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Dragonrider
Played by Dart
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Post by SKY BLUE on Oct 31, 2014 15:24:43 GMT -6
Training was always rough on poor Sky. She hadn't realized when she'd approach the dragonriders two years before that they were so hardened. From morning runs across the island with their dragons to the immense physicality that came with training with their weapons--Sky preferring the long sword since it was the closest thing to the cutlass she was used to wielding, though significantly heavier--it really took its toll at times. But Sky was on a road of redemption, and she put her heart into the work involved, giving it her all. It paid off, as she was one of the top trainees and was quickly closing in on 'graduating' to a full fledged dragonrider; once she actually got to ride her dragon.
Lyroth wasn't quite large enough to carry her weight in flight. He was growing fast, and she looked forward to that day, but it would still be a few months at least.
In the meantime she did everything she could to prepare for the time when she would become a real dragonrider, dedicating herself to her work. When she wasn't training, she sought what she could do to help, or else wound up at the tavern with her peers. In this case it was the former, and she walked through the halls of the Dragonrider's Quarters with intent, scanning faces for the first figure of authority she could find.
The first face she did find happened to belong to the blonde haired boy who was probably one of the youngest of the leaders there. He was definitely around her age, but that didn't stop her from showing utmost respect. She might be prideful and stubborn, but she didn't let those feelings get in the way of her mission. As soon as she saw him she struck a rigid salute, hand to her forehead, and held that tight posture until otherwise told. "Sir, if I may have a moment."
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Post by ERIC ELDRICH on Oct 31, 2014 21:58:41 GMT -6
I don't know when, but I now know
i'll never have to struggle alone
Eric Eldrich is a person of routine. Every morning he would wake up with the rising sun and go out for a run. He would come back and get ready for his day, washing himself in the bath and eating a light breakfast before his day. Afterward he would begin his first instruction for the day, teaching fledgling riders the perils of combat and providing input where it was needed, encouraging with few words those who put in the work. While not the most experienced or even the oldest, even among those who he called students. Every day he faced the struggle of being looked down upon for his age, despite his upbringing and knowledge in the way of the blade. His skill was unparalleled, even among the Dragon Knights making him the most viable candidate for the mentor position-- second only to his father who had retired from his roles only recently.
Eric remembered his father's words, that things would be difficult for him at first, but as long as he kept true to himself and presented himself as he had been taught they would accept him. There had been no room for questioning if they didn't accept him, he couldn't disappoint his father. After the preliminary training session with the trainee riders, he would hold independent studies with those who wanted the extra help from martial combat with ones hands to marksmanship and the proper way to hold a bow. However as it was today, there didn't seem to be anyone who required his help. This left a giant hole in his schedule. This rare lull in activity led to the youth to consider his options as he walked the corridors of the dragon rider's quarters. He could potentially get some of his work done as Captain.
Of late, it had become quite the chore scheduling the knights in routine patrols around town. There were simply not enough bodies. Dragon riders themselves weren't common and even among those not all riders were warriors. While there was nothing wrong with this, it made protecting the island all the harder with what few people he could pool together. While it was true that the island had never needed an army before to defend itself with because of its natural barriers from the rest of the world, it was best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
The young man was pulled from his thoughts suddenly at the voice. He saw a woman standing before him in a rigid salute taking him back a bit. He wasn't sure if he'd ever get used to the formalities that came with his position. "At ease." He spoke in his soft baritone voice. "What is it you'd like, Sky?" Direct and to the point. He was able to pick her out easily, it was true that she was a new dragon rider but she had a talent for learning and adapting, qualities that had caught the young man's attention. He was happy there were people like her who took their studies seriously.
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20
Dragonrider
Played by Dart
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Post by SKY BLUE on Oct 31, 2014 22:12:27 GMT -6
Sky had never had a problem dealing with authority. This was primarily because during some of the most important development tears of her life authority was treated almost as her lesser. The law was something you challenged as a pirate, something you looked down upon and almost spat at. That's not to say she didn't know how to respect it, but it certainly helped make it a little less intimidating. Since joining the dragonriders she had to force back some old habits and learn some new ones, but as dedicated as she was they came easily, such as the rigid salute for her captain.
