A pale skinned woman with snow white hair and a disposition for being out of the sunlight during the daytime walked into the tavern. She was dressed in casual black clothing consisting of a t-shirt and some loose fitting pants, having left her armor in her inn room down the street. She still had her two katana by her side – tools that made her feel safe even if she doubted she would need them. Her arms from the elbows down were covered in bright red runes and seemed a tad thicker than a normal woman’s. There were runes on other parts of her body too, but those were concealed by her clothing.
She’d travelled for most of Ashan and had only arrived a few days ago. She hadn’t had time to properly take in the culture. A tavern seemed like the most obvious place to relax and learn a thing or two about what life was like in the Eternal Empire.
“Something sweet, pretty please,” she said to the bartender as she leaned her elbows onto the bar. She’d have enough hard crappy drinks on her journey. She craved a high quality sugary beverage that would like be a luxurious reward.
When her drink arrived she’d sip it and look around, trying to find out if there was anyone interesting to talk or listen to. She knew little about how things were done around these parts, but taverns seemed to be more or less the same everywhere she’d been. Get enough people drunk together in a confined area and interesting things tended to happen. She found many people averting their eyes when she met their gazes. She supposed it was only natural for people to gawk at her mutations especially when she wasn’t going through any effort to hide them.
Thaldan stood next to the table were Handal was sitting nursing his cup of beer. Handal always nursed his cup of beer as he enjoyed being with friends in the tavern more then drinking. Thaldan also didn’t drink more then a cup at a visit. At this moment though while his drink was sitting next to him on the table. The young man was telling the others around him a story. He was finishing the narrative as a white hair young woman came into the tavern. As he finished with a smile there was some laughing and everyone turned back to there drinks and allowed him to take a seat and finish his.
“Why do you do that every time we come into a Tavern?” Handal asked. Both young men were dressed in brown pants and grey shirts. They were good sensible clothing that would last long and handle the riggers of the life the two you lived as they traveled from town to town. Thaldan was listening but also looking around the room to see where the white hair woman had sat.
“Because if I don’t we will get bothered until I do.” He said and finally saw her. She was looking around and most people weren’t interested in her beyond a casual observation. Thaldan though that someone with those features would have a good story to tell, assuming they wanted to share it. So when her gaze settle upon her he nodded his head inviting her to come and join their table.
Assuming she came over he would stand and invite her to take a seat. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Thaldan and this is my friend Handal.”
Luvi finished a drink and got started on another. The bartender was happy to accept her money and Luvi was happy to part with it. Spending the bare minimum for the duration of her trip had allowed her to splurge a little, despite being quite a bit poorer than she had been last season.
Luvi wasn’t surprised that people avoided her gaze. She wasn’t the intimidating sort, but mutations had a way of instantly segregating one from the general populace. Much of what people seemed to be talking about didn’t make much sense to her either, so jumping into a conversation was out of the question. Still, she didn’t want to be the awkward girl standing around by herself. If she had to initiate a conversation, she would force herself to, eventually.
Thankfully, someone did have the politeness, or guts, to hold her gaze. She smiled at him, genuinely, and walked over. “Hello Thaldan, Handal,” she said after their introduction. She took a seat at their table and took a swig of her drink for confidence. Talking to men in social settings always made her at least a little nervous.
“I’m Luvi,” she said after setting her drink down. She quickly realized how infrequently she had these sorts of impromptu conversations at taverns. She was used to being around friends where she always knew what to talk about. She wracked her brain for questions she could ask the pair, trying to convince herself that everything was going to be okay.
“I’ve come all the way from Melrath. I’m a… sword for hire,” she said. She didn’t really have a profession at the moment but it was the closest thing to the truth that she could think of. “Are you two from around here?” she continued, shifting her gaze back and forth between the two.
The young woman noticed his invite to join them at the table. The two watched as she settled down into a seat and took a swig of her drink. Thaldan watched as she paused after introducing herself and explained where she was from and why she was there. Thaldan looked impressed when she mentioned where she was from. Melrath was on the other side of the world. His blue eyes looked with interest at the woman Luvi.
Handal looked at Thaldan with a raised eyebrow. “Where is Melrath?”
