So, I am trying Lost Ark and it is not exactly my type of game, I gotta admit. ButI made an older Varrett (Aphelion will give him some silver hair- you can blame SIN) and he is delectable.
Shadowhunter - Assassin Shadowhunters prefer to beat the demons at their own game—they can shapeshift into powerful demonic forms to unleash chaotic power. When their inner demon is unleashed, shadowhunters get access to incredibly destructive powers and increased health and movement speed.
So Lost Ark is currently (and rightfully) undergoing some hilarious criticism, by developers in other studios and streamers alike, for its absurd female walk cycle.
Unsurprisingly, a quick review of the promo videos showed that the dark and terrifying Shadowhunter promo was somehow about a woman who wears a really weird pseudo-lingerie catsuit in which her boobs must be superglued to stay place with that cleavage. Her only “armor” being her giant, decorative pauldrons.
On top of that, despite the dark tone of the rest of the art style, the trailer is so horny that it makes her pose to show off her tiddy when dodging an attack.
Look if “step on me goth mommy” is your thing, I’m not here to judge you - I am here to ask why its in this video that’s supposedly about hunting monsters in a fantasy MMORPG that is, like most, primarily about combat.
Also if you insist on doing this, I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of market demand for a goth dom daddy also in high heels. Just saying.
I had so much fun playing Lost Ark for the first time last week! So much gorgeous cosplay inspiration, interesting lore, and incredibly fun combat & gameplay I’m coming back for more every Friday at 7pm EST at www.twitch.tv/ThatJayJustice
20 minute director’s cut of the first 3 hour stream is up on Youtube if you want to see Galaxenia’s first adventure! https://youtu.be/iAJVnXMAg4w
image description: a Twitch screenshot that says Jay Justice on the top left and shows a dark-skinned Black woman playable character with braids styled into a bun, wearing a black dress with armored shoulders and a black necklace in the center of the screen ON the sides are customizable options for clothing, background and physical appearance. On the bottom right is a smiling dark-skinned Black woman wearing glasses and a purple headset, over a ko-fi support bar and a twitch sub support bar. Captions on bottom left: I know I love this game already. LOOK AT HER
It’s Friday night, let’s play some games! I’m streaming Lost Ark for the first time RIGHT NOW http://twitch.tv/ThatJayJustice
image description: a smiling dark-skinned Black woman with natural hair in twists wearing a purple headset and a black t-shirt that says Killin’ It All The Time in white text inside a white box, sitting in a high backed gamer chair in front of a space background
Shoutout to Lost Ark for the most WTF monster name I’ve seen in a long time (yes that does in fact say “Bladder Collector Doujebe”)
Not sure how much further I’ll get now I’ve hit 1100 since the RNG mechanics stink, and my lack of progress on either my novel or my fic is annoying me, but if you see me on Stonehearth, feel free to say howdy.
A simple, innocent question, really. You were just doing a favour for one of the townsfolk, you had no idea how much it would affect your friendship with king Thirain. How it would crack open the geode of admiration you held for each other, and show the glittering insides.
Chapter 3 - The Dawn of a New Day
It had started growing long before it was noticed. Much like a small flower grows from a hidden seed to a colourful flower, basking in the sunlight, strong feelings of affection had sprung roots into his heart and a dark rose-red had coloured his cheeks at the realization.
He had been surprised from the first meeting. A priest and an adventurer suddenly appearing to help the troops, his initial wariness had been beat to the ground much like the assassins that were after his life had been. The surprise had quickly been forgotten however, as more pressing matters appeared at every second. It had been easy to lose himself in work again, forcing all his concentration onto the fight against Scherrit, despite the brief moments of doubt that he could not stop. It was in one of those exact situations, that the adventurer had once again surprised him.
“Are you trying to make me feel better?” He chuckled. The adventurer had nodded their head furiously in return.