The salute was released at his command, but her posture remained stiff and cordial. It wasn't so much out of respect at this point but because she wanted to seem as commanding as possible with the next words to come out of her mouth. She even knew that Eric was easier to get along with than some of the older riders--his age was very much a factor in that, she was certain. She thumbed the sword belt on her hip, letting her hands come to rest in a casual manner despite the rigidity of her spine and the picture perfect posture, and sought out the words for her request.
Fortunately she'd been blessed with a quicksilver tongue that allowed the words to flow smoothly. "Sir, I was hoping to pick up some extra time on watch," she said with a stern, monotonous tone. Many of the riders knew her from the tavern, where she spent a lot of time, but the Sky who knew how to have fun and the Sky who was training to be a dragonrider were two very different people, two sides of the same coin as it were. "Particularly watching the new clutch." The request was very specific, but any who knew Sky also knew that she was particularly sensitive about dragon eggs.
Granted, given her past she had every reason to be, but no one in the riders, as far as she was aware, knew of her time as a smuggler. She knew the roosts well, knew their ins and outs, and with a brand new clutch of dragon eggs she wanted to make sure none of the secrets she knew about would be exploited. She knew she was the best for the job, even if she wasn't able to ride her dragon yet to match the title she wore.
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Post by ERIC ELDRICH on Oct 31, 2014 23:47:37 GMT -6
I don't know when, but I now know
i'll never have to struggle alone
At Eric's command the woman released her salute, but perhaps the phrase 'at ease' didn't mean to her what it meant to Eric. He'd always thought he was the uptight one on the island but perhaps he'd need to relinquish the title after all these years. Her request was simple, to aide in further patrols with an emphasis on overseeing the protection of the new clutch found in the sands. The young man considered it for a moment. He turned his ocean blue eyes to her after a moment. "I cannot accept such a request so easily, as you know the eggs are invaluable." He explained his voice even keel as he spoke. "Though to be frank, any help would be appreciated. I don't normally make such exceptions by appointing such an important task to trainees." He'd done his best to stretch what few numbers they had, but he knew he couldn't keep it up for long.
The captain indicated for Sky to follow him and resumed his pace if not a little slower so that she could keep up easily. He didn't have anything pressing he needed to do, any training he did could be done later and Kedjat was busy with his daily routine. What was it he did at this time? More likely than not he was probably picking fights fight the other dragons right about now. He could only sympathize with those that had to put up with the young overzealous dragon. So easily riled up and even easier to bait into throwing a tantrum. Whatever happened Eric only hoped the dragons knew better than to call him short or a midget or they'd be feeling the dragon's wrath.
He looked over to Sky, appraising her for a moment before speaking again, but this time offering to her a question. "What makes you so interested in watching over the new clutch?"
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20
Dragonrider
Played by Dart
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Post by SKY BLUE on Nov 1, 2014 9:47:17 GMT -6
It was roughly the answer she was expecting to get from the captain. She was still only a trainee, even if she was top of her year, and guarding a clutch was a very important duty. However since she had been expecting that answer she had already prepared her defense against it. Sky was stubborn like that, and did what she needed to do to get her way. Still, she held her tongue until she fell into step alongside the captain, marching with him toward whatever destination he had in mind. Her hand rested on the hilt of the long sword at her side and the other one was thumbed in her belt.
"Sir, if I may say so, you were already tight for men before the clutch came along. Now you have to divide them up between watching the eggs and patrolling the island. If I may be so bold, patrolling the island should come first and foremost, as it's the defense of not just the eggs, but the island's people. That's where you're better putting your best men. I may be just a trainee right now, but I'm better than some of your worst men, you know this as a truth. Allow me to watch over the eggs to allow you some leeway in managing your sparse resources," she explained, determination in her voice. There were more arguments to be made, like how she couldn't patrol if her dragon wasn't large enough to ride, but those did little to back up her own position.