“Its on the opposite side of the world.” Thaldan replied back. “That is a bid distances though as a sword for hire the Empire certainly has plenty of opportunities.” He said with a grin. “We are from a little farming village in one of the outlying districts. Neither of us liked farming so we are wandering entertainers. I enjoy it myself. Seeing knew places, seeing people smile and laugh.” He took a sip of his drink.
“So was coming to the empire a bit of a shock or fairly standards? Have you fought any monsters while being a sell swords.” He asked curiously where she had come from. Thaldan’s job was to talk to people and he would do that. Which given how he was shy as child it was a bit different. You never know when someone will have a good story to share.
“Yep, it’s been a very long journey. It took me over half the season, I reckon. I’ve honestly lost track of how long it’s been. I’ve had a bit of a shock but I’m somewhat numb to culture shocks at the moment. The caravans I travelled with stopped at so many places along the way and they each have their own little quirks about them.”
She paused to take another sip then continued, “I’ve never fought a monster… most of my practical combat experience has been against bandits that I’ve come across. I think I’d like to avoid places where monsters roam, they’re scary.”
She knew what to expect from a human but she hated the thought of fighting anything that didn’t have a similar shape. Mostly because she was untrained in that area and didn’t know what to expect. She could sign up for a swordsmanship class to find out how to fight other people, but learning how to fight a wolf was something one could only do by putting oneself in danger. Plus, there were so many strange and powerful creatures out there and it wasn’t as if she was the type to go killing them for their hides.
She chuckled then asked, “so, travelling entertainers… what kinds of things do you do? Perform acts? Tell stories? Play music?” Luvi had envy for people who had enough creativity to pull off those sorts of things. She hadn’t an artistic bone in her body either which was kind of why she gravitated to combat.
Both young men listened with interest as she answered about not fighting monsters but fighting bandits. Thaldan nodded his head accepting the answer. “Well traveling the world can be very exciting, but I could see that as you see different places on after the other. Here in the empire we are fairly united in a similar culture, but we do have differences as you get to the outer edges and see the parts of unique cultures that joined the empire later. Was there one you enjoyed more then others?” He nodded and took another swig of his drink “Well taking out bandits could still be exciting.” He said. “Any real terrible bandits you took out or just you regular highwayman?”
She then asked about what he did. “I tell stories, and do a little acrobatics. The others in my group have a verity of things they do. Juggling, more intense acrobatics. We have one lady who performs in mid air while hanging from ribbons.” Thaldan bright blue eyes sparkled with the excitement as he talked about what they did. He pointed a thumb at his friend. “He doesn’t perform but instead takes care of animals and helps with the background stuff. It is actually very important. Keeping our animals happy and the sets good make sure we are all safe. We would be happy to take you to a show.”
“So what is that brought you all the way to the Empire from the other side of the world?” Thaldan then asked. “I would love to see more of the world but I also enjoy performing.” He then asked, “As a fighter what is your favorite weapon?”
The two calming talking as they talked to this interesting young woman.
Illuvia inclined her head as Thaldan explained a little about the Empire’s culture. What he said would explain why things had seemed kind of the same on the tail end of her journey. “I don’t know if there was one culture in particular that I enjoyed the most. Although, I do like how the empire runs things. I’m also impressed by the military, or what I’ve seen of it anyways. Who knows, maybe I’ll enlist?” she laughed.
She continued, “Just regular highwaymen. I think those with experience would know to avoid an obvious mage such as myself. Plus, I travelled with another mage so that probably helped.”
“Wow, I simply must see one of your shows,” she enthused, “I haven’t seen a proper one since I was a child. And animals? That interests me greatly… what kinds do you work with?”
“I left my home to broaden my horizons, get stronger, and learn new things. When I left I was aimless but the journey here has made me a lot better at fighting and has given me a lot of practical magical experience. My heart still lies with Melrath, though, and my goal is to return there someday and serve to protect its people.”
She took a moment to reflect on her journey then continued, “you should give travelling a go! I’m sure there’s people all over who would love to see your show. As for my favorite weapon, I’m partial to katana. Do people use those around here much?” She couldn’t remember if she’d paid much attention to the soldiers’ weapons. She could vaguely recall swords being carried, but not which kind specifically.
