• Closed • Introduction

[Leon]

Ashan, 46, Arc 717

It was a sunny day. The flowers were blooming and the birds chirping. The townsfolk kept themselves busy, either working or chatting away. Some lying on their chairs in front of their homes. In the midst of the crowds was a boy in a dirty cloak. Leon. He was walking stubbornly, wearing a small pout on his face. His stomach grumbled for the 5th time in the past hour. He wasn't much of a hunter, and he didn't have any currency on him. And not to mention he's been trying to hone his skills since sunrise without any breaks.

"Egh...isn't there any sort of job I can do to make a little bit of coin..." He grumbled, his eyes scanning the crowds. He wasn't a begger, he wouldn't stoop that low. And he hasn't yet made a name for himself as an expert swordsman yet. After looking around, he slumped his arms, slouching slightly, and let out a sigh of defeat. Leon didn't want to resort to it but...maybe he'd just have to steal from someone. What other choice did he have?

Leon walked towards the front of the tavern. The inside was fairly busy as well as the outside of the bar. Small groups of people, chatting, drinking, and laughing, pretty much having a good time. Leon was against the wall of the bar, slowly approaching a small circle of people on the corner of the tavern. He poked his hand out, reaching towards the nearest guy's pocket. Immediately, the man turned around, confused at what he felt. "What the?" He looked down at Leon, and his facial expression transitioned from bemusement to anger.

Leon flashed an awkward smile. The man gripped the small teens shirt by its collar, lifting him into the air. He pinned him to the wall, baring his teeth in rage. "What?! You wanna steal from me you little brat??" A few people stared,
mumbling among themselves. Leon kicked his legs around, flailing about desperately before just giving up. He was caught.

(OOC Notes: I'd like a max of two people please! After that, I'm going to lock the thread. If you want to join afterwards, just PM me. Thanks~!)

[Faith Augustin]

Faith was in the Tavern to speak to the owner, discussing his wine and drinks supplier. It wasn't somewhere that she frequented usually for all sorts of reasons, mostly because she did not drink alcohol and she had no wish to be in crowded places. However, the owner was delayed and Faith was growing more and more anxious in here. She did not like being in such a crowd, she did not like being around people who were drinking and there were a number of folks in the room who she thought had drunk entirely too much.

Which was quite outrageous, really, considering it was still early afternoon. Yet, the young woman sat and she kept an eye on those around her. Faith was not naturally a social individual and she had been in places like this very rarely in her life. Those times that she had been in taverns had not been good or positive experiences for her, but she sat with a very straight back and looked around whilst she waited for the owner. A deep frown etched her face as she saw a young man who seemed quite young and was, rarely, actually shorter than her.

Faith watched as the boy leaned over to a man and, when the man caught hold of the boy, Faith's hand fell almost unconsciously to the gladius she wore at her side. She didn't like conflict, not one little bit, but at the same time that was a boy. Although the boy was also old enough to know better. Still, Faith had sharp eyes and the boy had not actually stolen anything.

So, the diminutive woman stood up. The young, not much older than him, human was just about five foot four and her build was best described as thin. She wore a simple and unfussy skirt and blouse with a blue cloak over it. The cloak, should Leon know such, marked her as a healer in the Order of the Adunih and they were well respected in Scalvoris. "Excuse me," she said, her tone soft. The woman who spoke had jet black hair and eyes which were such a pale blue they were almost silver. "I understand your reaction, but nothing has been taken. Lets not make trouble, shall we?" Faith smiled at the man who held Leon, her face calm.

"I'm sure that this young man is going to apologise. Then, I'll keep an eye on him until you and your friends leave, or he does." She didn't want there to be a fight, he was a young boy and he looked hungry. To Leon, although she didn't know that was his name, the young human turned silver eyes as she spoke. "I'd like you to apologise, then come and sit with me, and I'll buy you a meal." One eyebrow raised as she said that, it was a question and it was, as far as she was concerned, up to him.

Whatever happened next, the young woman in the blue cloak would not be getting into a fight, although the gladius she wore at her belt did not look decorative, not in the slightest. She was also calm, very much so, in the face of these men. Her tone was gentle and non-confrontational. Internally, Faith was terrified, but she couldn't let them beat up on a child shorter than her and so she used every ounce of discipline to appear calm and in control. Things were less likely to get out of hand that way, after all.

[Leon]

The man pushed Leon into the wall even more, glaring daggers at the boy. He struggled to move his arms to reach for his blade, which, coincidentally, was a gladius just like Faith's. The man grunted a bit as he heard a soft, feminine voice, call out to him and the guys behind him. He turned his head, narrowing his eyes a bit at her. His aggressive expression that was aimed towards her quickly shifted into a look of surprise after he noticed her cloak. Despite still holding a grip on Leon, he loosened up a bit and listened to Faith speak.