What she wasn't expecting, for whatever reason, was for him to inquire directly as to why she was so interested in guarding the eggs. Her march slowed for a second, causing her to fall behind. A few quick strides caught her up as she reeled for an answer. She couldn't very well say I used to steal the eggs and now I feel guilty so I want to protect them. Her heart was there, but such a motive would only get her cast in irons. "The eggs are very important to our future, sir, and I want to make sure they are safe. Plus I believe it a fine way to prove myself ready for duties beyond that of a trainee," she replied with a half-truth.
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Post by ERIC ELDRICH on Nov 1, 2014 11:54:14 GMT -6
I don't know when, but I now know
i'll never have to struggle alone
What the woman said was true, and it was as if she was iterating out loud his qualms with the situation he found himself in. He had already decided to attempt to find extra help in supplementing the knights with those who wished for on-field experience, perhaps this would be as good a chance as any to get the help he needed. Then again, there were many different venues other than patrolling the skies or guarding the eggs-- however her fixation was understandable. His eyes glanced to the patterned flooring as he thought to himself. It was obvious to him she was giving him a textbook answer, but if she had personal reasons motivating her actions he wasn't about to pry into it.
"I'll grant your request with the condition a Dragon Knight accompanies you for the duration of your shift. It'll be a good chance for you to gain on the job experience, ask any questions, and maybe help you decide how you wish to use your skills after you graduate." He explained his thought process. In truth, he'd accepted her request as soon as she asked, he'd wanted to emphasize the importance of her job with the pomp and circumstance it required. The only problem he might encounter was finding a knight available to oversee her while on duty. He couldn't change the schedule so easily to accommodate Sky, but perhaps there was another way. "If you wish to accompany me, I'm on my way to relieve those posted there now."
As a teacher, he took his role seriously in providing the opportunities the trainees needed to further their education even if it meant his job extended past the time he taught in classes. He could potentially assign a different knight and provide her with a second opinion, but as it stood they were all busy with the day's duties. Well, that was even assuming she had time for it at this moment or if she was simply asking for permission to one day have the opportunity to do so.
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20
Dragonrider
Played by Dart
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Likes: 2
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Post by SKY BLUE on Nov 1, 2014 13:23:36 GMT -6
His answer was even better than expected. He accepted her request, which meant she was going to watch over the eggs, and she was going to get more training experience in as well. The faster she could learn the faster she could apply those skills independently toward the protection of the eggs, of the island, and not have to worry so much about trainers and teachers. However it wasn't like there was a lot of action; the dragon eggs were respected by most of the island, people came to see them but aside from Sky's own little business ventures years back, few people saw reason to take them.
She nodded excitedly all the same. "That would be perfect, sir," she said, almost forgetting herself. The 'sir' came in at the very end, catching herself from becoming too casual with the commanding officer. He was only her age, she knew, but he demanded more respect than even her teachers! He was exactly the kind of guy she needed on her side to accelerate her learning, to get out into the field sooner, much as it was with this opportunity. A wide smile crossed her lips and she fell into an easy, confident stride alongside him.
There was a moment, however, of fleeting fear that sent a chill down her spine. She was about to dedicate hours of her time toward sitting in the dragon roost with the commanding officer. If something slipped, if she said something wrong, and he learned about her past it could be very bad. If they knew she had been a smuggler in a former life the insistence to watch over the dragon eggs might come off as suspicious rather than well-meaning, despite the fact that it did come straight from her heart and her guilt. She would have to play it carefully, but not seem on edge, else he catch on that she was playing an act.
Yet another reason she was eager to finish training, that she mightn't be under scrutiny as often.
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Post by ERIC ELDRICH on Nov 1, 2014 21:33:40 GMT -6
I don't know when, but I now know
i'll never have to struggle alone
Eric gave Sky a short nod as she agreed to follow him. It had been a spur of the moment decision, but to him it seemed like a great chance for her. There were many good reasons to join the knights, but the job itself wasn't glorious, there wasn't much action, it was a job of diligence. Many people had wondered if what they were doing was necessary, if there was purpose to their work. There was no doubt that the formation of any sort of military was widely viewed as unneeded as the island had natural defenses that pushed away attacking forces and even caused the Kingdoms to reconsider their hostile attitudes toward Woodkeep. In a way, doubt was a form of rite of passage the Dragon Knights went through-- a rite not all managed to pull through.
