Linde Xe' Almna's Story

Aetrius had prepared herself for Linde's possible wrath, but what came next, she wasn't ready for. From Linde yelling at her and standing up, to getting right into her face and prodding her, all the way to threatening to paralyze her if she even dared to say she'd do things alone again. She took a step back from Linde and the others and looked away as she felt her face turn a light red, unlike Linde's it was not from anger or rage this time, but from shame and embarrassment. "I'm no warrior, Linde...I'm a Bounty Hunter. I've done things by myself for years after I left Kieran. I've taken too many lives, and have ruined the lives of those that have gotten involved. I have done so many bad things in my life that my ancestors more than likely look down on me in shame...I wouldn't be surprised if my parents were looking down on me right now and be ashamed of how much I have ruined the Borral name...My father used to always tell me that, "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain"...And I personally think I've lived long enough..." she said the latter softly as she made her way to the door, and stopped and took a deep sigh.

"Or maybe...I can find redemption and make them proud of me for once...Maybe I can learn to rely on others...You...You guys talk amongst yourselves...I....I need time to think and clear my head...I'll be back, eventually.." she said as she took her swords and bow, and left the room dressed in a hooded and light armored garb, and knew where she would be headed, she was going to think and be alone to her thoughts, and she knew of some place in Valoc that she could do just that and not be judged. A short time after she left the Pony, she found herself in the local church in Valoc. It was a massive stone carved building, with large glass stained windows, black and white checkered floors, and art and sculptures littering the facility. She found herself walking down one of the hallways, and eventually came to a small, smooth stone cut alter with unlit candles. Clearly it was a praying alter. Aetrius wasn't one for religion, as she wasn't exactly a god believing woman. But she lit the candles and knelt down infront of the alter with a statue of some goddess looking carved figure on it. She closed her eyes and let herself clear her mind of all things, and all stresses.

She calmed herself the best she could and closed her eyes as she lifted up a silent prayer to anyone or anything that was willing to listen to her, "Heresta...If...If you do truly exist..Please...Please let us get Kieran, Okumi, and Rose out safely from the auction and out of Veilbrand...To let them live lives they deserve...If I must die in the process, so be it...But please let my friends get out safely...That is all I ask..." she said as she gave a soft spoken mental prayer to the alter infront of her, as tears slowly trickled from her eyes, landing on the floor beneath her. She was in a calmed state, allbeit it a grieving one. But she felt something touch her shoulder and stay there, she took a deep breath and calmed herself, swiftly placing her hand on her blade that was beside her, and quickly turned around, to see no one around. Except for people in the distance praying to whatever they believed in. Whether whatever Aetrius felt was real or not, happened or not, being simply something of her imagination in her pained state, she wasn't sure. But what she was sure about is that she felt a renewed sense of determination and purpose fill her, and she slowly rose to her feet, and looking back at the alter she blew out the candles and made her way out of the church and back into the town square, going wherever her feet took her for the time being.

Some time after, Aetrius returned back to the inn, and as she made her way back to the room she stopped. Would Linde want to see her now, so soon after she had recently been yelled by Linde? She braced herself and gave the knock on the door, to see Rose had opened it for her. She gave the currently scared girl a soft pat on the head and put her hand on her shoulder, "Excuse us for a bit...?" she asked the girl softly. Rose nodded and went into the kitchen part of the room, and Aetrius turned back to see Linde in the bed, clearly still crying. Had what she said upset Linde that much that she made her cry? Or was she just that angry? Aetrius wasn't sure, but she was about to find out.

Aetrius removed her weaponry and put her hood down and then sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at the floor. She took a deep breath, gently placing her hand on Linde's shoulder as she spoke, "I'm sorry, Linde...From saying what I said, to making you as sad as I did...I didn't realize what I said would have that kind of repercussions...But, I know now. When the time comes for the auction, we'll work together, and if things do go bad...We'll rely on each other...It's the only way that we'll be able to rescue her and have as few casualties as we can...If fighting does break out and we need to clear out a way for us to escape, will you help me, Linde?" she said softly as her hand on Linde's shoulder tightened slightly, "I'll need all your guys' help with this...I...I need your help with this, Linde..." she said as she looked back up, tears slightly filling her eyes as she spoke. She wasn't one to ask for help, especially in matters such as this, but she knew with how dire the situation was, and how dire it would only proceed to be, she understood that for once she'd need to be vulnerable and ask for help. If she learned anything from Linde yelling at her, she learned she'd need to ask others for help.