To lead his people in battle, it was of outmost importance to be their pillar. A strong, unwavering leader, whose orders’ they could trust. Although he had many friends alongside him, he had not wished to burden them with his troubles – they all had enough to worry about already. Opening up to the adventurer had been a spontaneous action in a vulnerable moment. And yet, he was never given the chance to regret it. The small act of understanding and compassion had only been the first of many. Both father Armen and the adventurer had proven themselves to be important assets in the fight for justice. He felt a strong trust towards both of them, how they both assisted the people around them and were willing to put in the effort to see the work get done. A great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. With the duo on his side, many obstacles that had seen so daunting were overcome with relative ease. With each passing day, the journey to the throne became so much shorter, as land was reclaimed and citizens were freed.
Of course, it wasn’t a painless journey. Despite how strong the adventurer was, and how hard he himself and his men fought, they always lost someone. Sometimes, they were too late to arrive, and civilians were killed, and other times, it was the soldiers. Each death weighed heavily on his mind, but none hit as hard as the old mans – Sir Bernards’ death.
It was then that his doubt gripped him tightly, how could he ever hope to win this, when he lost everyone around him, and Vanguard still did not shine. As the light had faded from Sir Bernards’ eyes, so had all of Thirains’ courage. They needed to continue advancing, but in the dark, damp room of Medrick Monastery, he found himself utterly lost.
The notes of the Song of Valor drifted into nothingness, as the adventurer put down their instrument. That song… It was the old mans’ favourite.
“Thank you. You’re always around to help me out.”
The grief wasn’t gone. It would linger till Thirain had the time to let it out and experience it fully. For now, he knew what he needed to do. And he knew you would stay at his side through it all.
It was soon after that Vanguard finally shone in his hands. The fight with the demon had been something he didn’t expect, and yet it paled in comparison to the fight for Luterra Castle. This was the final fight. If they lost there, he had no doubt that they would be annihilated, and Scherrit would continue to sit on the throne.
Everyone had been tense, and it was understandable. Even the most seasoned warriors recognized the risks, what was at stake if they failed. He had looked to you, and seen the determination in your eyes, as you made your way to one of the battletowers. And then, you were out of sight. It somehow only came as a minor surprise to him, that you had been the one to take out the mages blocking the door with their magic, which had allowed his troops to enter the castle grounds. From there, the two of you had made your way towards the castle, and then separated momentarily, as you stayed behind to fight the guardian.
And then suddenly, the battle was won. And he could finally breathe.
To think that Scherrit had sold his soul for demonic power – and even then, you were able to take him down, while he himself could not even rise from the floor. Truth to be told, Thirain had seen Scherrit as his duty to take care of. He was the true heir to the throne after all, the task of defeating the unworthy ruler fell on his shoulders, and yet. It was impossible for him to feel any negative emotions, as Scherrit’s body fell to the floor, the adventurer standing victorious over the corpse.
Even when your victory was interrupted by the demons making another appearance, you handled them just as well, despite already being wounded from your fight against Scherrit.
After Armen had taken care of his and your wounds, the three of you had made your way outside the castle. The fight was over, but the tragedy was not.
“How can we call this a victory? Every drop of blood spilled here belongs to a Luterran.”
While he had been lost in his thoughts, you had not hesitated in your actions. He soon found you standing before him, holding out a banner out to him, wordlessly imploring him to take it.
His fingers had brushed against yours, as you handed over the banner to him. His eyes had found yours then, and he had felt the words wanting to spill out – how grateful and relieved he was, and how would he ever be able to repay you?
But then you had looked at him, really looked at him, and he felt the sounds dying in his throat. The feeling in your eyes had mirrored his own, relief and gratefulness. It was then that it became an undeniable fact that you had wanted this has much as he had – to see the end of a tyrannical ruler and the suffering that had reigned alongside him. And that you were just as honoured to have fought by his side, as he was to fight by yours.
Sitting on the throne had never been his greatest wish. Power and fame did not motivate him, as it had Scherrit and many other foolish people. If he freely could have chosen his path in life, he would have wanted to be an adventurer. To see the world and all its wonders was a fascinating thought that he rarely had time to indulge himself with. He wondered where you would go from here, when you eventually had to leave. Nights by the campfire had been filled with stories about your journey, and tales from your home country. The prince had been delighted as he listened to your words. How your eyes would light up upon recalling certain events, or the mischievous smile upon your lips, as you told him of the pranks you had pulled as a kid. He had almost felt embarrassed to talk about his own childhood, but you had asked him with such an earnest face, he really didn’t feel like he had a choice. In the end, it had one of the best nights in recent memory, as he let the rest of the world fade away in those precious hours.
