Esther (glass) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-05-11 22:46:00 |
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Her youth would never exempt her from ignorance, not when she had the means to dispel it — a constant reminder from her father. Esther had been, mulling over the choices she could make, reasoning that she had to heal completely and see things before making a decision. To leave the guild or continue her studies- she is unsure. And there is always the question of what would she do if she left? Would that precipitate the wedding? Would that curtail her freedom? It was something she would give up, eventually, but there was only quiet acceptance in this. This was how things worked: duty, family, loyalty. Those thoughts dominate her walk, a guard lingering a few paces behind to give Esther her space but offering clear protection (Mathieu’s advice, taken and put in practice). Her destination looms in the near distance, drawing her out of thoughts; the ground beneath her feet is not steady (not out of fatigue or injury) and Esther casts a doubting look at the Tower. Stop. Lex, following unintentionally behind, noticed the other mage only when she had stopped. No clear threat in appearance, the guard hadn’t bothered to make note of her either. It wa a fortunate coincidence she decided, a stroke of fate that couldn’t be avoided. While Lex had been busy with her own duties of late, the Mages Guild had never been very far from her own thoughts. It was in part because of these considerations, and the desire to check on the other mage now standing in the path before her, that she had ventured out into the city this day. As now it would appear that she wouldn’t be required to search through the Tower at all, Lex took this advantage and approached. “Have you just returned yourself, I wonder?” Esther jumped, startled by Lex’s appearance as she had been lost in her own thoughts — “Hello,” a polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes (not because of the company, but due to the lingering doubts about the Tower). “Yes, I’ve been preoccupied with other things.” Concerned fiance, family and so on. “Are you paying a visit for some reason or just passing by?” Her attention once again turned towards the damaged structure, a little lost again in memories. Despite everything, she had tried to follow Mathieu’s example and put on a good face and enthusiasm; seeing the guild dampened that for reasons she couldn’t explain yet. Lex’s attention similarly turned to the building in front of them, and by its appearance now it certainly seemed to have been afforded a significant number of repairs. The last time she had visited this place herself, the arithmetician realized, had been under a significantly more troublesome circumstance. The conflict with the previous Sage was still fresh in her memories, as Peony and the others had struggled valiantly to battle against her and the creature she had summoned. Lex had attempted to aid them as best she could with her own magic, of course--their success was met, however, with only a sombre reality before them all. A victory, but at quite a serious cost indeed. “I do have a number of items of business here myself today,” she admitted, her demeanor as serene and contemplative as it often was. “And perhaps I may have had an aspiration to visit with you in particular.” Lex looked over to Esther again, noting observantly the changes in the other mage’s expression. What had happened to this city? Esther loved Emillion, had grown up within its walls - was happy, and yet there was something so wrong. How could people just stand and watch? It was not just about picking up the wreckage but about doing something better from it. She clicked her tongue filing that thought for later. The smile Esther offered as she turned to Lex once more was genuine, pushing aside the discomfort of her personal feelings. “Oh?” “It has been quite some time, I recall,” Lex affirmed, offering Esther a small nod. It was at this time, however, that she made a more significant observation of the guard lingering in the distance, the man’s stance and keen eyes trained on the pair enough to give him away slightly as something more. Her appraisal was brief and polite, however, and soon Lex had her attention back on Esther. As a member of the Mages Guild, currently unlike Lex herself, she considered that it must have been quite more difficult for her during this period--much as it had been for Peony as well, she could only assume. “I hope you are currently well?” “Alive.” Esther replied, withdrawing a little again into her own thoughts, “Which is very fortunate considering there are many who are not.” Clasping her hands behind her back, Esther cleared her throat, “But. There is nothing to do but to mourn the dead now.” “What about the Cathedral? How is everyone faring there? All in order I hope?” Esther hadn’t heard of any disruptions there, but then she didn’t tend to hear the little details, sheltered as she still was. “We have taken a number of citizens in our care of late,” Lex said, recalling those who were currently residing in the monastery. “However I believe we have all strived to do our part to relieve the suffering of others.” At least, that was her hope. Lex knew there was always more that could be done in that regard, as the city remained in need of much repair--in spirit, as well as everything else. For now, she would train her attention on her friend, who perhaps could benefit from her efforts as well. “Are you planning to return inside for now? If not, you could join me in my errands around the city perhaps.” It was a polite but considerate offer, an attempt to spend a proper amount of time in Esther’s company. There was only so much good Lex could do stuck inside the walls of library--a lesson learned much throughout the past year. “That’s good.” Esther could never count herself as being a devoted lady or such, but she could never deny the influence of the church. Nor the benefits it could bring to the people. She reached across to tap Lex lightly on the arm. In truth, Lex’s offer was a relief to Esther who did not really wish to return to the Tower just yet; even with the sun high up in the sky the whole scene felt theatrically gloomy and uncomfortable. As if whatever dark magic from before still pulsated beneath the structure, drawing shadows closer. Esther shuddered. “Yes, why not, let’s have a look around the city while we are at it. I wish to see with my own eyes how things are going.” “Very well,” Lex said with an agreeable nod. “Then I shall appreciate the accompaniment.” She turned to afford the guard another brief glance, but the mage quickly began to adjust her previously made plans and began to lead Esther along with her. With the Mages Tower at her back for now, the arithmetician would pick up her other business with the guild another day. Esther slipped her arm in Lex’s and drew the woman close, a friendly gesture (maybe it was unwelcome and unappreciated) but she was too used to being tactile with friends around her. Energetic once more, Esther’s smiles became genuine, and conversation came with familiar ease. “So what are we going to get? Books? Clothes? We should go clothes shopping at least once.” |