[Storm's Edge] Fighting Forges Friendships

[Varlum]

41st Vhalar, 720

"Breathe."

Varlum muttered to himself quietly in the courtyard, the sound of others training echoing across the area. Everyone wanted to be at their best when the fighting broke out. With how many people they'd lost so far there was nobody willing to sit aside and do nothing, at least from the people Varlum had met and talked to. The Ithecal wasn't an exception. Varlum had spent so long training with Defiance that grown to a power he never expected. If Evianna could see him now she'd be amazed at how far he'd come with the Elements alone, let alone how much better he was at fighting. Some trials he wondered if he'd ever see her again, where she'd even really gone to. After everything with Auya, then the war with Ellasin, Varlum couldn't bring himself to talk to people for a while. Faith had talked him out of it, eventually, but it had been a low point for him. At least now he was back on his feet.

As he focused on his Ether, Varlum let the stone wrap around his weapon for a moment, adding to the weight of the axe. It was already a weapon of incredible quality, but defiance had made it that much better when he needed it to. With all the strength he could muster, Varlum's axe slammed through a makeshift training dummy, the strength and weight of the ithecal and weapon shattering his fake enemy to pieces. Defiance was a big part of Varlum's fighting, as was his weapon, but he rarely mixed the two. It was something to practice and rehearse, always ways for him to improve.

After a few more swings the Ithecal took notice of someone familiar in the training yard, letting the stone drop off his axe as he lowered it a little. Elisabeth, who had travelled with him to the Umbral Caverns with others, training with that one-handed sword she had been talking about. She was good for someone who had only recently started training, though it didn't take much to look good against a target that didn't move or fight back. All things considered, she looked like she could take care of herself in a fight. More importantly, though, the two had barely had the chance to talk on their expedition. Any chance to meet a familiar face was something in Storm's Edge - and this was an opportunity.

"Looks like that dummy is thoroughly dead to me," Varlum said with a friendly smile on his face as he approached, glancing to her sword. "For someone who only recently took up a blade, you swing it like you've swung it for Seasons. Better than half the Knights when they first come in, at least" he said sincerely, complimenting her before taking a seat on a nearby box as the sun beat down onto him. It was a nice temperature for an Ithecal, the heat was always far preferable to any kind of cold. After all of the mountains he'd travelled in the past Arc he'd prefer to never touch snow or cold again.

"How have things been, since the cavern?" he asked as he made eye contact, the stone scales of the Ithecal coating near to every part of him but his eyes. It wasn't hard to see he was different, whether Elisabeth knew it was because of Defiance or not. Then again, after hearing all about his marks and such in the Umbral Caverns it wouldn't come as any surprise that he wasn't just a standard Knight.

However she answered, Varlum sat on the box for a moment, taking a little breather from fighting. He had a long day of training ahead, no need to push it just yet.

[Elisabeth Black]

41 Vhalar, 720.

Storm’s Edge. Elisabeth hadn’t known about its existence until recent times…and now she couldn’t seem to stay away for any length of time. There had been the expedition to the Umbral Caverns, of course. But even since then, she found her way back a few more times to deliver information and various other tasks. Lore had been on her case since the Caverns as well. He hadn’t been happy to hear about the events that had taken place and redoubled his efforts to make sure Elisa was prepared should she find herself in any other difficult situations.

What that meant for Elisa was…she was always training.

Lucky for her sword mentor, Elisabeth had a deeply ingrained work ethic. Once her mind was made up to learn something, she threw herself into it wholeheartedly. She trained daily, even if it was on her own. She preferred her sessions with Lore, however, because it was more challenging to fight a moving, thinking target than a training dummy. Being new at Storm’s Edge though, Elisa didn’t want to bother anyone. They were all busy with their various tasks and it really wasn’t a big deal. The dummies offered her a chance to practice specific moves – to perfect them.