In that moment, where his glowed, worn hands were touching yours, a hard-earned moment of peace where he could finally truly appreciate how kind your smile was, a small green bud broke through the dirt beneath your feet.
Grasping the metal pole of the banner in his hands, he turned to face the city of Luterra Castle, his subjects, soldiers and civilians looking to him as he spoke. A ball of grief and relief twisted in his chest, as his eyes flitted over the citizens mourning the loss of their loved ones, clinging to the corpses of the soldiers recently departed as they wailed. No more. He would never let this happen again, the dark skies would eventually clear for the sun to shine. The kingdom would grieve, and so would he, but someday, they would be happy again.
The small bud twisted in the dirt, as the first rays of sunlight broke through.
“Behold, the light you have restored.”
Roots spreading further.
“The dawn of a new day!”
Looking over his shoulder, he finally let himself return the smile you had given him.
Petals unfolding, greedily reaching for the warmth of the sun.
A simple, innocent question, really. You were just doing a favour for one of the townsfolk, you had no idea how much it would affect your friendship with king Thirain. How it would crack open the geode of admiration you held for each other, and show the glittering insides.
Chapter 2 - Make Sure You Come Home Safe
The clopping of your horse’s hooves against the forest floor was a welcome sound to your ears. Every day, you would go a bit farther, aiding the still recovering farmers and fighting against the few factions of bandits and heretics that still lingered in the aftermath of Scherrit’s tyrannical rule.
The farmers had complained about a rogue group of bandits ransacking their farms in the night-time, so after snooping around the forest for a bit, you finally managed to pinpoint the location of their hideout. As far as you knew, this was a smaller group, so taking them out shouldn’t take too long. Despite being a skilled fighter, taking so much time off to relax meant you were a bit out of practice. That’s why you made sure to take your time, before you left to continue your journey for the next piece of the Ark. That, and you would miss Luterra.
Your thoughts raced in your head, as you came closer to the hideout. Armen would come along with you for the journey, but Thirain was king now. He would have to stay, which meant your contact would be limited to letters or the occasional visit from you. Your lips tightened into a small grimace.
Going from spending every day together to perhaps never seeing him for months – or years at a time? The thought didn’t sit well with you.
In fact, the weird ball of emotions that welled up in you, distracting you from noticing how close you now were to the hideout.
You only snapped out of it as an unexpected pain bloomed on your back.
-
Finally, he could breathe a sigh of relief. There were many more duties to take care of today, but finishing the restoration plans for the ruined farms in the east had been weighing on his mind. Now, it was finally done, and the orders for the work to commence had been handed to a messenger, who had left mere minutes ago. His calloused fingers rubbed at his temple, easing out the tension.
It was never quiet in the main hall of Luterra castle. People were flocking around, busy with their duties for the day. Guards were positioned along the walls and some stood by his side, ready to jump into action should anything happen. Despite the overwhelming workload that came with rebuilding a kingdom, the air in the hall was filled with a feeling of contentness. Times were still hard, but things got better bit-by-bit, and the people were more than willing to put in the necessary work. A smile graced the kings’ face, as he took in the jovial people around him. Turning to face the advisor at his side, he was interrupted by the sound of heavy steps, as anxious voices filled the air. Thirain looked back down at the hall, searching for the source of distress and his eyes fell on someone unexpected.
If you could describe what went wrong with one word, it would simply be “everything”. The bandits had gotten the jump on you due to your distraction, and after that, well… You had managed to beat most of them, but a small group had managed to evade you and escaped into the forest. Due to your injures, you wouldn’t be able to follow them and be sure to beat them, so you retreated to the nearest village. Figuring you could send a message by dove to call for reinforcements, only to be told that all the doves were currently already in flight or out of commission due to a sickness that had spread. It was shortly after that, that a villager had ran into the village, screaming about a HUGE group of bandits, sporting the same emblem as the ones you had just fought. It seemed they had called in their own reinforcements, and they would be coming soon. Wasting no time, you sped off on your horse, towards Luterra Castle. If you couldn’t get a messenger, then you would deliver the message yourself, despite your battered state.
