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Post by GX1997 on May 3, 2015 16:27:34 GMT -6
"It's lovely," she said, grinning from ear to ear.
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Post by Neo on May 3, 2015 17:31:59 GMT -6
Vincent mirrored Elia's grin and turned back to the Jeweler. "Do you have a matching set?"
"Of course My Lord," the Jeweler replies eagerly, reaching beneath his desk. He retrieves a small blue velvet box and opens it, revealing an identical ring, but with a sapphire gemstone instead of a ruby. "No extra charge, My Lord. And... I would make a gift of this to you, in honor of your special day, but we haven't seen much business lately... Forgive me, My Lord. I will offer you the largest discount I can afford."
Vincent quickly shakes his head. "There's no need to apologize, friend. I came prepared to pay full price, and I'll do exactly that. Now what's this about business problems?"
The Jeweler nods, clearly relieved. "Thank you, My Lord. That means a great deal to me and my family. But I would feel guilty if I didn't do something... The whole reason our town exists is because of you. My family and I are safe because of you. So how about a meager ten percent discount? I insist."
Not wanting to be rude, Vincent reluctantly concedes. He pays for the set, and the Jeweler tells him of the recent troubles plaguing the southern roads; bandits and the like, who for whatever reason, are much more active as of late.
Vincent thanks the man, and afterwards, he and Elia walked back outside, right into a stunning Sunset. He turns to her, suddenly sheepish. "I want to give this to you now Elia," Vincent says softly. "But... We still have a lot to figure out, don't we? I... Can wait, until we have answers both of us can accept, if that's what you want."
The thought of waiting even longer to officially propose clearly saddened him, but in the end, he wasn't in a rush. There was time.
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Post by GX1997 on May 3, 2015 17:55:25 GMT -6
"You can propose at any time, Vincent. We can use the time during our engagement to find our answers," Elia said. "How does that sound?"
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Post by Neo on May 3, 2015 18:25:36 GMT -6
Vincent visibly brightened, beaming widely. "That sounds... Perfect. Come with me then. Quickly, before the Sun sets!"
He took her hand and guided her back through the village at a brisk, hurried walk. Once they were back on the mountain trail, Vincent took off at a run, urging Elia to do the same. Neither of them were in the proper attire for running in the woods, but they kept pace with each other, and somehow avoided tripping and slamming their faces into the grass. They laughed a bit as they ran, Vincent at the dream he never thought would come true, and Elia at his uncharacteristic boyishness. Finally, they arrived at the foot of Yggdrassil, both of them slightly out of breath, but grinning. The Sun was almost gone now, but there was just enough light left to bathe the mountain and plains below in waves of dim, golden light.
Vincent dropped to one knee right there in front of the tree, still breathing a bit heavily, and presented the ring he had just bought. Oddly enough, he wasn't nervous at all. He knew exactly what he wanted to say. "... In Shiryu, we have a saying: the Sun and the Moon are one. For every person who has lost their way, for everyone who has forgotten their path and wanders aimlessly through the darkness, there is always light to guide you back to the road. One merely has to find it. Elia Arrington, you are my light, my Sun, my Moon. I was lost before I met you. In these past couple months, you have worked a miracle. In so short a time, you have given me hope, a reason to live again, and so, so much more. I want you by my side, not just as my apprentice, or friend... But as my wife. Will you do me the honor?"
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Post by GX1997 on May 3, 2015 18:37:59 GMT -6
"The Shiryuan philosophers are wise. Likewise, you've given everything to me that only a few months ago I believed I would never have, namely happiness and love. Vincent, I will gladly be your wife!" she answered.
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Post by Neo on May 3, 2015 19:13:44 GMT -6
Vincent's entire face lit up like a star, which was both oddly comical and very heartwarming coming from a man who rarely showed such emotion. He slipped the ring onto Elia's finger and shot to his feet, pulling her into his arms and kissing her, before she could utter another word. He pulled away after a few moments, grinning sheepishly, but he made no attempt to let her out of his tight embrace.
"Sorry, Yekiri... I couldn't help myself."
Though, from the way he was grinning, he didn't seem apologetic in the slightest.
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Post by Neo on May 4, 2015 13:52:36 GMT -6
Two weeks later...