Leon's eyes widened as she pretty much spoke for him. "A-Apologize...? The hell would I do that for?! I don't regret a thing!" Leon yelped when the man pushed him against the wall again. His eyes were filled with fire as he furrowed his brows. This was a jab at his pride. How did he even get into this humiliating predicament anyways. When Faith finally spoke directly to him, he couldn't help but pout like a small child. The offer was so tempting. After all, he was starving! Swallowing his pride, he looked away from the man he tried to rob. "...Tch...sorry..." He grumbled quietly. Out of respect for Faith, the 'victim' put Leon down, and shot him a cold gaze.

Leon looked at the floor as he walked to Faith. "I didn't need your help you know..." He muttered. "How embarrassing...." He thought. "Being saved my a girl. Some swordsman....I don't care if she's part of the Order or not. I should be able to handle myself."

[Faith Augustin]

Faith smiled at the man who let the boy down and she nodded her head. "Thank you, I appreciate it. My apologies for the disturbance." She moved away with the young man and as he spoke to her she glanced at him. "I wasn't helping you, so whether you needed it or not isn't relevant." Sitting down, Faith smiled and gestured for him to do the same. "If there was a fight, someone would have been hurt and I would have had to patch them up."

Looking at the young man she considered him. He looked hungry and unkempt, she thought, but not starving. Yet. "My name is Faith. It's nice to meet you." Her tone was soft and unassuming, her movements were minimal and she held herself very straight. For all that her movements were so controlled, she didn't seem at all tense, however. As the server came to the table, Faith glanced at the boy and raised an eyebrow. "I can recommend the steak pie. It's a hearty meal and a very tasty one." She ordered one for herself and let him order whatever he wanted. The only thing she ordered for them both was the drinks. Fruit juice.

Once the server was gone and mindful of the glances still being shot their way by the men at the other table, though they were less and less, Faith turned her attention to the boy in question. "Are you new to Scalvoris, or do you know it here? I've only been here a season myself, but I like it, very much." He was annoyed, it seemed, but not at her specifically she thought. When their drinks arrived she thanked the server before asking her new companion. "So, what was all that about, then?" Her head motioned towards the men at the other table. He'd respond honestly, or he would not. That, she knew, was up to him.

[Leon]

He pouted at her response to helping him. Well, he was just being a disturbance rather than a victim. He didn't care though. As she sat down, Leon flashed a small frown and looked around the tavern awkwardly. Exhaling softly, he complied and sat down as well. She introduced herself with the kindest voice he's ever heard. Just who was she? He couldn't even fathom why she was being so friendly towards him.

Leon's eye trailed away from her and towards the corner of his eye. He noticed the waitress approaching their table and looked back down. Hearing Faith's suggestion, he shrugged and decided to heed her recommendation. "Erm...I'll uh...have one steak pie please." He muttered, his tone sounding as if he were unsure. Not about his meal of course, but accepting her money on his behalf. Yes, he did try to steal from someone else, but that's why he felt a little guilty. Why did he deserve the help?

He fiddled with his fingers a bit. He perked his head up at her question. "New to...uhm, no. I was born and raised here. Back when uh, the pirates were still roaming about." He folded his arms on the table, observing her. "What happened with those guys, well...I was hungry, and I don't really take pride from begging. I know stealing isn't the right way to go, but it's better than degrading myself purposely." His eyes trailed down to where her sword would be if the table weren't concealing it. "...Anyways...I noticed you have a similar sword like mines." Leon instinctively touched his sheathe from outside his cloak. "I got kind of hungry with all the training I've been doing. Yup, that's right. I want to become the best swordsman there is, and get rich and famous." Leon gave an arrogant smirk. Though, Leon didn't exactly have the right help, he was just self taught. And he surely wasn't looking at her as a teacher. He wasn't really sure how skilled she was with a blade, but if anything, he highly doubted she could do much. She did say she was a medic.

[Faith Augustin]

He was hungry and didn't take pride from begging? Faith considered his words and nodded her head. "So, you'd rather work for money than beg? I understand." With a slight smile though, she added in a soft voice, "I would suggest that your choice of the person who pays you is out of whack. But the fundamental idea is good." Faith looked at him as he said that he wanted to be a rich and famous swordsman, one eyebrow raising in interest, but not in judgement it seemed.

"I have a friend who is an excellent swordsman." Faith said with a smile. "I don't like violence. I don't like to fight." That was, undoubtedly, true. She didn't enjoy fighting and she hated the idea of hurting people ~ it seemed rather pointless to her. Yet, she had stood and fought in some very extreme situations; now was not the time for that. "Are you avoiding telling me your name? If so, that's fine, I won't ask again. But if not, it would be good to know it, so that I know what to call you when I make you an offer."