Luckily, the guards near the entrance to the city had taken your message and assured you that troops would be sent out immediately. One of the older guards in particular had been very adamant that you would most certainly NOT be joining the fight in your current state, and had ordered you to visit the royal healer, Borgen, in the castle to get your injures treated this instant. He gave you the impression of a worrying dad, and you had found yourself unable to oppose his orders.
And that was the summary of how you ended up dragging yourself through the hall of Luterra castle with heavy steps. You faintly registered the voices from around you, some asking if you were alright, but they were promptly ignored. The exhaustion had hit you, just as you had gotten off your horse, and you could barely keep focus on your task to find the healer. That’s why you almost jumped a feet into the air, as someone gripped onto your arms, their worried voice reaching your ears, but their words were unintelligible to your tired ears. With the last of your energy, you managed to croak out: ‘’Need the healer. ‘m gonna pass out.”
You didn’t hear a reply, only muffled voices around you, as you sagged against the one holding onto your arms. They all sounded worried, and you’d have felt bad for their panic if your brain weren’t currently shutting down. A strong arm wrapped around your back, another hooked behind your knees, and you suddenly found yourself hoisted into someone’s arms. You no longer fought against the exhaustion, feeling incredible comfortable in the arms of the person, whose face you still had not gotten a proper look at. Your last action before succumbing to the darkness was glancing upwards, seeing Thirain’s face, his eyebrows knit in worry as his mouth moved. But you did not catch what he said, as your eyes closed.
-
“Now, just take it easy for a few days and you should be alright. You’re the Kings Knight, so I expect you to not make the same mistake many rookie soldiers do and go back into action before you’re fully healed.” The healer Borgen gave you an expectant look, which made you shrink back slightly. Surely he must have had many patients disregard his orders for rest, given how ready he seemed for you to argue with him. The tension left his shoulders as you gave him your positive answer, “Good, good. I would hate to be forced to argue with our national hero. Now!” He clapped his hand together loudly, “You have a visitor, who is very eager to see you. If it weren’t for his status, I would have chased him out of here with a broom when he first brought you. Honestly, I need my space to work.” The last part was muttered under his breath, as he stepped out of the room. Possibly to bring in your mysterious visitor, whom you were fairly certain wasn’t so mysterious actually.
You shifted on the stool; it was fairly uncomfortable to be sitting up again, your body sore all over, mixed with stings of pain. Just as you considered moving over to the bed, where you had awoken, you heard the door open again.
“Oh, good! You look much better.” Came Thirain’s voice, as he hastily walked to stand in front of you. You had to tilt your head upwards to look at his face.
“Borgen sure took his time. Of course, I don’t doubt his abilities, but the wait was terrible. How are you feeling?”
You hadn’t paid much attention to it before now, but you supposed you felt a lot less pain than you might have expected. Guess Borgen wasn’t the royal healer for nothing.
“Borgen must have spent that time productively, because I hardly feel any pain. I’m just very sore all over.” You twisted your arms around a bit, showing that you were indeed fine.
The tension seeped out of Thirain’s posture as you spoke, “You don’t know how glad I am to hear that. I… Oh! Your shoulder…”
“Hm? What about it?” You looked down at the side he was looking at, and noticed a spot that went to your back.
“It seems there is a wound Borgen has missed. Please, sit still.”
Dragging a chair with him, the king placed himself behind you. Glancing over your shoulder, your eyes met those of Thirain’s, his hands preoccupied with the gauze to dress your wounds.
“Thanks.” A small smile graced your face.
He let out a quiet laugh, “It’s the very least I can do for you. Even now, after you’ve helped me reclaim the throne, you’re still out there fighting for the good of the people of Luterra.”
He had begun to clean your wound as he talked, gently wiping it with what you believed to be disinfectant. It stung slightly, and he would pull his hand away when you hissed, muttering an apology.