The large and beautiful silver dragon shot through the early morning sky like a shooting star, little more than a blazing streak of silvery light in the clouds. In the distance, a cluster of floating islands peaked through the cloud cover. The dragon recognized what they were immediately, and broke into a wide, happy grin. She dived through the clouds, breaching that seemingly endless barrier in the sky, and the wide world of Austur materialized into existence below her. From that height, and with her eyes, she could see everything.
Is this how you see the world, father? I... I understand now, what you meant. Both you and dad... This is what you see every day, isn't it? The world, the people, the past, the future, the lines that connect us all... You see it all, don't you? I want, more than anything, for you two to meet... With your vision, if you just joined forces and worked together, you could change this world forever.
Rhiannon, or Silver as she still preferred to be called, tucked her wings against her body, folding them into her sides, and spiraled down towards the Jorkun mountains at a near free fall. The wind was deafening, and as she flew over a familiar village, her smile widened. It feels like I haven't been back here in a hundred years...
Silver pointed herself at one mountain in particular, aiming for a cave about halfway up the mountainside. She unfolded her wings ever so slightly and rocketed into the familiar tunnel, yelping with joy. It was an old mining tunnel once used by the Dwarves to mine Mythril, and small deposits still lingered in the walls, bathing the tunnel in a soft, shimmering glow. The tunnel twisted and turned, before eventually leading straight to the ancient capitol. Silver knew the tunnel like the back of her tail, and she raced by at near impossible speeds, grinning from ear to ear, her eyes sparkling with delight. She took the final corner at such speed that even her father, the Great Dragon Tafl, would have been impressed.
The vast, sprawling city of Gorgath suddenly spread out before her, looming like a jewel in the dark, the city's lights sparkling like a thousand stars. Wanting to surprise the man who raised her, Silver masked both her scent and magic signature, and slowed her descent considerably. She unfolded her wings about halfway down, which slowed her descent even further, and glided into the stone courtyard, just outside the palace. She landed with barely a sound and only the slightest of breezes. She thought about changing into her human form, but decided instead to remain as a dragon. She would curl up in front of his throne and wait for him to wake up, just like she used to. She was so excited at the thought of his reaction she almost didn't catch the smell. It was the unmistakable smell of food.
Silver narrowed her eyes. That's... Odd. Dad's never up this early, and he certainly doesn't cook breakfast for himself.
She lowered her snout to the ground and began following the scent. Along with the smell of food, she noticed something else; another smell, this one unmistakable as well. It was an unfamiliar magic signature, that of a human, a woman, and it clearly belonged to a Type 1.
Instinct took over. Silver didn't even stop to consider the 'intruder' might not be an intruder at all. She simply charged towards the kitchen window, bumbling like a clumsy buffalo with wings, and roaring like thunder. It also didn't help matters that the silly dragon hadn't eaten since she left, and was starving.
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Post by GX1997 on May 5, 2015 20:02:13 GMT -6
Elia jumped when she heard a roar coming from outside the palace, but managed to pull herself together just in time to put up a barrier up and stop the source of the roar. The creature was going too fat and was too unfocused to stop in time, so it hit the barrier and then stumbled back into the courtyard a bit from what Elia could see. However, that wasn't what interested her about the creature. It was it's appearance.
"A dragon? A silver dragon...?! The silver dragon! The one Vincent talks about. If I knew you would be coming to visit him, I would have prepared a larger breakfast. As it is, I have enough for just two people. Well, I guess you'll just have to eat half of my portion while I make more food. Please, come in, come in!" she said as she went back to preparing food and dispelled the barrier. "Oh, silly me, I haven't introduced myself yet! My name is Elia. I know you probably weren't expecting to find someone other than Vincent here. I've been here for only a few months, while he has been teaching me many things about magick."
I probably shouldn't mention that in that time we've managed to fall in love amd get engaged... That would probably be too much of a shock. There will be time for that later.
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Post by Neo on May 5, 2015 22:17:31 GMT -6
Silver shook her body like a drenched cat as she stood back up. Her head was pounding slightly, but otherwise, the barrier had no effect on her. She poked her snout through the window and blinked in disbelief at the girl named Elia. Silver could tell she was speaking truthfully, that there was no deceit whatsoever in her, but she still had trouble wrapping her head around it.
... You mean the old man has willingly, voluntarily given up Hermit-hood and accepted a permanent apprentice? Ooooookaaay... How long was I gone again?