The two would walk in silence for the most part, Eric didn't seem to have much to say. Upon approaching the sand pit a pair of armor clad Dragon Knights came into view bearing the insignia of the knights embroidered on the back of their cloaks that hung about their shoulders. The pair would salute as Eric approached. The young boy spoke shortly to them explaining the situation and dismissing them. They must have been on duty for a while because they were more than eager to stretch their legs and return to their quarters.
"It's unfortunate that we of the knights need to watch the eggs during all hours of the day. Over the years we've had trouble with poachers and the like claiming our dragons' clutch without the opportunity to hatch and bond to a rider." He shook his head, why people would do such a thing-- he didn't know. Even if the eggs didn't die when separated from the island, it was like taking a baby from its mother. "That is but one of the reasons our job is so important. I haven't run into problems with such of late, but it's been a known problem in the past." The young man crossed his arms and leaned back on a wall, his eyes studying the eggs. It was a little strange to think that Kedjat had come from one of those small eggs. He couldn't imagine what it'd have been like had Kedjat been one of the eggs stolen, never to have been born or given the chance at life.
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20
Dragonrider
Played by Dart
Posts: 63
Likes: 2
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Post by SKY BLUE on Nov 1, 2014 22:11:29 GMT -6
It felt strange approaching the roost like this. She'd seen the Dragon Knights defending it before, obviously, seen them in their uniforms and bearing arms and snuck right past them once or twice. As she approached she even had to fight back an instinctual urge to avoid being seen, to creep through the shadows and around the building itself. She reminded herself that she was the one wearing the uniform now, that she was not the smuggler, but the true Sky who should've grown out of that little girl who'd wandered in here to have her heart broken all those years before.
It was a lot to weigh down on her heart all at once. Not only was she revisiting the place she committed her most grievous crimes but she was also revisiting the place that had changed her life, at first for the better and then for the worse. The place where she'd gone with so much hope before, picking out her very own egg in hopes that she could bond with it. The egg hadn't hatched and her hopes and dreams had been all but shattered in that moment of despair. Yet here she was, after a long and winding road, a (nearly) full fledged dragonrider going to guard the eggs from people just like her, who sought to profit from them.
Despite her quest for redemption she had avoided the roost as much as possible until now for this very reason; it overwhelmed her, but she gritted her teeth and fought through.
Fortunately enough in her two years among the ranks she had never encountered either of the guards she'd had on payroll back in the day. They had probably been dismissed or retired by now. Either way they wouldn't recognize her. She'd never paid them off in person, always working through a third party. You never worked directly when paying off authority. So as she approached the roost she did so with confidence in her stride despite her heavy heart.
"I imagine a dragon egg would sell for quite a bit overseas," she commented. It was just her luck he would talk about smugglers now. She knew she couldn't play completely dumb, so she tossed out the obvious statement in retaliation. Yet in spite of this, as she saw the eggs her breath was torn from her lungs in a gasp. They were absolutely beautiful. She fought against the urge to pick one up. Perhaps it was the fact that she'd changed her ways, that they were no longer a way of getting paid, or perhaps it was because they were the future. Something about them caused her heart to swell and cast off all that weighed it down for a brief second, and she was left speechless.
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Post by ERIC ELDRICH on Nov 2, 2014 0:34:38 GMT -6
I don't know when, but I now know
i'll never have to struggle alone
There were many scenarios Eric had anticipated when he had brought Sky here. Out of all of them, he hadn't anticipated her to be quite so nervous. Maybe she didn't realize she was outwardly showing it, maybe it was just his intuition kicking in, whatever it was it made Eric a little worried. Had he brought her here too soon? Perhaps she didn't feel ready for the responsibility after all. He watched her curiously, taking in the way she'd hidden behind him slightly when the other knights had passed them, the way she looked around as though she were looking for something. Finally, the way she was completely absorbed, entranced by the unhatched dragons to the point she'd nearly forgotten to breathe. A small smile touched Eric's lips as she seemed to calm down.