“…It scared me to see you in such a state. Even after our fight with Scherrit you were less wounded than now. What happened?” He inquired.
You hesitated, slightly out of embarrassment, but mostly because Thirain needlessly worrying about you was the last thing you wanted. It had just been a mistake, it’s not as if you were usually that careless.
“…I suppose I let my guard down. I’ve had a lot to think about, about the Ark. They just took me by surprise, but I was able to send them running, and came here to seek assistance.”
That wasn’t the truth, but for some reason you could not bring yourself to tell him about your actual thoughts.
You shifted your body to give Thirain space to wrap the gauze around your shoulder, “I understand your quest is of tremendous importance, but there is a time and place for everything. You simply must not get so distracted when you’re in battle. Things could have gone much worse.” He spoke with a slight edge in his voice. Your ego felt a bit bruised by that, as if you were a child being scolded.
“I’ll be fine! I’m a warrior, you know that. There’ll be more times like this one, but I’ll survive, just like I did today.” Honestly, there was nothing to argue about. You’d be more careful next time, but every battle brought with it the chance of death. These were the conditions both of you had accepted, when you chose to fight for peace.
You could sense the gears turning in his head, even if you couldn’t see his face. His fingers glided over the bandages, making sure they were smooth and tight.
“…I must apologize. I understand that you accept these tasks of your own volition, and I certainly am not in position to chide you, when your help has been so crucial to me. Just…”
The movement behind you grabbed your attention, as Thirain’s forehead came to rest against your shoulder.
It was then you felt something soft and warm pressing gently to your skin, just besides the wrapping. You involuntarily shivered. Did he…?
He let out a soft sigh, before he spoke.
“Next time, make sure you come home safe, okay?”
Home. Where was your home? The quest for the Ark had forced you on a journey that would surely take you across the world, and it could NOT be ignored. It would mean the end of the world. Till the quest was done, and the world was saved, you were effectively a nomad – sort of. What would you even do, when peace had been restored? Regretfully admitting to yourself that you had tried not to think about that at all, worrying that it would hinder your progress for the Ark.
Thirain’s hair tickled your shoulder, his thumbs rubbing comforting circles on your skin. You could feel his steady breathing down your back, and how you had unconsciously synced your own breathing with his. His hand was warm on your bicep, as your own came up to cover it. You hummed in response to his question, before slipping into a peaceful silence, letting yourself lean into his hold.
Fights were exhilarating; riding through the fields of Luterra was thrilling. It invigorated you, made you feel so alive, ready to take on the whole world if it came at you. This moment, the silence only broken by the faint chirps of birdsong heard through the window and the soft breathing of Thirain – how would you describe it? You weren’t sure, but you did think one thing:
When you eventually did find a place to call your home, you wanted it to feel like this.
A simple, innocent question, really. You were just doing a favour for one of the townsfolk, you had no idea how much it would affect your friendship with king Thirain. How it would crack open the geode of admiration you held for each other, and show the glittering insides.
Chapter 1 - Just a Question
The battle for Luterra castle was finally over. Had been for a few weeks actually, and yet you still could barely find the energy to leave Luterra Castle and continue on your adventure for the Ark. Instead, you spent the days exploring the city and conversing with the townspeople and the soldiers, whom you had fought alongside with on the battlefield. Your evenings were spent at the tavern, drinking and eating delicious food and enjoying the happy atmosphere. You deserved the break after all, you had helped save a kingdom, so you could take a few days to yourself. It was on one of these particular evenings, that you fell into conversation with the barmaid Vivian.
As your laughter from the story Vivian had just told you quieted down, she suddenly grew silent and eyed you with a look you couldn’t place.
‘’Actually, you’re rather close with king Thirain, aren’t you? Oh, don’t give me that look! We all know you fought against Scherrit alongside king Thirain. Of course you must have some kind of bond! I’ve actually got a favour to ask of you.’’ She leaned closer to you, her hands clasped together as if she was discussing a business proposal. You almost felt compelled to mirror her pose, but you just couldn’t help feeling vary from the intense gaze in her eye. The dim lighting from the torches on the wall gave her face an almost sinister glow, as a sly smile appeared on her face.