It wasn’t until she heard a familiar voice that she turned and found Varlum talking to her. Softly laughing, she poked the dummy a bit with her gladius. “Well, he insulted me by not fighting back. I took exception to that…” His compliment caught her off guard a bit, brushing soft wisps of dark hair out of her face before replying with a smirk. “Thank you for that. My mentor, Lore, will happily accept all the credit. He’s such a modest fellow…” For as much as she teased him, and him her in return, Lore pushed her hard, making sure she was ready for whatever needed to be done. But as hard as he pushed her, she pushed herself even further. The Caverns had shown her how truly silly she had been. Elisa had spent all her arcs thinking Idalos was sunshine and rainbows, only to be confronted with the stark reality of something completely different. She had spent too long with her head in the sand.

Coming over to stand near Varlum, she considered his question thoughtfully. There was a lot going through her mind and it was hard to pick and choose what she thought was relevant to the conversation. They hadn’t had the chance to speak much during that trip to the Caverns but she knew enough to know that he wouldn’t have asked the question if he didn’t want to know the answer. Giving him a sincere smile, appreciative of the fact he was even asking, she replied. “I suppose that should be an easy question to answer, but It’s not. The trip changed a lot of things for me. My worldview, perspective, is forever altered. I had to accept that the sheltered existence in academia that I lived in…that I loved…was wrong. People shouldn't ignore the larger picture and I think too many do. It’s not right. One can pursue knowledge and still make a difference without ignoring the needs of others. They aren’t mutually exclusive goals.“ Sighing softly, she plopped down on another nearby box and gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry. As you can tell, I’m working through some things. I apologize. It just frustrates me. You are kind to ask. And you? We didn’t get the chance to speak much on that mission. Have you been well?"

It wasn’t a question asked simply due to social custom – Elisa truly wanted to know. She was new to the whole concept of trust and friends. Varlum had watched her back, taken care of her, even when she was a stranger to him. Something inside told her that he was someone she could trust.

[Varlum]

"How dare he, I'd be insulted too" he said with a small smirk as she poked the dummy with her sword, glad to see that humour wasn't off the table even after the Cavern. It had been intense, even for Varlum, he couldn't begin to imagine how it was for someone who's job wasn't to fight like that regularly. Everything in Rharne right now was enough to make people scared. The city was in a lot of danger, he knew it. A lot of people knew it. But all they could do was fight for their home, now more than they had ever fought before. Varlum may not have been born here, or even been here for more than a couple of Arcs, but he was here now. This was the place he had found and stayed in. He had friends, some family too. Which meant this was the place he'd defend to the grave.

"If I see him I'll be sure to give him praise, to boost his modesty of course" he teased a little, leaning back on the box as she came to stand by him and expressed how she felt, Varlum let his expression turn a little warmer. He understood it, all be it a long time ago. He'd been young, training with his Uncle every day, until it was ripped away from him in what felt like an instant. Everything was suddenly dangerous, everyone could be a threat. "You don't need to apologize, I get it. Believe it or not, big stone guy like me, I used to work as a Blacksmith and keep to myself. Came to Rharne and joined the Knights but didn't expect much, but then the Flameborn showed up. Killed a man with one hit, our commander, and I took charge as best I could. Took a spear to the leg and would have died if not for Lovalus, and some support from Ethelynda after the fact. It changes you" he explained before giving a reassuring smile.

"But it gets easier. Hell, in the long run it helps. Prepares you for everything else the world throws at you, before you know it you'll be stronger than I am" he almost chuckled, after everything he had seen as of late. "As for me, I'm doing alright. Just training a lot. After seeing how bad shit can get out there I want to make sure I'm as ready as can be" he nodded to a training dummy shattered to pieces across the courtyard, having a small moment to think before standing again. "That being said, how'd you like to train a little? I can take a few hits, with the whole stone thing, and I can practice some shield work as we do. I've been meaning to learn to use one for a while."

As he stood and faced opposite her, he summoned his Noble's Shield, a glimmering and golden tower shield appearing in his arm. "I'll try to move more than the dummy. You up for it?" he said with a small grin, disabling Honor's Shield to ensure he had no boost from his blessing as he learned to protect himself. If it came down to not using his Mark, he'd need to be able to defend himself anyway. Now was the time.

