To Caleria! RP with howling_storm
In which Clive invites Elza along on a trip to answer some questions...
It was late morning, a little after eleven o'clock. The sun gleamed down through a broken layer of white cloud, warming the grassy earth of the firing range while cool shadows glided over the pine trees. It was quiet at the dojo. A calm, drowsy air hung over it. Tiny insects buzzed in the springtime heat and every now and then a big grasshopper rose whirring from the grass. Most of the castle's inhabitants were elsewhere, perhaps at the lake or else enjoying a late breakfast. There was a man walking the dirt path down to the range, however. Clive had woken early and gathered his things from the inn, throwing them into his leather pack. It was one of the only things that had made it from Radat, and one of his last possessions. Now it was slung over his back, over his black cloak. His hood was up against the sun and he carried Sturm around one shoulder and under his arm; the rifle was barely visible beneath his cloak. This time he was walking with long and purposeful strides, his face set in a resolute expression. He was looking for someone he needed to talk to, and this was the only place he could think of to find her...
Elza slowly and steadily raised her right arm, the dull glisten of Stern flashing in the late morning light. She narrowed her eyes at the new set of targets about 100 yards away, and visualized for a moment the heads of each exploding into splinters as her targets hit their mark. She did the very best she could to focus, and after a moment where everything inside of her stilled, she carefully and confidently pulled the trigger, the *crack* of the shot breaking the silence of the late morning and scattering the birds and insects in all directions. Barely a moment later, the head of the target exploded into splinters, and Elza smiled to herself, mentally satisfied with hitting the target, even if it was one out of many she had planned on working with. Once the echo of the shot had faded, she heard the crunch of boots, and she could tell from the sound alone whom it was that was approaching her. She took a deep breath and readied herself to face him once he got close enough.
When Clive caught sight of the familiar white cloak he hesitated, an unreadable expression briefly crossing his face. He slowed his gait and was careful to approach quietly so as to not disturb Elza's shooting, his boots padding softly in the grass. The sharp 'crack' rang out over the treetops but he didn't jump at it. It was a sound he had grown up with.
When he had drawn near enough that he could see her face in profile over her shoulder and make out her expression of concentration he drifted to a halt. For a moment Clive watched her silently, his hand resting on Sturm's wooden stock and his cloak shut around him, even as the bits of wood splinters drifted gently downwards into the grass. Then he ran his tongue over his lower lip and swallowed. "That was... an excellent shot," he said, his voice low. "Your arm, it must be getting better again..."
Elza lowered her head and looked at Clive out of the corner of her eye as she spoke quietly. "Thank you." She was trying to ignore the nagging feeling of awkwardness that poked her insides as she remembered the last time that she and Clive were out here. "I take it you want to practice your aim with Sturm?" She finally raised her head and looked directly at him, an eyebrow raised.
Clive shifted on his feet, his gaze cutting aside. His expression looked awkward as well, as if he were also thinking about the last time they had talked and the words that had been exchanged. It had been right here at the range as well. After shouldering his pack a little higher over his shoulder he shook his head. "No, not today," he said. "I need to work on my arm as well, but..." He trailed off. Then he lifted his head and stared straight at her, his expression grim inside his hood. "Elza, I'm going to Caleria," he said. "This afternoon. I'll be leaving right after I'm done speaking with you. I came here to ask if you would like to come with me."
Elza's eyebrow remained raised. "Caleria...?" She had been to the city many times in her travels, and it had been in each one of her experiences that nothing good ever happens to anyone there, unless they were a mercenary or a bandit. "What's in Caleria?"
Clive grimaced, knowing that he couldn't bring himself to lie to her. "There's a Guild chapterhouse in Caleria," he admitted, without preamble. He lifted one hand to rub guiltily at the back of his head. "I know the administrator there. Or I did, it's been twenty years, so... but I need to report. I want to find out for myself what's happening with the Guild. They're bound to have news there."
"...!" Elza didn't have the first idea of what to say to him - this was certainly a surprise. "The only [news] they're going to have for you, Clive, is that they're trying to kill me. What other news did you think there was going to be? That Hikusaak made Corporal in the Corps?" Elza, in a rare show of emotion felt the tips of her ears turning red at the thought of Clive even wanting to still associate with them. "Don't you think that they're going to try to brainwash you into going back? Do you think they still have any respect for what Sturm means? The never had any for Stern or Mond from the way they treated the three of us back then and I don't expect that to change now. Why..." Elza's voice trailed off as she started to realize that she wasn't going to change Clive's mind and that it wouldn't alter the question he asked her.
Startled by her fervent reply, Clive unconsciously drew back a step, his hands lifting in a warding gesture. "It- it's all right," he said, his eyes widening; rarely had he seen calm, collected Elza get upset. "The reason I'm going to Caleria is because it's stationed so far from the Tower. It takes a long time for news to get there, and a long time for news to get back to the Tower. It's a small chapter, they only have a handful of gunners there, just Squire-Class gunners. And I know of a secret place we can stay inside the city, one that not even the Guild knows about. I'll be careful, Elza, and I'll have Sturm with me. Even if they no longer respect it, it's not gonna let them harm me." He paused then, his expression grave. "And... you're the only person I trust to watch my back when I'm there," he said frankly as he lowered his hands back beneath his cloak. "I know things have been... different right now, but that's still the truth. I won't let them kill you, I promise."