She looked at him and considered it, then spoke. "I own a restaurant, it is called Cally's. It's here, in Scalvoris Town. It is part of a wider organisation. We provide education and a trade to those who might need it. We don't give hand outs, that isn't my philosophy at all." It most certainly was not. Faith did not believe in simply giving away things, it was ludicrous. "There is a farm where we grow our produce, a kitchen where we cook and a restaurant where we need waiting staff. For those people who wish to learn a living in one of those trades, we give them the opportunity to live whilst they learn. If they are prepared to work for it." Faith gave him an apologetic look, though. "Unfortunately, accommodation won't be ready till the beginning of next season."

Solemn silver grey eyes turned to him. There was not judgement in them, not at all. "Or there is the Order of the Adunih. They will allow you to join without any medical skill. Thank you." That she said to the woman who brought their meals and cutlery. Faith waited until the server had gone and started to pick at her food in a way which made perfect sense when one looked at the young woman. She evidently did not have a big appetite.

"Medical knowledge is very useful for a swordsman. Especially if you are planning on being alone, rather than working in a unit. If you work for the Order, they will give you a place to stay and meals." Lifting her shoulders in a shrug, Faith gave a slight smile. Galena was going to be delighted, she considered. "But they expect work." He was a young man and he had dreams of fame and glory. Faith had stitched too many amputated limbs to think of either thing in relation to a sword, but that was by the by.

What would he think of these as options, Faith wondered. If he wanted to learn, then he had to understand that he needed to be fit and healthy. Both of those would involve work which he probably did not want to do. As she ate, Faith's sleeve revealed a delicate tattoo on her wrist, intricate and black. It showed up in stark contrast to her skin, but she did not have any tattoos elsewhere. She was more concerned with looking at him, however, than with the marks on her skin. "What do you think?"

[Leon]

"My....name--oh!" A red blush was plastered on his cheeks as he realized he completely neglected to introduce himself. "...S-Sorry...heh..." He scratched his head awkwardly and stared down at the table. "My name's Leon. Leon Carter. It's nice to meet you." He muttered almost inaudibly. Leon cleared his throat to clear the silence, but it seems that wasn't needed as she, thankfully, began talking again.

The boy listened intently. And he was actually intrigued at what she had to say. If her friend was a swordsman, perhaps he could meet the man and learn a thing or two! Though he kept his mouth shut and listened to Faith. It seems that she had more to say. He did his best to lock this in his memory. These were good opportunities for him to follow his dreams. Finally the food arrived, and boy did his mouth water. Leon grabbed his fork and quickly dug in, jabbing his food with it and devouring whatever was on his plate at a fast pace.

He began to stuff his mouth like an impatient hungry child, which wasn't too far off from what he was. He never really grew up with parents to learn proper mannerism. Food was food, and why should their have to be different ways to eat? With his mouth full, he decided to respond to her offers. "...Well, I dunno..." He swallowed his food, though there was still a mess on his face. "It seems like a good opportunity and all, your business being less restrictive than the Order. I'm not a fan of medical stuff, even if it may come in handy....but, I'll keep it in mind. As for Cally's, I have to think about it...but do um...do I have to pick now?" He asked, almost nervously. "And regardless of that, as for the sword, are you any good with it?"

Leon leaned in on the table, looking more gleeful and happy since they got inside. "I know you don't like violence and all, but you think you could teach me a few things or two before I meet your friend? Self defense stuff at least! Please?? I have wooden swords back at the place I train. It isnt far from here--huh?" Leon tilted his head at her hand, staring at the marks on her hand.

[Faith Augustin]

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Leon Carter." Faith smiled and watched him as he started to eat. He was hungry, there was no doubting it and so she hoped that at least he could get the energy to do what he needed to do. She ate her own food slowly and with roughly the appetite of a sparrow and shook her head when he asked if he needed to decide now. "You don't need to do anything, no." Faith was not about putting pressure on people, and that was as true of this young man as of anyone else. His words about medicine caused her to smile, though, and she looked down at her still almost full plate.

"Then I suggest your get yourself a sidekick who is a medic. Every great swordsman gets injured." She knew that well enough and she had tended to more than one swordsman who had not had a medic with them when she had been an undertaker. Still that was his choice and he would learn the hard way or he would not learn at all, she suspected. Faith gave a prayer to Vri for the boy opposite her, that he might maintain his life for as long as the Immortal willed it.

Surprise registered on her face at Leon's next words though, and Faith thought back through what they had said. "I think you misunderstand me. I have a very good friend who is an excellent swordsman. I was not planning on introducing you, not least because he does not live on Scalvoris." Last she had heard, Aeon was in Uthaldria, but it had been a little time. But as for teaching him self defense, Faith considered it for a moment. "I am happy to teach you defense, yes. Wooden swords would be best and, what?" She looked down and saw what he was looking at.