[Elisabeth Black]

As they joked and teased, Elisa was reminded that even a season before, she wouldn’t have been in that position. She had been firmly nestled up in scholarly pursuits and oblivious to the world. And happy…or at least she thought she had been. It had been an oblivion of her own creation. She was certainly smart enough to figure out that the world wasn’t what it seemed…but she had actively chosen to believe a fairy tale. Perhaps that was why she was working so hard to prepare for whatever eventuality came. It was a penance of sorts – a way to prove to herself that she was worthy of redemption for her mistakes.

Varlum seemed to understand and that was a relief to her. There hadn’t been many she could speak to so openly about her issues. There was an underlying logic in speaking to those that had similar experiences, finding out how they coped. Then again, each being and soul were different. What worked for one wouldn’t necessarily work for the other. And yet, his words brought Elisabeth a certain amount of peace. Not a lot…but it was a start. “I’m glad you are doing well. I think all of us received a healthy amount of reality on that mission.”

Ethelynda! That was a stroke of luck. Her upbringing had been an unusual one and oddly enough, Ethelynda was at the center of it. Putting that aside for the moment, she curiously inquired. “Ethelynda? Now you have my curiosity. Support? You’ve actually met her?”

Elisa had told others pieces of her story but maybe it was time to trust someone enough to tell more. Glancing at him uncertainly, she bit her lip gently and spoke slowly. “Varlum, I have a puzzle that perhaps you can help me with. It has to do with my early life. I’ve told a few bits of the story, but you mention Ethelynda….so maybe you are supposed to help me? I was found outside the city of Viden when I was approximately an arc old. I was fine, healthy, clothed, in no apparent distress. Vin and Rilith – my adoptive parents – they found me and brought me into the city. No one knew anything about me, so they took me in as theirs and raised me.” That was the part of the story that she had already conveyed to a few others. It was the rest that was a bit harder to figure out. “Growing up, Vin and Rilith -they are both scholars- often encouraged me to read about Immortals. They seemed particularly insistent on Ethelynda. When I asked why I was just told that it was important to try and understand them and the way to do that was by studying their history. I never believed that was the real reason, but it was one that I accepted. As well, in later years, I talked to acquaintances that had known Vin and Rilith since their own University trials and confirmed that neither had ever mentioned any curiosity about Immortals or Ethelynda until arriving in Viden – until me. I’ve tried to find information out, track down every clue I can but there is nothing to be found. It’s maddening. Does anything in that story sound familiar to you? I wouldn’t have said anything…but you mentioned Ethelynda….” Maybe there was something wrapped up within the details that he could see that she hadn’t been able to. Anything was worth a shot.

His offer as a training partner was met with a bright smile. “You bet. I’m always happy to show others how expertly I can avoid stabbing myself. My first few lessons, I assure you, were not pretty.” Rising as well, she gave Varlum a sincere look and spoke again. “And if I didn’t tell you before, thank you. I appreciate you watching my back at the Caverns. I know, it was your job and duty…but that doesn’t mean that I can’t be appreciative of it…and I am.”

[Varlum]

"Reality sounds about right" he commented with a small sigh, knowing that more could be out there that they hadn't seen. Faldrun was a tricky son of a bitch to deal with, he'd do everything to make sure Rharne fell. They had to be on full alert at all times - for now at least. Soon. Soon enough they could figure out something, some way to stop Faldrun. If it means his own son arrived at his door and killed him with his bare hands, so be it. Varlum hadn't fought an Immortal yet, though he'd come close. It would make for one hell of a story for Ralaith's Book.

"Aye, I've met her. A couple of times" he said, raising his stone-coated right hand to show that engraved in the stone was a shield that appeared almost silver. "She marked me after I fought off a Flameborn, and since then I've worked with her blessing - though I haven't done as much as I should have. But there's always more time" he admitted, wishing he had dedicated more to Ethelynda. After all he had seen and done, all the help her blessing had given him across it, he should have devoted as much as he could to her. But now was the time he could. Now that he'd found Dragons, begun plans for a way to unite forces across mortals and powerful beings alike, he could work with her to make it come true.