He couldn't help but think of her as a child who was experiencing this for the first time, the confident woman giving way to a more uncertain girl, perhaps not timid, but not as forthright as she had been upon making her request, certainly not as confident now as she had been. He couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind and how fascinating she must find this all. The young man had been disillusioned to the way things worked and with each new clutch it had inspired him to treat each as the same, another job to watch the eggs and to protect the children. It was another part of life, no matter how one painted it-- but Sky's response was refreshing in its own way.
"Is this your first time seeing the eggs before they hatch?" He brought a hand up, brushing his bangs from his eyes,
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20
Dragonrider
Played by Dart
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Post by SKY BLUE on Nov 2, 2014 10:18:54 GMT -6
The sight of the eggs had left Sky breathless, and it was only after a moment she remembered she was there on duty, that she was there with the captain, and that he was talking to her. She blinked away the daze, and found herself holding back tears of some kind. Fortunately she caught them before they even caused her eyes to water, gulping them down painfully. The last thing she needed to do was break down crying for some inexplicable reason while on a job to prove herself to the captain of the Dragon Knights. She'd already made enough of a fool of herself.
Her cheeks were red with embarrassment as she turned to face him, angling herself just enough that the eggs were still within her peripheral vision. Her lips pursed and she tried to find the words to apologize for her reaction, but then decided to switch and answer his question instead. She shouldn't draw too much attention to the reaction itself, that was just foolish of her.
"No, sir," she started, finding her will once more and becoming as cordial as she had been so far. "When I was a little girl I was brought here to bond. My egg, for I was certain my dragon was inside, never hatched." It had been a long time since she considered that. The egg she had chosen, that she had been absolutely sure was hers, had been the last one left among the clutch. The other dragon hatchlings had bonded with other children around her, but she was left starring, heartbroken. It was a painful memory to relive, but she'd come to terms with it quite some time ago. Besides, now she had Lyroth, and he was almost big enough to fly on!
"I was just . . . marveling. I haven't been here in this capacity before, to watch over the eggs, to guard their future," she murmured quietly, turning back to stare at the eggs where they sat and her lips parted silently, still amazed at the sight.
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Post by ERIC ELDRICH on Nov 2, 2014 16:50:08 GMT -6
I don't know when, but I now know
i'll never have to struggle alone
The young man found himself surprised yet again. This seemed to be a common occurrence around this girl, but perhaps not unwelcome. He hadn't expected her to have had such a stroke of ill fortune and all he could do was listen quietly as she shared herself with him. How old had she been? To think that at such a young age she'd been introduced to the harsh realities of the world, and to think that even now she could still retain at least a bit of that innocence from her childhood. He couldn't help but to admire that aspect of her-- if only he could be the same way.
"I think I understand your reasons for wishing to take this position a little better now." He spoke, approaching her and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Things may not always work out the way we want them to, but what you have is as precious as a bonding." Perhaps even more so, there were people who had bonded who had become cynical with the world and allowed it to shape their views and to expect cruelty and hardship in everything. The fact she was still able to even come here after her experiences only spoke of her strength. He didn't know how he could help, or even if he could, but he wanted to tell her even a little bit that he respected her resolve, even from what little of her he had seen thus far.
He retracted his hand and looked back toward the eggs. "It must take a lot of courage, coming back here."
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20
Dragonrider
Played by Dart
Posts: 63
Likes: 2
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Post by SKY BLUE on Nov 2, 2014 17:00:51 GMT -6
Sky was so captivated by the eggs that she jumped when his hand fell on her shoulder. It was merely a reflexive thing, and she found her hand already halfway toward the sword at her side before she stopped it. She hoped he hadn't noticed. Eyes as grey as an ocean storm turned toward him and she mustered up whatever she could to present him with a smile that reflected that effort.