She looked up at him as she thought about it for a moment. He was right - it did take a while for news to reach the further outposts of the Guild, but that fact didn't ease her mind very much. Still, Clive saying that he still trusted her meant a lot, and it caused her to reconsider. On top of that, even if Clive swore that they might be safe there, that place was hardly safe for even Guild members. "It isn't as if you should go by yourself, anyway." Elza looked back at the headless target. "I guess I could go with you. I..." She wanted to say something else, but decided to leave it be for right now. "When are we leaving? Tomorrow?"
Clive sagged a little with relief. He found himself glancing aside at the target when she did. He studied the uneven row of splinters that was all that was left of the neck. "Today," he said after a pause. He tilted his head, indicating to the shabby leather rucksack slung over his back. It wasn't Guild-issue at all; he'd picked it up in Muse, while on the road. "I'm sorry, I know its short notice... but if anyone is watching us, then it should take them off-guard as well. Do you think you could be ready to leave within the hour? We can meet by the inn door when you're ready, and then we can go right away."
Elza's first thought wasn't the short notice that this trip had been given - it was how exactly to explain her sudden departure to Mathiu. They had been spending an increasing amount of time together, so for them to be apart any length of time was going to be a little difficult on the both of them. She nodded as she listened to Clive, and then she reholstered Stern underneath of her cloak. "So. We meet by the inn door in 30 minutes or so?"
"That would work best, I think," said Clive. He hesitated a moment, searching her face, and then his manner grew more serious. He took a step forward, his cloak shifting around his legs. "I'll be waiting there for you. Thank you, Elza. I know this has gotta be unexpected, but all I can do is promise I'm gonna be careful. I won't get into trouble or do something that will wreck your life now that you're... uh, well..." He trailed off awkwardly at that and looked away, studying the ground by his foot.
Elza cut him off as she adjusted her cloak and began to walk towards him. "I'll see you by the inn." She nodded to him and then continued on her way back towards the main castle grounds to get her things together.
Clive wordlessly stood back and watched her depart, staring after her trailing white cloak. Then, abruptly realising that he was wasting time he quickly shrugged Sturm's sling a little higher over his shoulder and turned back towards the inn, his own black cloak settling around him.
It was late morning, a little after eleven o'clock. The sun gleamed down through a broken layer of white cloud, warming the grassy earth of the firing range while cool shadows glided over the pine trees. It was quiet at the dojo. A calm, drowsy air hung over it. Tiny insects buzzed in the springtime heat and every now and then a big grasshopper rose whirring from the grass. Most of the castle's inhabitants were elsewhere, perhaps at the lake or else enjoying a late breakfast. There was a man walking the dirt path down to the range, however. Clive had woken early and gathered his things from the inn, throwing them into his leather pack. It was one of the only things that had made it from Radat, and one of his last possessions. Now it was slung over his back, over his black cloak. His hood was up against the sun and he carried Sturm around one shoulder and under his arm; the rifle was barely visible beneath his cloak. This time he was walking with long and purposeful strides, his face set in a resolute expression. He was looking for someone he needed to talk to, and this was the only place he could think of to find her...
Elza slowly and steadily raised her right arm, the dull glisten of Stern flashing in the late morning light. She narrowed her eyes at the new set of targets about 100 yards away, and visualized for a moment the heads of each exploding into splinters as her targets hit their mark. She did the very best she could to focus, and after a moment where everything inside of her stilled, she carefully and confidently pulled the trigger, the *crack* of the shot breaking the silence of the late morning and scattering the birds and insects in all directions. Barely a moment later, the head of the target exploded into splinters, and Elza smiled to herself, mentally satisfied with hitting the target, even if it was one out of many she had planned on working with. Once the echo of the shot had faded, she heard the crunch of boots, and she could tell from the sound alone whom it was that was approaching her. She took a deep breath and readied herself to face him once he got close enough.
When Clive caught sight of the familiar white cloak he hesitated, an unreadable expression briefly crossing his face. He slowed his gait and was careful to approach quietly so as to not disturb Elza's shooting, his boots padding softly in the grass. The sharp 'crack' rang out over the treetops but he didn't jump at it. It was a sound he had grown up with.
When he had drawn near enough that he could see her face in profile over her shoulder and make out her expression of concentration he drifted to a halt. For a moment Clive watched her silently, his hand resting on Sturm's wooden stock and his cloak shut around him, even as the bits of wood splinters drifted gently downwards into the grass. Then he ran his tongue over his lower lip and swallowed. "That was... an excellent shot," he said, his voice low. "Your arm, it must be getting better again..."