When Elisabeth asked for his help he listened and nodded. It was a lot to take in, he wasn't surprised at how confused it could make her. He had his own ideas once she was finished, some more farfetched than others, admittedly. But one made sense to him. "Before I was ever marked by Ethelynda, I had a bounty hunter sent to kill me. More than once. But one time stands out, because the Ivorian guards showed up when I moved there as the hunter tried to kill me. Gave me a scar across my eye, not that you can see it anymore thanks to the stone. But after I killed him the guards arrived, and rather than arrest me, told me that Ethelynda had sent them to me at the request of Aeva. Whether it was because of Aeva or not, I don't know. But she protected me. What if she protected you too?"

He paused for a moment. "I don't know. But being found, unharmed and alone, by parents that suddenly wanted you to know about Immortals. Maybe Ethelynda protected you from whatever was out there?" he said with a small pause, glancing to Elisabeth for a moment. There were other potentials, but they weren't ones he could talk about. It was false hope - and he had no way of knowing if she could be Mortalborn or even something else. She hadn't used any powers yet but neither had Varlum until later in his life. It was a lot to think about, a lot more than he could bring himself to say to the girl that had so many questions as it was. Even if the long, black hair and determined eyes fit - it wasn't his place to ponder.

When she agreed to spar Varlum smiled behind the golden tower shield, chuckling as she told him how bad her first lessons went. "As someone that uses an axe, I promise I understand. Nearly decapitated myself more than the training dummies when I first swung that thing" he said as he gestured to the giant two-handed axe leaning against the boxes. It wasn't entirely true, the axe he used now was a newer one, and far better than the one he'd started with, Adamantite and coated with an Embersteel that made it glow as if ablaze. At Elisabeth's final comment, however, Varlum nodded and gave a small smile.

"I'd do it again, and I don't doubt you'd have done the same. Maybe once you've trained a little more with that sword it'll be you that I hide behind" he teased, the picture of it amusing.

[Elisabeth Black]

The reality of the Caverns was something she was still dealing with. Each of them had to process their experience in whatever way made sense to them. Every step of the investigation into what was really going on in the Stormlands brought them closer to answers but equally exacted a toll on those involved.

As he admitted to meeting Ethelynda, her mind swirled with a million questions. It was the first time the subject had come up with someone in conversation…but she didn’t want to be rude. It was an incredibly special thing, meeting an Immortal. Keeping her excitement to herself, she smiled and continued, ultimately curious. “What an amazing thing to experience. I confess I have a mind full of questions…but I don’t want to intrude or disrespect such an incredible thing.” Elisa had always been quite sensitive to the nature of information people chose to disclose to her. She didn’t take such things lightly. Each person’s experiences were sacred.

As she had hoped, her story was in safe hands with Varlum. He appeared to listen carefully as she worked her way through it and offered up his thoughts. His theory was sound…but seemed too fantastical to be true. Giving him a confused look, she replied. “I understand what you are suggesting but…why? I can’t imagine any Immortal wasting time on me, but I guess there are a lot of things I don’t know. The things I’ve seen in the past season, I can’t deny that there is a whole world out there that I’ve yet to confront.”Shrugging her shoulders lightly, Elisa didn’t give the matter much more thought. She respected his opinion greatly and didn’t want to appear to discount it, but her mind wasn’t allowing for the possibility.

Brightening visibly at the idea of sparring, she let the other matter go and laughed lightly.“Well, I doubt that will ever be the case, but you are quite adorable for saying it, “ she teased. “Lore, my sword mentor, told me once that every time I swing my sword, it needs to be in defense of myself or others. When he told me that, I knew he was the right one to teach me. There are others out there that think wielding a weapon is all fun and games, but I could never think that way. That’s not in my heart.”

There was more to that thought but Elisa kept it to herself. Brandishing a weapon was not anything she ever thought she would do to any great degree. But she wasn’t the same girl that had arrived in Rharne. She knew far more than that girl…and she knew the dangers the world contained. When people were confronted with that kind of knowledge, some hid…and some acted. What she was doing might not ever yield any tangible help against the forces against them in Rharne, but she couldn’t hide anymore. Not when she knew the truth.

Moving out into the middle of the training courtyard, giving her sword a few practice swings to loosen back up, she gave him a mischievous smile. “Ready?”