‘’You see, I have a lot of great ideas that could really benefit this kingdom, so I think I’d be the perfect fit for a queen!’’
“Okay.” You drawled, “But why would I bother to do that? I’m plenty busy with my own things, why would I spend time trying to set you up with Thirain?” You were fishing, and she knew it.
“…What do you want?” She took the bait.
“My mug is awfully empty, and I seem to have left my wallet elsewhere.” You waved the empty mug in front of her face for extra emphasis.
She let out a groan, “Ugh, fine! I’ll get you an extra round, but only if you promise to do this for me!” She grabbed your mug out of your hands, as you laughed at her obvious displeasure.
“You got yourself a deal, Vivian!”
The great hall in Luterra Castle was lit by the sunlight streaming in through the huge windows. It gave the room a warm glow, a feeling of home surrounded you, as you made your way further into the castle. The very first time you had been here, it had been in the heat of battle. Grey walls painted with sinister shadows, a cold air seeping through the solid stonewalls. It had made you feel as if the building could crumble at any second, so heavy was the pressure of it all.
You had faith in Thirain. He had proved himself more than capable on the battlefield, as a fighter and as a fit leader for the people. He was strong, you knew that. And yet, a sting of panic forced it’s way into your body, as he went to find Scherrit. It had been your choice to face off against the Guardian, which had blocked your path up the stairs, and let him progress further. But it was a battle, and one is never guaranteed to win a battle, no matter how strong one is.
…But that didn’t matter now. The war for the castle was won, and you were safe. Scherrit dead by your hands, you had made sure of it.
Shaking your head to clear your thoughts, you finally approached the throne, Thirain standing in front of it. He was currently talking to a knight by his side, before his eyes fell on you, as you approached. A smile grew on his face, as you came to stand in front of him. The knight discreetly made himself scarce.
“You’re here. I take it you’ve spent a few days to rest, as we talked about. How did you like the city? I’m sure the citizens must be happy to talk to the hero who saved Luterra.” Thirain greeted you, obviously pleased to see you again.
“I’d like to think you helped a bit, Thirain.” At this, he laughed.
“Right you are, but I still firmly believe that the war might have been lost, were it not for you and father Armen. It still feels surreal to me that Scherrit would go as far as side with demons… but I’m getting caught up in the past. It’s so good to see you again. Every day since the battle has been so hectic, there’s still so much to take care of. I honestly wish I could take a few weeks off myself. I’d have liked to show you around town, but it seems you’ll have to be the one to show me around instead.”
“It seems that way. But I’ll be happy to do that when you’re finally free.” You just smiled back at him. You had missed him during your last few weeks. It had been hard to adjust, from spending almost every day together in the field, to suddenly having minimal contact for weeks in a row.
As if awoken from a trance, Thirian gave a small cough, breaking eye contact with you. “Was there anything else you needed?” He asked you.
“Actually, if you have the time, I have a question I need to ask you.” You had almost forgotten your deal with Vivian.
‘’Oh? I’ll be sure to answer to the best of my abilities then.’’
‘’What does it take to become queen?’’
It lasted mere seconds, and yet you noticed a multitude of emotions flashing over Thirain’s face, as he opened his mouth and made no sound. His eyes darted around the room, sometimes settling on your face before quickly looking elsewhere, as a slight blush of red began to grow on his cheeks. Why did he look so nervous? Had the question somehow embarrassed him?
‘’Oh, well, I- um, haven’t really had to think about that for a long time. I, uh.’’ He paused to take a quick breath before continuing, ‘’I’ll be honest, I’m unsure of the more formal requirements for the position as a royal consort, but gaining the king’s favour is no doubt the most important, and, well, you…’’ He fumbled, before your conversation was interrupted by a cough from the guard standing besides you, close enough to hear your whole conversation.
‘’Your majesty, if I may. I believe Anessa would have all the answers for the knight’s question.’’