Curious, Silver decided to stay in dragon form for the time being and test the waters, so to speak. She backed away from the window and quietly crept through the front entrance, into the main hall- the great gates opened by themselves at her approach. She padded softly into the giant room that was the main kitchen, keeping her wings folded against her side and her tail tucked in between her legs. Even though she had grown quite a bit since she was last here, Silver could still fit easily enough.
She walked up behind Elia and gently nuzzled her, surprised to find her old man's scent mingled with her's. Any suspicion Silver might have harbored evaporated immediately. If he trusted her that much, enough to be close enough for Silver to pick up his scent, then that was all Silver needed. Still... She decided to remain as a dragon, just to see Elia's expression when she transformed later.
Silver nuzzled her again, like a cat craving to be pet, and grinned.
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Post by GX1997 on May 6, 2015 14:43:52 GMT -6
"What is your name?" Elia asked as she gently placed her hand on the dragon's head, then she chuckled. "Don't tell me... It's not Silver, is it?"
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Post by Neo on May 6, 2015 14:57:22 GMT -6
Yup. And I'm proud of it.
Silver bobbed her head up and down. It was an odd thing, seeing a dragon nod. She then walked back out into the main hall, her paws padding softly on the stone, and plopped down in front of the throne, sighing contentedly. Ah... It's good to be home.
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Post by GX1997 on May 6, 2015 15:47:50 GMT -6
While Silver was resting Elia was finishing breakfast. In order to stretch the meal to feed three, she didn't want to cook anything else, so instead she prepared extra fruit and brought out some of the extra bread leftover from the meals of the last few days. Once everything was ready she set an extra place at the table and brought in all the food.
"Are you ready to surprise Vincent?"
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Post by Neo on May 6, 2015 15:57:55 GMT -6
Silver immediately perked up, raising her head to look up at Elia. She grinned a wide, toothy grin that seemed uncannily human, and nodded again. He's not the only one I'm ready to surprise. I'm ready to surprise you too.
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Post by GX1997 on May 6, 2015 16:32:14 GMT -6
"Alright, if you want to hide you better do it now."
After giving that warning Elia walked over to the door of Vincent's room, and knocked just loud enough for him to hear it. After giving it a few moments she opened the door just enough to stick her head in so there was no way he could see Silver from inside the room. "Good morning. I have breakfast ready."
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Post by Neo on May 6, 2015 17:19:44 GMT -6
Vincent gives a low groan and sits up, rubbing his eyes. "I'm up, I'm up... I swear Elia, you enjoy waking me up this early just to torture me."
He yawns and rises from his bed like one of the undead- pun intended- and stumbles to his dresser, grabbing a pair of clean clothes. "Give me a minute to clean myself up, love. I'll be there in a sec."
He quickly showers and shaves, changing into a simple white sleeveless shirt and brown leggings, and walks out of his room. He finds Elia already at the table, and... A familiar lazy dragon lounging in front of his throne, waiting for him. He simply stands there for a moment, blinking in disbelief. Then he smiles, a warm, loving smile.
"Welcome home, Silver."
The dragon charges him, playfully tackling him to the ground and- attempting to- lick his face. "Easy, girl!" Vincent laughs, barely holding her back. "I just washed my face! And what have I told you about acting like a wild animal! I thought I raised you better!" He chides her playfully, still laughing.
She allows him to get up and sits back on her hind legs, grinning like a crazy dragon. Vincent rises to his feet and dusts himself off, looking over at Elia. "I assume you two have already met? Since you both were obviously planning to surprise me."
He takes a seat at the table, next to Elia, and leans over to place a quick kiss on her cheek. Then something suddenly struck him. "Oh... That's right. Knowing you, Yekiri, you haven't told her about us yet. And knowing you, Silver, you have her thinking you're a wild dragon, just for the fun. Please change forms. You know you aren't allowed to eat at the table like that."
The dragon snorts but reluctantly obeys, changing into the form of a twenty year old woman with long silver hair and beautiful violet eyes. "You're no fun dad," she pouts, taking a seat at the table across from Elia. "And I already know about you two. If she were merely your apprentice, you two wouldn't be so close."
Vincent raises a single eyebrow. "Oh? You don't seem very surprised. Well then. Silver, meet Elia Arrington, my fiancé. Elia, meet Silver, my daughter."
Silver's eyes widen to comical proportions. "W-wait! Your fiancé?! I thought... I just thought you two were lovers or something, I didn't think-!"