[Varlum]

"Intrude away. I bear her Mark, talking about Ethelynda and meeting her isn't anything I'd shy away from. Sharing those stories wouldn't disrespect anything, I'd be happy to answer whatever questions you have" he said with a small smile, his tone almost proud. Being a Shield-Bearer was a prestige he wore every day, but it wasn't a secret or even something amazing. Perhaps all he had seen, all his meetings with Immortals and even being the child of one, had hardened his reaction to it. But serving Ethelynda meant more to him than meeting a hundred immortals ever would, especially if it meant he could keep those around him safe. That was the reason he had joined the Knights, after all. Protecting anyone that couldn't protect themselves.

"As for why, I don't know either. But some could say the same about me. I didn't use to be this big, was never made of stone. I was just another Ithecal that barely made a living. Ethelynda still chose me. Sometimes people have more to offer than they think" he reassured with a small smile, whether she saw it that way or otherwise. Maybe he was wrong, but at the very least it was an option. But it was hers to work out. She'd take time and figure it all out, he was sure. Until then, the two had some training to do for both their sakes. Elisabeth wanted to learn to use a sword, Varlum a shield. Maybe it would even help her take her mind off the entire situation at the Caverns, at least for a while. Though it wasn't likely.

"Adorable? That's a new one" he chuckled back, his face coated with an amused smile as small wisps of smoke left his mouth. "Sometimes us big guys need someone to hide behind too" he teased back at her, grin wide across his face. Since the war with Ellasin had ended, even with everything at Storm's Edge, Varlum had been a lot happier. Him and Vega had poked fun at each other a lot, now the same was true with Elisabeth. It was a nice change of pace. It almost reminded him of some of his fond memories from Ivorian. The few friends he had over the Arcs had always liked to make small jabs at one another.

As she explained her sword mentor's mentality on fighting, Varlum's grin faded and he nodded. "You picked a good mentor. I may be a Knight of Rharne, but I don't fight for fun. Not brawling, not with weapons. So I respect it, a lot" he nodded. Truth be told, there was more to it than that, but he had never understood the fun in fighting someone that wasn't your enemy. Beating another man or woman down for entertainment wasn't Varlum's way. If he fought it was to train or to kill. There was no in-between. Maybe it was too extreme, he'd wondered it himself, but it was how he had always found himself. He'd beat his enemies to protect his allies and those that depended on him - which normally meant his enemies died.

With that thought out of the way he smiled back at her, shield raised up. "Ready" he nodded, holding the golden tower shield in front of him and trying to position his body behind it as best he could. He knew his footwork was sloppy, but he had to get a feel for it before he could figure it out. Stance was different when he was using a big, two-handed weapon. There was more aggression to it. Now he had to focus on keeping himself strong and immovable. But it would come with time. Right now he just needed to make sure his reflexes were up, guarantee that he could block enough hits. With a tower shield of this size it wouldn't be so hard, but it was something to work on. One day he'd be facing targets with far bigger and heavier swings. That was what he trained for.

"Don't go easy on me, I can take it" he nodded reassuringly, bracing himself for impact.

[Elisabeth Black]

He seemed amenable to the idea of questions regarding Ethelynda and that wasn’t a trust she took lightly. It was her opinion that most everyone had some level of trust issues – she hadn’t encountered anyone yet that didn’t. It was easier for her to assume that she had done something to earn the level of trust Varlum deemed necessary to feel comfortable talking about such things. “Alright then,” she replied. “What is she like?” She knew it was a basic question but where do you begin when talking about an Immortal?

His reply to her questioning why an Immortal would choose to interfere in her life was thought-provoking. In the end, one really couldn’t know the intentions of an Immortal, and trying to ascertain such was a fruitless endeavor. It wasn’t a path her mind could go down now without a lot more proof that something divine was involved. There were more down-to-Idalos ideas to consider before one as fantastical and improbable as that. “Well, knowing what I know, I’d say Ethelynda made a wise choice in blessing you. I whole-heartedly approve.” Giving him a soft, teasing smirk, she began running through scenarios in her mind. Going up against a tower shield was a very different challenge than just sparing with another sword-bearer.

