Marika
"Ay. We got the whole place just about mapped out. 'Cept for that plateau up there." The wolfman pointed upwards at the even greater mountain near where they had entered Liurnia. "Still, I doubt it could be of much importance if it's so inaccessible. So best we don't worry much about it."
Marika was skeptical to leave a potential boon or threat, but she had no clue how to really conquer such a vast climb without her spirit body, and that had begun to become quite hard to maintain outside of a few special areas where her stakes gave her a bit more of a foothold.
"Then I suppose we should head over to the west. I believe Iji should have a little forge set up there." Blaidd continued. The instant those words were spoken, her knight instantly popped her head up from her breakfast plate.
"Forge??" Those blue eyes glistened with an almost childish level of excitement. It brought a warm chuckle to the golden goddess as she covered her with her fingertips.
"Oh ay! Best smithy I know." He intoned.
"I knew one even greater, though I fear the shattering may have lost him to us. I hope he found peace.." the queen slowly began to grow lost in her thoughts, only to be wrenched back out as a hand gripped and comfortingly squeezed her shoulder. Her eyes turned back, and relaxed as her Knight's eyes met hers.
"Breathe. It's alright." Soft voiced and calm. She was becoming better at calming the raging tide in Marika's mind, yet worsening the storm in her heart.
"Thank you, Luna." Touching, and gently squeezing the comforting hand.
"Asvala." She smiled at the golden queen. Supposedly, that word meant always in a language from another land. It was a curious detail that made her want to learn more of these places someday.
"Well, let's get packed up and moving then." The wolfman announced with a proud smile.
....
Marika
Her eyes watched the passing brush as they rode along the upper cliff face to the west. It was so green here, so lush with life surrounding the large academy at the heart of these lands. It brought a smile to her face to see such a thriving life. It showed a few signs of the sad stagnation that had begun to creep all over the Lands Between since the shattering, but it also seemed the best equipped to stave it off.
If only Rennala would rise again.
'She would kneel with ease, were I in charge..' Marika quickly stuffed him down again, but noted the odd sorrow hinted at in that horrid hot voice this time.
"Much farther?" She shouted to Blaidd as he ran alongside them at a steady pace.
"Nay, only a minute or two more!" He shouted back. As if on queue, they saw a large troll wearing a mirror plated helmet that completely hid his features. He was sat on a few large stones, reading while maintaining a small anvil and furnace that were set up along the rocks.
"IJI!" Shouted the wolfman as they approached.
"Hail, Blaidd. What a lovely surprise." The troll spoke with a highly intelligent accent, a low and soft voice that was measured with wisdom in it's words.
"Well met, Smith Iji," her knight spoke as she helped down her queen from Torrent before he dispersed safely.
"Well met, little knight."
"Mind if I use your forge for a bit? I have all the materials to enhance mt gear, just not the chance."
"I can not see a reason to deny a fellow crafter of the tools of our talents."
The knight grinned, stepping up onto the stones and began a dialogue between them as she drew her moonlit blade. She believed the troll seemed intrigued by the sight of the blade, but his mask ensured she could only speculate.
"Like two grapes on the vine." The wolfman chuckled as he nudged Marika.
Marika smiled warmly as the two seemed to ramble and banter for hours as the sound of hanmer and fire began to fill the air.
....
Morgott
He sat on his throne as his wounds ached. Melina had informed him to all she knew, and he had begun to deeply consider ecery possible option. It had become undeniable that the golden order was rotted to its very core. As deeply loving of this place, even now he had to admit to its countless failings.
An aching hand rubbing his side, trying to ease the pain in his hips as the battle had pushed him far beyond what he would have prefered to exert, but Melina's life now mattered fat more to thr old omen. A sister that he could, at last, share some form of bond. Not with expectations of obedience, only kinship and honesty.
He had begun to grow comfortable in her visits and council. Like a grand daughter who looked up to him in many ways, listening to his old words and wisdoms from the mind of one who had spent much of his life in the shadow of the crown.
He smiled a little easier to himself. He knew that she would ensure what came next was better than any world he could have dreamed to remake. He only hoped that he might live long enough to see that day.
There was the slow clang then of metal of stone, and Morgott felt a presence he had long thought gone. His father.
....
Ranni
The twenty fingers of the snowy witch danced and played at strands of magic in the air as if one was weaving strands of silk. It had become a little habit that proved useful when she needed to think.
There were many pieces on the move, and Iji had met up with Blaidd and the duo. Melina had the key, and would meet up with them again soon. Her gaze briefly turned to the blood soaked dagger settled near on her table, still hot with two finger blood. She allowed herself a small smile at that. Her plans were accelerating.
Her eyes slowly turned then to the window behind her seat, and gaze extending far beyond her tower as she peered through the vast flow of magic to spy briefly on the strange Knight. She watched as this woman began to disrobe down to bandage bindings around her dignity.
Strong arms and a powerful back that hammered now on moonlit steel, covered by tattoos of old magicks that Ranni had never seen before. If flesh had still been a part of her core, she may have felt a brief kiss of red on her cheeks as she peered for a bit longer than she truly had to. Her concentration was, thankfully or frustratingly, cut by a voice as she snapped her head around.
Melina slowly landed through the window, able now to spiritualize within Ranni's territory. "I come bearing good news."
Ranni smiled, turning fully to face her. "Report then, sister Melina."
The ginger candle smiled at the term, glad that many answered had been at last put together in their time working together. "Morgott has allied with us, and Mohg has been repelled from the capital. Though, I fear he is the rumored lord of blood."
"Morgott will be invaluable, though, if all goes to plan... We need not ttouble ourselves with Mohg." Placing her fingertips together, assuming that very intelligent seeming pose.
"I agree. I have also passed on the key to the academy. They should be entering it on the morrow."
"Good. Good. Tell me then, how will they handle Carian Life?"
Melina slowly smiled to the witch. "I suspect there will be little issue."