Vincent chuckles at her reaction. I figured as much. You never change, my Silver.
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Post by GX1997 on May 6, 2015 18:25:16 GMT -6
"It's- it's sudden, yes, but-... This likely not what you were expecting to find when you came home, but-... Oh, where do I begin!"
Elia had become very red and began to breathe shallow breaths as she sat there trying to find the words, and the silence seemed to her to be a jury ready to sentence her to her fate based on what she was about to say. What could she say to his daughter to make her understand? Love, the kind of love between herself and Vincent, pure and lovely, was not an easy sentiment to express, more so for one so young and yet faced with such an intimidating task.
"Silver... I love your father very dearly. And it is for that exact reason that we were never lovers as you pictured. You see, we needed to learn things. Things about each other, and what it meant to be in love like we were and are. We have to learn what it is like to share your entire life with someone, and not just a bed and a home. And the thing I struggle most with simply because of how new it is; learning what it means to not be two separate people, but two halves of one larger, much more beautiful whole. I wouldn't settle for being lovers. I want to spend my life, each and every moment of it with him, and I want to be just as large a part of his life as he will be in mine. So I waited, not out of stubborness, but out of true love, and I've never been disappointed because of my choice, as each and every day brings something, some little thing, that makes me fall more and more in love with him. Is that-... Can you understand why this is so? I really hope you do, because you've been dragged into this altered life, so it effects you too. Even though you didn't choose this for yourself, I want you to be able to be happy as part of this life, but I can't make you be happy. At the very least, I just don't want you to be angry with me. So, Silver... are you angry with me?"
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Post by Neo on May 6, 2015 19:29:47 GMT -6
Instead of being angry, like Elia seemed to expect, Silver had the opposite reaction: she teared up. "You silly woman, why in Austur would I be angry at you?" She breathed quietly, furiously wiping her eyes. "If we weren't at the table, I'd hug you. Gods, I swear I'll never understand people like you do, dad. I... I don't even know what to say. How in the name of all that is holy could you think I'd be angry with you?"
She shakes her head and sighs. "Dad, are you happy?"
"Yes," Vincent replies softly, smiling at Elia.
"Do you love her too?" She asks.
"Yes," he replies automatically, without even a hint of hesitation.
Silver herself hesitated a bit before she asked the next question. "What of your nightmares? Your power? Our family? Any trouble?"
He shakes his head. "Not a thing. For the first time in my life, I'm at peace."
"Is Elia the reason?"
"Yes," he replies, again without hesitation.
Silver inhales sharply and turns back to Elia. "See? That's all I've ever wanted. And you're the person who's finally given that to him. I could never be angry at you."
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Post by GX1997 on May 6, 2015 19:40:49 GMT -6
"Then we'll just be a very happy family, I guess," Elia said as she grabbed both Vincent and Silver's hands. "A loving father and husband, a mother and wife who's growing into her role, and a beautiful daughter... What more could anyone ask for?"
Suddenly, I'm about to be a mother too, but Silver is so happy for us. It's not what I had expected. I thought she might be resentful, but I was so wrong. She is a very kind and selfless young woman. I couldn't have a better daughter. But... it will take some getting used to. I have a daughter now. My daughter, Silver. I do like the sound of that, though.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2015 21:41:43 GMT -6
(Sorry Fennekin took so long for a response)
Baron was looking at the list of potential suspects. While Baron was looking he let out a yawn.
"Sorry about that really long day," Baron said standing up and stretching. "Must be more tired then I expected," Baron said to Serlen.
"I want to stay up some more," Catie pouted. "Your old enough to stay up as long as you want love," Baron playfully teased Catie.
Catie stuck out her tounge to Baron in response. "Well Serlen I am about to head off to bed, anything else just let Catie or Sam know, night," Baron said making his way to his mom's room.
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Post by Neo on May 6, 2015 22:19:17 GMT -6
Silver beamed, a wide, happy smile. "Yeah, I guess we will. Speaking of family dad, Gram-Gram Nivian expects you to be at the next family gathering. And auntie Jet is mad at you, for some reason. Says she wants a rematch. What, did you two get in a fight?"
"It's a long story," Vincent says, suddenly looking over at Elia. That's right. With everything that's happened, it completely slipped my mind. Jet was the one originally protecting Elia. Do they know each other?
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