Laughing softly at his retort, she shrugged her slender shoulders gently. “You mean the other Knights don’t call you ‘adorable’? How incredibly rude. I would be deeply offended.”

Leveling her eyes at the middle of the shield, she surmised that power was not going to get her very far. Maybe if she were wielding a heavier longsword…but she wasn’t. The gladius had been chosen for her because it was lighter and easier to learn on. Elisabeth needed to get up to speed quickly and trying to learn the intricacies of the longsword, as well as all the conditioning required, would have slowed her down. Perhaps someday, once she was more experienced, she would train with a two-handed sword but for the moment, Elisa was happy with hers.

“I agree – Lore is a good one. And I found him quite by accident too. But you mention a good point. I know someone that does brawling tournaments…but seems to use them more like training sessions for unarmed combat and to earn money for relief efforts. I’ve thought about it a lot and I’m still not sure where I fall on that subject. I’ve never gotten the impression he does it for sport but it technically isn’t to protect his life or another’s…” Ever since meeting Balthazar, that particular subject had plagued her as a matter of study…and she was curious about Varlum’s take on it.

Lore liked to talk during sparring, telling her what was and wasn’t working. He expected her to talk back, to explain her choices. Since both her and Varlum were training with or against a weapon they were unfamiliar with, it was a solid choice to talk their way through it. Perhaps the other would have useful information one could use?

“Power isn’t the name of the game here. It’s obvious I would lose that battle. If I separate you and the shield and consider each separately, options appear. As an opponent, there is only one advantage I have over you, being smaller. I must use speed to get where I need to go. The shield adds complications, especially since you are using a tower shield. By the way, why are you using a tower shield? They are usually used for combatants that don’t have any armor. That’s not the case with you. Is it because other shields would be too small?” When breaking down battle, Elisabeth used a very matter-of-fact tone. Lore called it the ‘Brainy Elisa’ tone. Varlum would recognize it from their Caverns adventure - it meant she was working something out in her mind…

Regardless, her first move was a quick step to her right. With a tower shield and Varlum’s height, coming over the shield was out of the question. So only three options remained: right, left, and beneath. Going to the left would require her to travel further to get her sword arm freed up enough to make a strike and possibly could expose her back, giving him time to resituate to defend. Underneath was a possibility, but she wanted to try the right side first and see where that got her. Shooting to the right, she swung hard, hoping to get around the side of the shield before he knew what she was doing.

[Varlum]

"Well," Varlum started at the question of what Ethelynda was like, pondering for a few seconds on how to answer it. They had only met a couple of times but she had an air about her. It was noble, respectful. But more importantly, she cared about what was right. She cared about making sure Varlum was educated, that he was free to make his own choices but that his choices were the right ones to make. "She's kind, not just to me but about and to everyone. Rather than tell me what to do outright she helped me make my own path, let me decide what I thought was right, tested my thoughts. Maybe it was her way of making sure I was right, or maybe it was something else. All I need to know is she asked in hope I made the right choice. She's noble. I know it sounds self-explanatory, of course she would be, but she is. In a way that many people aren't."

Varlum, holding his tower shield out, gave a warm smile back as she said he deserved his blessing. "I appreciate it" he nodded, before letting out a loud chuckle at her tease about the other Knights. "If another Knight called me adorable I might have to knock them to the dirt. Thank god you're not a Knight, at least as far as I know" he grinned. Truth be told, the Knights teased one another a lot. It wasn't the first time Varlum had been referred to as adorable or some synonym of it, but it was amusing nonetheless. More interestingly, though, it was nice to see Elisabeth in a situation where she could relax and be playful. The first time they met had been serious through and through. It was always bound to be.

Once she mentioned her friend, or at least he assumed her friend, Varlum thought for a moment. It was a different thing, somewhat, but Varlum was still unsure on it. "Donating money to relief efforts is noble, and I would never disrespect someone for brawling even if I disagree with it. For me it's..." he said with a small pause, remembering the one brawl he'd been in when he first came to Rharne. "I've seen what violence can do to people, especially when you're a big guy like me. If I hit someone they fall, and sometimes they don't get back up. I can't be responsible for that, I can't be the reason someone's father or brother or son is hurt, potentially beyond repair, over a stupid fist fight. War is different, we all picked our side and knew the risk. But brawls aren't for me."

