd had a daughter, Child, I think she may have turned out akin to how you are today." Emalia thought of how nice it would be to have met one similar to herself, and how nice it was to be looked upon as though she had a father. It was with this thought that she lead Grobnak to the bakery, and amidst the stares of the patrons, shared with him a pie.
The Blue Moon was a rowdy place, enough that no one really noticed her with her dirty clothes and bowed head. She made her way to the table as far away from everyone as possible and sat down, plunking her head onto the table and wrapping her arm around her face. A waitress came by and deposited a glass of water without a word, and left Emalia alone.
Every so often, she would let out a sob, for she felt truly lost now. She sat there mired in her own sorrows until a familiar voice hissed, "You look troubled, Child." It was Grobnak, and the ability for Emalia to release all of her thoughts to someone.
It was the perfect time to ask him about murdering, to which he admitted to doing, minus the joy that was believed to be had when he did. He admitted to being part of the Talosians... there were no lies.
Emalia hung her head at the admissions, and pressed on to her heart. She told Grobnak that she was losing someone very dear to her. "All I ever wanted was his approval." "[Ao] will use those he has deceived against you, and the greater your love for them, the greater the weapon." “How can I deal with this pain?" “Take comfort in your new family.”
Emalia sat stock still, trying not to let the tears that threatened her to fall. "I'm going to lose him... I'm going to lose them all."
"If he truly loves you, no matter the hurt, then perhaps he should trust you and respect you enough to accept your Faith, even if he does not share it. If not, you must remember that you are your own person now. Blessed by The Apprentice with Absolution. He must learn to accept that, or it will not be you that loses him, but perhaps, he that loses you."
Grobnak leaned over, kissing Emalia on the forehead lightly. "If I'd had a daughter, Child, I think she may have turned out akin to how you are today." Emalia thought of how nice it would be to have met one similar to herself, and how nice it was to be looked upon as though she had a father. It was with this thought that she lead Grobnak to the bakery, and amidst the stares of the patrons, shared with him a pie.
Walking upon the Road
"How can she be so blind as to not see it. There is no way he deserves her." Colin thought to himself as he continued his trek northward along the road leading from Westbridge.
He had just left Emalia sitting where he had come upon her along the side of the road. They had shared a long conversation. She told him all about her beliefs she shared with her Jihad brethren. Sure, Colin though it sounded like a big risk. On one hand, if they are right, then the vicious cycle could be broken and suffering ended... permanently. On the other, if they are wrong, unnecessary destruction would be wrought upon so many. And to top it all off. Colin didn't really believe in all that supernatural stuff anyway. If he couldn't touch, taste, hear, or smell it he just had a hard time believing it.
But maybe that was just his disconnection with magic that made it that way. Either way, he could still respect Emalia for her beliefs. After all, she is an intelligent woman, and her caring is so deep and genuine. But Hellstrom, apparently, could not and the pain that it caused Emalia was almost unbearable.
So there Emalia had sat, in the grassy dirt alongside the dusty road, sobbing into Colin's chest because of Hellstrom. Sure, Colin had welcomed the closeness it brought but the circumstances were all wrong. "She does not deserve the pain this is causing her and he has no right to do this to her. As a matter of fact, that man doesn't even deserve be around her. I could just..." Again, Colin's thoughts stopped there, immediately redirected back from crossing that line. "What she needs now is comfort and understanding and I can give that to her. She will see that she has made the wrong choice, and once the blindness that this crush has brought upon her has been lifted she will be able to see me. After all... "If things don't happen with Hellstrom... who knows what the future could hold."
He had just left Emalia sitting where he had come upon her along the side of the road. They had shared a long conversation. She told him all about her beliefs she shared with her Jihad brethren. Sure, Colin though it sounded like a big risk. On one hand, if they are right, then the vicious cycle could be broken and suffering ended... permanently. On the other, if they are wrong, unnecessary destruction would be wrought upon so many. And to top it all off. Colin didn't really believe in all that supernatural stuff anyway. If he couldn't touch, taste, hear, or smell it he just had a hard time believing it.
But maybe that was just his disconnection with magic that made it that way. Either way, he could still respect Emalia for her beliefs. After all, she is an intelligent woman, and her caring is so deep and genuine. But Hellstrom, apparently, could not and the pain that it caused Emalia was almost unbearable.
So there Emalia had sat, in the grassy dirt alongside the dusty road, sobbing into Colin's chest because of Hellstrom. Sure, Colin had welcomed the closeness it brought but the circumstances were all wrong. "She does not deserve the pain this is causing her and he has no right to do this to her. As a matter of fact, that man doesn't even deserve be around her. I could just..." Again, Colin's thoughts stopped there, immediately redirected back from crossing that line. "What she needs now is comfort and understanding and I can give that to her. She will see that she has made the wrong choice, and once the blindness that this crush has brought upon her has been lifted she will be able to see me. After all... "If things don't happen with Hellstrom... who knows what the future could hold."
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