She felt absolutely terrible. She hadn't told him a lie, and in fact it was one among the many burdens that weighed her heart down, but his concern was misplaced. If he knew the full truth as to why it was difficult for her to return to the roost he'd probably be singing a different tune. If only you did understand, she found herself silently thinking. For two years she'd been among the dragonriders hoarding the secret to herself. She longed for someone to know without her having to worry about their reaction, about the consequences, to have someone to help share that load with her. "Captain, I . . ." she started, but caught herself from spilling out in that moment of weakness.
He was the captain of the Dragon Knights, he was the last person she could tell. She had to remind herself she was merely vulnerable, a moment of emotional compromise. Yet the weight on her shoulder from his hand was comforting, and did nothing to discourage the words that were about to spill out a moment before. "I think I needed this," she murmured, picking up where she had stammered off to avoid suspicion. It scared her how good she was at that sometimes. Stormy grey orbs returned to the eggs and her smile waned for a split second. "Even if it does hurt a little," she added as a vague afterthought.
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Post by ERIC ELDRICH on Nov 3, 2014 1:40:20 GMT -6
I don't know when, but I now know
i'll never have to struggle alone
Whether Eric had noticed her movement to draw her sword or not, there was no indication on the youth's face. He wouldn't retract his hand nor would his voice waver in hesitation at the hostile action though it ebbed as quickly as it had taken hold of her. In the face of her smile Eric's soft yet serious look greeted her, a steadfast gaze that seemed unchanging yet spoke of a maturity beyond what short years he had lived. He knew she was struggling. There was something buried deep down that was tearing her apart, a burden that felt so crushing she could scarce breathe at times. Her instincts were proving to be too much for her and her consciousness wasn't able to control herself.
The young man blinked as she spoke, her face told him she had something important to share and yet her eyes spoke more than perhaps she knew. Fear gripped her, gagged her and pulled her back into herself. Whatever past she had, he could tell that she wasn't telling him everything. Whatever past she couldn't tell him, it was enough for her to conceal it at all costs. It was then the young man felt it. It was as though a wall had been raised between the pair and he was left staring through a cage-- but he wasn't the one trapped.
There were something things Eric was gifted at and there were others where he felt lacking. When it came to relationships with other people he felt-- lost. He could read people and pick up on subtle tells, but when it came down to actually relating with that person he felt as though his true feelings never made it across, like he knew the words but had no way to express himself. Now was such a time. "Sky, I want you to know-- I'm always open to talk if you ever need it." His words were soft but his eyes were intense as though trying to bridge some gap his words had left. "Not just as a teacher or a captain-- but as a person."
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20
Dragonrider
Played by Dart
Posts: 63
Likes: 2
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Post by SKY BLUE on Nov 3, 2014 14:57:42 GMT -6
She had to be so much more careful. She had almost slipped, after two whole years, because she let herself open up for a moment. Emotion had spilled out of her and she had almost let her secret go. Yet even then she still felt comfortable, and the words were at the edge of her tongue. She told herself she was being foolish, that she was merely looking for the occasion now because she was so vulnerable. The eggs had caught her off guard, she hadn't expected to be so touched by their mere presence, and she needed to collect herself.
Eric offered her some words of comfort and it made her guard tremble all the more. But he was the captain of the Dragon Knights! There were few powers higher than him that would be worse for her if they discovered her secret. She couldn't just spill her guts to him, regardless of how open he was being, regardless of his invitation. She was just being a foolish little girl anyway! She barely knew Eric. He was her commanding officer, but their interaction up until this point had been minimal at best, as she was merely in training. She dealt with trainers and teachers, not the captain himself!
Yet his character seemed true and she couldn't help but feel welcome into his offer. As a person? If he knew her secret he wouldn't be able to simply approach it as a person, he'd be obligated by his duty to reprimand her and put her into custody. There was no way he could simply overlook something like that, was there? She sighed, knowing what she was going to say next and how dangerous a line she was walking as she did. "Well, if I could ask . . . what's the worst thing you've ever done?" Her tone was soft as it seemed her typical confidence was waning in the face of vulnerability. In truth the confident manner in which she carried herself most of the time was a facade, a defense she had adopted in order to survive amongst pirates. As it waned, the lost girl underneath spilled forth, and tread across thin ice with dainty steps.
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