Eyes focused, Varlum listened as she explained her thought process. He nodded for a moment. His tactics weren't amazing but he could fight. "Right, splitting me and my shield up would be a smart idea. No way you can break through it, not without being shoved to the floor - at least in a real fight" he said. When she asked why he used a tower shield he chuckled a little. "Truth be told, I don't have a real shield yet, I'm intending on making my own when I get the chance. Ethelynda allows me to summon a tower shield, so it's what I'm stuck using until I can find a good alternative" he confessed. There was no real grand strategy behind the choice, just the limitations of his blessing and his refusal to throw his life savings onto one good shield.

Then she moved, Varlum's eyes coming to life a little as he saw her swing towards him. It was quick, though he wasn't surprised at the revelation. As best he could Varlum lifted and shuffled the tower shield to the right, using his strength to swing it around with some speed. As she swung his shield hit her sword, the side colliding rather than blocking fully from the front, giving her a potential opening. All Varlum could do was prepare for what came next. Even if he was hit, it was learning. So he waited for a brief moment for her next move.

[Elisabeth Black]

She had listened to Varlum explained his impressions of Ethelynda. It all sounded like what she would have expected – kind and noble. Truthfully, she had hoped to find out something that would make her not want to know more…but she should have known better. If Varlum was committed to Ethelynda then she was as honorable and virtuous as Elisa had read about. But the topic reminded her of something she had almost forgotten about – the Wardens! One of the first things she had learned about (well, overheard a private conversation) upon arriving in Rharne was a supposed group of people "Wardens of Lovalus” who work to protect Rharne from attacks and enemies. It was said that they worked for the Spirit of Rharne. The conversation she heard was focused more on if the Spirits had their own language…and that was interesting to her, certainly.

However, she knew Varlum to be one of these Wardens... (and Vega…and Gennadyia) and during their time in the Caverns, she never felt it appropriate to barrage them with questions regarding them.

Now was a different story…but she held off a moment longer.

His tease regarding her calling him ‘adorable’ was met with a brilliant smile. It was a smile he hadn’t seen much of during their mission but away from danger, Elisa was able to be a different person. Dangerous situations required her complete attention but at Storm’s Edge, she could let down her guard just a bit. When they had gone to the Caverns, Elisa had a lot of time to observe the others present. Varlum had been kind to her – never judgmental. That specific combination, for some reason, allowed her to perhaps relax more around him than she would with others. Snarking back at him, she grinned. “ You could try, I suppose…but you’d have to catch me first…”

She listened carefully to him as he puzzled out the situation she spoke of. His views mirrored her own, which didn’t solve the problem. Perhaps there would always be situations where the right answer was simply up to the people involved? Elisa had no right to push her morality upon others.

The explanation about his shield was sufficient for her curiosity but her mind wouldn’t let it go. Her next move would prove what the inherent problem with a tower shield for someone his size was going to be. Remembering Lore’s advice about letting your opponent’s energy fuel one’s next attack, she absorbed the collision of her sword and his shield, using the shield to push off and go the opposite direction. It was a calculated move because for the briefest moment, her back would be to the shield…but it was worth the risks. If she wanted to land a blow, Elisa was going to have to take a risk. The blow came in the form of a backhanded strike to his right thigh. Holding her sword there so he could see what happened, she gave him a big smile. “I understand why you are using the shield, but I don’t ever think it’s going to be your friend. It’s too big…and you're too big. It’s obscuring your field of vision too much, I think…”

While paused to assess both his and her mistake, she decided to push forward with the thought she had moments prior. “Varlum, I didn’t ask any questions during our mission, but you are a Warden, correct? The way I understand it, there is a certain oath involved. But you are also a marked of Ethelynda. Suppose someday those two oaths pull you in different directions? I can’t think of a situation that might qualify but…are you worried about that?” Perhaps it was a silly question – she didn’t know. There was a world of information out there that she didn’t know yet. The only way she was going to figure it out was…to ask.