The city of Triston shimmered against the shadowy landscape, darkness had fallen over the earth a short time ago. It meant the night was young, citizens bumbled about as they went to shops,taverns, and other various buildings. The ex knight had only been in Tristen for a few evenings, summoned here by Lady Belsante as a Bodyguard. Vaddix' crimson eyes fluttered through the metallic black helmet, legs moving slowly as he leisurely strolled through the streets. The people here weren't all too impressive, watching them hustle about like bugs under a log.

He had to admit that the security of Triston was rather impressive. Taking mental note of the soldiers patrolling the alleys, though the looks he received were all but friendly. Sometimes, it was lost on the giant that he was far bigger than the rest of the society. He didn't mind. In fact it was less of an insult and more of a backhanded compliment. The armor over his chest bore an engraving, upon the upper left pectoral region. -VR- The mark bore many meanings, none of which would gain more than a passing glance by others. To them it would mean nothing, yet to him, it held the pride, kills, and morals of his bloodline. Neat!

-Get a load of the freak.-

It was idle chatter as he stopped and turned his head to the two drunks, chuckling as they tore away from his gaze. Vaddix stood there in the street and looked up to the evening sky, inhaling the aromas of the city, feeling a reminder that he wasn't at home. The sea was close by sure, but the mission had dictated that he leave the ocean. Tomorrow, he was to deliver a message to the king of Triston, given to him as a task from Lady Belsante.

-Why did he agree?- 

There was something about accepting the request of nobles. He didn't enjoy it. The last one he had served was nothing less than filth. A brief image of how he and Valik had killed that disgusting Mongrel bled through him. His right hand resting softly over his sword's hilt, blinking again as he set off once again. Twin metal boots pressed into the stone, features concealed by metal as a yawn oozed from his lungs. The titan continued his journey as he made mental checks of key points of interest. There was so much more to do inside a city than there was out to sea. So, why did he find himself bored? 

The muscles within his body flexed against the leather garments encasing his body. He lifted his left hand and curled his fingers into his palm, itching with intent as the criminal and fighter inside him conflicted. He was a man of will power and here on peaceful nights he found himself more conflicted than ever. 

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Leaving the castle was proving to become more and more difficult with each day that went by without Josefin’s return and with her father’s failing health. People were turning to her for answers and she was not quite prepared for any of it. It certainly affected her mood and left her riddled with anxiety–more than usual, of course.

Sneaking out was her way of coping with her anxieties and insecurities. She liked to people-watch and it helped her see that she wasn’t so different from everyone else and that she truly wasn’t as alone as she felt. Being out in the public, disguised as a commoner or noblewoman, allowed her to be herself and for others to be themselves around her without worrying about needing to impress or be formal around royalty. With the restriction holding her back from her outings, she was struggling to find ways of managing the anxiety and took to the nasty habit of biting at her nails.

Luckily enough (or maybe not), Isabelle suffered from horrible headaches from time to time, so the excuse and orders to be undisturbed because of such, were understood and followed, so long as she didn’t use it too often. It was how she was able to get out this time.

Her time was limited, she knew. If something were to happen, her luxury of being uninterrupted would be broken, and if she was not in bed as everyone thought she would be, it would not only look horrible of her, but it would also constitute having guards posted at every possible exit she had to escape from. Part of her wondered if her outings would even be worth it anymore, as they only seemed to leave her feeling uneasy rather than being able to enjoy the moment of freedom.

The fresh air did feel good, though, and navigating through the busy crowds taking in her surroundings, and watching all the patrons go about their business, made her quickly forget her troubles. It would just be a quick, short-lived outing and everything would be fine. Or so she had hoped.

Isabelle lost track of the time. She had found a book in one of the nearby book carts and stupidly decided to start reading through it as she walked and idly wandered. As the light started to fade, she finally realized that she had zoned out completely. Not only had she lost track of time, but she had wandered so far off that she wasn’t quite certain where she was. No–she was most definitely lost. In the kingdom that she grew up in–The kingdom that her father ruled. Panic started to set in as she frantically glanced about, trying to find her bearings. In doing so, she hadn’t noticed the large giant-sized man she was almost about to crash into.

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SWANSKI