As Aetrius sat there after she was done speaking, she wasn't prepared for Linde to grab her and cry into her arms, but she did and Aetrius held her tight as she held Linde close to her. Aetrius whispered soft words of encouragement and kindness to help cheer her up some, and eventually when Linde did calm down enough, Aetrius gently lifted her chin up and looked into her tear filled eyes, and gently wiped her tears away and held her face gently with both of her hands. "I'm sorry...truly, I am...I've just lived a life of self reliance for so long, that I had forgotten how to ask for help, and not seem...Not seem so weak...But there's nothing weak about asking for help..Being able to ask for help shows that you're strong enough to admit that you can't do it on your own, and I admit it. I can't do this on my own, or I will infact die. I will do what I can, but when the time comes, I ask that you, Lolan, Kieran, and Kyero fight beside me...If you wish that is..." she asked softly as she gently took Linde's hand, and just as she did at the night of the dance in Ukron, she gently placed a kiss on Linde's hand.

"We'll get her back, and we'll get her out safely. And then...I don't know what will happen. I know the others only came along because they felt obligated to, and will most likely end up going their separate ways afterwards. And I understand if you share the same ideal. Wherever you decide to go, or wherever fate takes you, Linde...I pray that you find what you're looking for..." she said softly as she gently caressed her face and then looked away. She had a feeling in her gut that once all was said and done in Veilbrand, that the others would leave and that Linde would be going with them, and she was beginning to mentally prepare herself for saying goodbye to Linde.

Aetrius listened as Linde revealed that she had already found what she was looking for, and the answer honestly surprised her, feeling her cheeks turn a light pink as Aetrius heard that Linde had actually found her, and was content with what she found. But her face only turned even brighter of a red as she was pushed down and then cuddled by Linde. A shy and small smile spread across her face as she only laid there and gently cuddled Linde, holding her close. "What did I get myself into...?" she thought to herself, but chuckled softly as she only held Linde even closer, "I won't fail at protecting you, Linde...That...That I can guarantee..." she said to herself as she gently placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, holding her newfound lover close to her lovingly and protectively.

Aetrius was happy to now be cuddling with Linde comfortably and innocently, only for the room's door to be thrown open and for none other than Kyero to step in. Aetrius felt her face flush red as she made eyecontact with Kyero as Linde was still on her, and thankfully she was relieved when Linde finally got off from her and sat next to her and asked Kyero how his mission had gone. She quickly sat up and tried to act as casual as she could, and hoping Kyero didn't notice them when he first came in, but knowing her luck he did, and she'd probably have to explain what happened to Kyero sooner than she had originally planned.

"Ahem, hey Kyero. How'd you mission go?" she asked casually as she sat with her legs crossed and began to calm down and become not as flustered as she currently was.

Aetrius felt her eyebrow twitch at the notion of not going for the killing blow at the auction, but to stand by and just try to make a good impression and gain more intel, and not to raise eyebrows if they were to win the top prize. She internally groaned and wanted to argue with Kyero, and tell how she wanted to go about things, but the more she thought she realized she couldn't, that she'd have to go about it Kyero's way, until it proved itself to not be fruitful anyway. She nodded silently, "Alright. That will be the plan...Until all goes to shit if it does, and we'll need a failsafe plan. What then do you propose, Kyero?" she said with a somewhat sarcastic tone.

She stood up and crossed her arms casually, "If your, peaceful way about going about things doesn't work, what then? Do we just let her slip through our fingers after all of this, or do we just go for the killing blow and flee Veilbrand after we get her. We can't always rely on peaceful ways to do things. Diplomacy isn't always what people abide by, you should know that first hand considering who you are." she said a bit harshly as she took a sip of her drink and leaned against the wall.

Aetrius remained silent all the while Kyero spoke, even when Kyero had gotten right in her face and glared at her, remaining emotionless and silent as he did so, not even fearing the danger that literally loomed over her. She remained unmoving as he moved about the room, keeping her eyes on him and listening as he spoke, and she caught the small bad that was thrown to her, and looked inside, seeing three small smoke bombs in it, and nodded. Placing the bad down on the table she turned back to him, "Alright. We'll try your tactic. Until then, I'll be practicing more...I need to warm up with my fighting, just in case." she rolled her shoulder and was about to talk, but her stomach growled, audibly enough for everyone in the room to hear it. She awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck and chuckled, "D-don't suppose anyone wants to get some food with me?" she asked, as not only a means to detract from the subject at hand, but possibly lighten the mood as she was beginning to not only get too heated, but was beginning to get a little awkward. Hoping the others would join her for dinner, as well as a way to relax and not be so hostile.