![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
From July 2008. Wow, took me ages to put this up, huh?
=======
Before meeting Chloe, Walter had thought the knights of Gadoria were all but a lost cause. With the monarchy and the central government in Baltoga scattered, and almost all of the military bases decimated by the relentless assault of the Nerifes Cannon, Gadorian forces faced the decision of certain death versus absorption into Crusand's ranks.
Several Gadorian knights, known for their sense of honor, chose death over being forced to join arms against their former allies.
He found it easiest not to talk to Chloe about her past. The girl had already lost her country, as well as countless friends and family members; it was hardly a polite topic to breach with a new acquaintance.
Norma, on the other hand, found no problem in asking about anything and everything. It made evenings very awkward for everyone.
So it really came as no surprise that, when the opportunity to avoid another uncomfortable evening arrived, Walter and Chloe leapt at the chance.
"A ruin, huh? I knew I was traveling with you guys for a reason!"
Walter gave his friend an unimpressed look, joining Chloe at the ledge to point out the odd pillars that were almost completely hidden by leafy trees.
"What a weird place for any sort of building," Norma commented, hopping right past her two traveling companions to land on a lower ridge. "Kinda looks out of place." She stood there with her arms akimbo, tilting her head this way and that as she contemplated their next action.
Chloe was the next to descend, securing her scabbard at her side as she stepped over the edge. "We're well over a day's way from the closest road, and there's no signs of trailblazing, old or new, down this slope. I doubt the ruin is Gadorian."
"Could be from the Kingdom of Terises era." Norma continued down the slope, skidding short distances between ledges as she went along.
Walter was right behind the two girls, grimacing as clouds of dust were kicked into his face along the way. He spoke with a slight rasp as his damaged lungs dealt with the dust. "You think everything is from that era. There aren't any rivers or lakes nearby."
"Rivers, maybe not. Lakes? Possibly. How about ponds?" There was a singsong lilt to the brunette's question as she headed towards the treeline.
Walter muttered something under his breath, rolling his eyes. "Radiants didn't live in ponds."
"I have scientific proof that Shining Ones were like giant amphibians!" It was like an inside joke between the two, with only Norma fueling the fire. "Someday, we'll find a giant lillypad in one of these ruins!"
"No, we won't." The best way to derail Norma's thought process was by stopping it in its tracks. And since Walter couldn't very well push her off the slope... "Rexalian?"
"The Holy Rexalian Empire doesn't use pillars in its architecture," Chloe interjected, shaking her head and briefly dusting at her belt as she reached level ground. "But ... maybe they aren't pillars? This area did belong to the empire until about a century ago."
"The sooner we get there, the sooner we can find out!" The youngest of the trio pumped her fist in the air, her bubble wand raised like some sort of lethal weapon. "Let's go, let's go!"
As Norma charged into the forest blindly, Chloe glanced over at her more exasperated companion. It was obvious that this was a fairly common occurrence. "You're a very dedicated apprentice, Delss."
Walter knew it was supposed to be a compliment, but it did little to soothe the beginnings of a headache.
=======
Before meeting Chloe, Walter had thought the knights of Gadoria were all but a lost cause. With the monarchy and the central government in Baltoga scattered, and almost all of the military bases decimated by the relentless assault of the Nerifes Cannon, Gadorian forces faced the decision of certain death versus absorption into Crusand's ranks.
Several Gadorian knights, known for their sense of honor, chose death over being forced to join arms against their former allies.
He found it easiest not to talk to Chloe about her past. The girl had already lost her country, as well as countless friends and family members; it was hardly a polite topic to breach with a new acquaintance.
Norma, on the other hand, found no problem in asking about anything and everything. It made evenings very awkward for everyone.
So it really came as no surprise that, when the opportunity to avoid another uncomfortable evening arrived, Walter and Chloe leapt at the chance.
"A ruin, huh? I knew I was traveling with you guys for a reason!"
Walter gave his friend an unimpressed look, joining Chloe at the ledge to point out the odd pillars that were almost completely hidden by leafy trees.
"What a weird place for any sort of building," Norma commented, hopping right past her two traveling companions to land on a lower ridge. "Kinda looks out of place." She stood there with her arms akimbo, tilting her head this way and that as she contemplated their next action.
Chloe was the next to descend, securing her scabbard at her side as she stepped over the edge. "We're well over a day's way from the closest road, and there's no signs of trailblazing, old or new, down this slope. I doubt the ruin is Gadorian."
"Could be from the Kingdom of Terises era." Norma continued down the slope, skidding short distances between ledges as she went along.
Walter was right behind the two girls, grimacing as clouds of dust were kicked into his face along the way. He spoke with a slight rasp as his damaged lungs dealt with the dust. "You think everything is from that era. There aren't any rivers or lakes nearby."
"Rivers, maybe not. Lakes? Possibly. How about ponds?" There was a singsong lilt to the brunette's question as she headed towards the treeline.
Walter muttered something under his breath, rolling his eyes. "Radiants didn't live in ponds."
"I have scientific proof that Shining Ones were like giant amphibians!" It was like an inside joke between the two, with only Norma fueling the fire. "Someday, we'll find a giant lillypad in one of these ruins!"
"No, we won't." The best way to derail Norma's thought process was by stopping it in its tracks. And since Walter couldn't very well push her off the slope... "Rexalian?"
"The Holy Rexalian Empire doesn't use pillars in its architecture," Chloe interjected, shaking her head and briefly dusting at her belt as she reached level ground. "But ... maybe they aren't pillars? This area did belong to the empire until about a century ago."
"The sooner we get there, the sooner we can find out!" The youngest of the trio pumped her fist in the air, her bubble wand raised like some sort of lethal weapon. "Let's go, let's go!"
As Norma charged into the forest blindly, Chloe glanced over at her more exasperated companion. It was obvious that this was a fairly common occurrence. "You're a very dedicated apprentice, Delss."
Walter knew it was supposed to be a compliment, but it did little to soothe the beginnings of a headache.