Lifting her hands, the sleeve of her clothes fell away and Faith revealed matching tattoos on each wrist and strange and elongated nails. They looked completely out of place on her, but the young woman smiled. "These mark me as having received Famula's blessing," she said, motioning to the tattoos. "The nails mark me as blessed by Vri." She smiled at him and added, "I'm very proud of them, and the blessing from Moseke I have." Truthfully, she was an incredibly devout individual, fanatic would not be too strong a word. She raised an eyebrow at Leon, gauging his reaction to that. Did he still want to train or was he one of those who hated the Immortals and everything to do with them?

[Leon]

Leon pouted when she revealed that her friend didn't live in town. Well, that was unfortunate, but he'd just have to make due. I mean, after all he was managing himself just fine. And besides, there HAD to be other swordsmen in Scalvoris right? Even if they were adept, it'd be just enough for Leon to learn a thing or too. The boy's passion kept him optimistic for his future to come.

The boy blinked blankly when she noticed him staring at her marks. He rested his cheek on his hand as she began to explain what they were. "Eh...?" Leon honestly wasn't interested, and in fact, felt a little bored by it. He didn't hate the immortals, he just simply didn't care. He wasn't a religious type. Leon was too busy trying to perfect his skill in sword fighting to really care about worshiping some god that wouldn't pay him much mind unless he threw all his attention at them for who knows how long! And learning about each and every immortal? He wasn't educated in anyway except in the craft of swordsmanship, so his knowledge on the immortals wasn't that impressive either. And learning about them just required too much effort and for what? It was just too much work and in his opinion, a waste of time. "Neat I suppose...? I'm not the religious type. But, why do you follow uh...Vri, was it?"

While saying this, Leon was getting up from the table. His plate was clean, but his face a mess. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and dusted his pants and shirt off. "At any rate, I should show you my special training place Ms.Faith~! It's top notch!" Leon would turn and begin to walk out the tavern, should she follow of course. He'd walk down the steps and begin to walk down the roads to the edge of town. After a bit of walking, he'd make it to the outskirts of town, and in an open space between a few trees. For the most part, there was nothing here save for the few wooden swords lying by a fat tree with strike marks on it. There was quite a few wooden swords that were broken or in bad condition. Leon smiled brightly jogging over to the small stash. He grabbed two, holding one in his dominant hand and tossing the other to Faith. "Alrighty! Ready when you are, but I warn you, I'm extremely skilled." Leon said, quite arrogantly in fact.

[Faith Augustin]

Faith looked up at his face and she saw the bored expression on it. He had been interested in the marks until she told him what they were and then he had switched off like a lamp. Faith watched the boy in question and she considered him carefully. He had been attempting to steal from those men, but she had given him the benefit of the doubt. Then, she had paid for his meal and now, when she had explained what he had expressed an interest in, he was bored. Add in to that the fact that he seemed interested only in what would help him with violence and not with work or any other such hardship and Faith made a decision.

"Not the religious type? That's a shame." Faith looked at him and spoke quietly, but with an earnest tone. "Some of the Immortals allow you to be a better fighter when they put their blessing on you. But to make a choice in knowledge is a personal thing and something that is absolutely your right." However, to make a choice in ignorance? That was not so good and it was very much what this boy was doing, Faith was sure of it.

"Vri. Yes. He's the Immortal of Love, Death, Sorrow and Remembrance." Faith watched Leon and sighed as he didn't listen, wasn't interested and instead jumped up with exuberance at showing her his training place. Still, she went with him because there at least she would be sure that he was safe.

Once they were there Faith glanced at him, standing there with his practice sword and his arrogant expression and she shook her head. The sword he threw to her landed on the floor in front of her "I'll teach you." Faith said, her voice quiet and calm, "but only one lesson tonight. In order to fight, you have to be able to watch your opponent. To understand people." She locked her gaze on him. "You desire to be a swordsman. The best swordsman perhaps. Why? Who will you help? Who will you hurt? Until you know that, until you know why you will do it, then there is no point to trying to teach you because you will not learn. As for fame? That is external. Your reason is your own."

Looking down at the practice sword, Faith dropped to the floor and lifted it. Swinging it a few times, she tested it for balance. "When I fight, when I have fought, people die. It isn't a game and it isn't glory." She smiled, then threw the sword back. "It's blood and death. If you wish to learn, work for it. If you wish to work for it, let me know and I'll help you. Good evening."

With that, Faith turned and walked away.

Off Topic

I'm sorry! LOL - I loved the visual, but Faith feels very responsible for the actions of those she teaches! Let me know if you want to continue or end it there, up to you!