Thirian’s rigid posture seemed to relax just a bit. “Ah, yes of course, you’re right Meehan.’’ He answered, before turning to you, “Anessa would surely be able to teach you more than I would. In fact, I’m sure she would be happy to teach you. You’ll find her just at the room on the right at the end of this hallway.’’ He spoke, giving you a kind smile.
Why were his cheeks still tinted red? Was he getting sick perhaps?
“Great! I’ll go ask her now then. Thank you for the help Meehan. I’ll see you later Thirain.” You shot them both a smile, before heading down the hallway to meet with the mentioned lady.
As your form disappeared around the corner, Meehan noticed how the king would take a sharp breath, opening his mouth, before shutting it tight again. He watched Thirain repeat this process a few times, before words finally managed to leave his lips.
“Meehan, do you… have any idea why the adventurer would ask such a question?”
If Meehan could have gotten away with it, he would have let out his frustration with a sigh, but alas, he was a knight in proximity of his king. Such disrespect would not be acceptable.
‘’My king, I must unfortunately declare myself unable to guess the motivations the King’s Knight had for asking such a question. Might I suggest asking them?”
“Yes, well…”
The sentence faded out into nothing, as Thirian’s eyes were set on the door at the end of the hallway, his attention seemingly drifting elsewhere.
Meehan really wanted to go home.
It was a few hours later that you found yourself back at the tavern, the sun setting outside, people slowly returning to their homes for rest after another fulfilling day.
‘’A convoluted greeting? Really? How snobbish is that? What, no, show it to my anyway! If it’s what it takes to be queen I’ll do it!’’ You were surprised at how quickly Vivian was back on the horse, after you had delivered the info she requested. She stopped to take a small sip from her drink, before getting into your face once again, ‘’I know I can be a good queen, and that my ideas will help the people of Luterra! If you find out anything else on how to become queen, you’ll share with me, right? Promise me!’’
You let out an amused chuckle, before you put your now empty mug down on the table and pushed out the chair to stand. ‘’If it’s really that important to you, then yes, I will. But I’m thinking of doing some quests outside Luterra Castle tomorrow, and I don’t know when I’ll be back, so it might be a while before I find out anything new. Sorry.’’ Your apology wasn’t exactly sincere, but Vivian would just have to live with that. You were the King’s Knight after all, you had much more important things to see to, like getting yourself to bed now, before Vivian bought another round for you, in order to get you to stay.
‘’Hmpf! Fine, but be careful so you can come back and keep your promise! I’m counting on you.’’ She huffed and puffed at your departure.
Turning your head to look over your shoulder at her, you replied with a quick Of course, before hastily making your way up the stairs.
You knew your quest for the Ark would change the course of your life in ways you couldn’t even imagine, but it still felt strange to you, this time of change after Luterra Castle was reclaimed. Thirain had had his fair share of struggles on the battlefield, and even though the battle was mostly over now (there were still a few groups opposing Thirain’s rule, but you’d take care of those soon enough), he still had so much on his plate. To think that he’d have to worry about marriage too someday. In that regard you were happy for the freedom you were granted, despite the entire world literally depending on your efforts. You already did so much for Luterra, and yet, you wished there was more ways for you to help carry the burden that rest on his shoulders.
You knew Thirain wanted to travel the world. A secret desire he had expressed to you many times, wishing he could travel alongside you and see what lay past the kingdom of Luterra. You had made the promise to send him letters regularly and tell him of your travels, whenever you would return to him.
As your eyelids grew heavier, the thought entered your mind that you would miss Thirain, once you had to leave Luterra.
Meanwhile, in the castle, the knight Meehan’s patience was growing thin. It was one thing to listen to his king constantly talking about the benevolent traveller, who had fought for the people of Luterra. How much their contributions meant and how much he would miss them once they left to continue their quest. It was a whole ‘noter thing to watch the king spend the whole day in a daze, barely paying attention to his duties, as he stared longingly into space. Meehan knew damn well what his king was thinking about. WHO he was thinking about.
Honestly, he was too old for this. Young love was an amazing thing to witness, but it was just slightly less amazing when it rendered his king, of all people, an un-concentrated lovesick boy after just a question.