Elza lowered her head and looked at Clive out of the corner of her eye as she spoke quietly. "Thank you." She was trying to ignore the nagging feeling of awkwardness that poked her insides as she remembered the last time that she and Clive were out here. "I take it you want to practice your aim with Sturm?" She finally raised her head and looked directly at him, an eyebrow raised.
Clive shifted on his feet, his gaze cutting aside. His expression looked awkward as well, as if he were also thinking about the last time they had talked and the words that had been exchanged. It had been right here at the range as well. After shouldering his pack a little higher over his shoulder he shook his head. "No, not today," he said. "I need to work on my arm as well, but..." He trailed off. Then he lifted his head and stared straight at her, his expression grim inside his hood. "Elza, I'm going to Caleria," he said. "This afternoon. I'll be leaving right after I'm done speaking with you. I came here to ask if you would like to come with me."
Elza's eyebrow remained raised. "Caleria...?" She had been to the city many times in her travels, and it had been in each one of her experiences that nothing good ever happens to anyone there, unless they were a mercenary or a bandit. "What's in Caleria?"
Clive grimaced, knowing that he couldn't bring himself to lie to her. "There's a Guild chapterhouse in Caleria," he admitted, without preamble. He lifted one hand to rub guiltily at the back of his head. "I know the administrator there. Or I did, it's been twenty years, so... but I need to report. I want to find out for myself what's happening with the Guild. They're bound to have news there."
"...!" Elza didn't have the first idea of what to say to him - this was certainly a surprise. "The only [news] they're going to have for you, Clive, is that they're trying to kill me. What other news did you think there was going to be? That Hikusaak made Corporal in the Corps?" Elza, in a rare show of emotion felt the tips of her ears turning red at the thought of Clive even wanting to still associate with them. "Don't you think that they're going to try to brainwash you into going back? Do you think they still have any respect for what Sturm means? The never had any for Stern or Mond from the way they treated the three of us back then and I don't expect that to change now. Why..." Elza's voice trailed off as she started to realize that she wasn't going to change Clive's mind and that it wouldn't alter the question he asked her.
Startled by her fervent reply, Clive unconsciously drew back a step, his hands lifting in a warding gesture. "It- it's all right," he said, his eyes widening; rarely had he seen calm, collected Elza get upset. "The reason I'm going to Caleria is because it's stationed so far from the Tower. It takes a long time for news to get there, and a long time for news to get back to the Tower. It's a small chapter, they only have a handful of gunners there, just Squire-Class gunners. And I know of a secret place we can stay inside the city, one that not even the Guild knows about. I'll be careful, Elza, and I'll have Sturm with me. Even if they no longer respect it, it's not gonna let them harm me." He paused then, his expression grave. "And... you're the only person I trust to watch my back when I'm there," he said frankly as he lowered his hands back beneath his cloak. "I know things have been... different right now, but that's still the truth. I won't let them kill you, I promise."
She looked up at him as she thought about it for a moment. He was right - it did take a while for news to reach the further outposts of the Guild, but that fact didn't ease her mind very much. Still, Clive saying that he still trusted her meant a lot, and it caused her to reconsider. On top of that, even if Clive swore that they might be safe there, that place was hardly safe for even Guild members. "It isn't as if you should go by yourself, anyway." Elza looked back at the headless target. "I guess I could go with you. I..." She wanted to say something else, but decided to leave it be for right now. "When are we leaving? Tomorrow?"
Clive sagged a little with relief. He found himself glancing aside at the target when she did. He studied the uneven row of splinters that was all that was left of the neck. "Today," he said after a pause. He tilted his head, indicating to the shabby leather rucksack slung over his back. It wasn't Guild-issue at all; he'd picked it up in Muse, while on the road. "I'm sorry, I know its short notice... but if anyone is watching us, then it should take them off-guard as well. Do you think you could be ready to leave within the hour? We can meet by the inn door when you're ready, and then we can go right away."
Elza's first thought wasn't the short notice that this trip had been given - it was how exactly to explain her sudden departure to Mathiu. They had been spending an increasing amount of time together, so for them to be apart any length of time was going to be a little difficult on the both of them. She nodded as she listened to Clive, and then she reholstered Stern underneath of her cloak. "So. We meet by the inn door in 30 minutes or so?"
"That would work best, I think," said Clive. He hesitated a moment, searching her face, and then his manner grew more serious. He took a step forward, his cloak shifting around his legs. "I'll be waiting there for you. Thank you, Elza. I know this has gotta be unexpected, but all I can do is promise I'm gonna be careful. I won't get into trouble or do something that will wreck your life now that you're... uh, well..." He trailed off awkwardly at that and looked away, studying the ground by his foot.
Elza cut him off as she adjusted her cloak and began to walk towards him. "I'll see you by the inn." She nodded to him and then continued on her way back towards the main castle grounds to get her things together.
Clive wordlessly stood back and watched her depart, staring after her trailing white cloak. Then, abruptly realising that he was wasting time he quickly shrugged Sturm's sling a little higher over his shoulder and turned back towards the inn, his own black cloak settling around him.