"Not that we don't enjoy the company, but, why are you coming with us, Masgeo?" I ask the farmhand a bit late into our journey. The hustle and bustle of the approaching town becoming all the clearer with each chug of the engine and bump of the wheels.
He slowly and carefully plays with some kind of hook as he looks my way, smiling a little, "Got to go down to the market for some extra supplies. Jolly quiet rider at the head has the list, though, just here to help."
"I'm not surprised he needs the help!" I giggle as I glance towards Brewbrt as he rests a hand on his plate-covered gut. He groans gently, both regretting and enjoying the full breakfast he's overfilled on.
"What can we say? You've been a wonderful pair of guests. Going to be quite the conversation starter with all this savoury gossip we be hearing."
"Even farmers find themselves at the mercy of such behaviour?" I ask, somewhat surprised that they are not able to avoid it even with their relative isolation.
"Coming into town or to the other markets are some of the few times we get to. But, all in moderation." Masgeo explains as he messes with some tools to do something to his side of the vehicle's backend.
"Much as I haven't done very well keeping my mind off of it, I will miss the quiet. Even at home in such a private house it is hard to keep your mind truly occupied without going overboard." I tell him as Mother's fading image passes through my head. A fuzzy image with little things I can truly remember clearly at this point. Her voice is really all there is and even then, I am limited to the same phrases again and again.
Those lingering memories that stick with you for a long time...
"We all have our struggles, even if we aren't privy to the finer grains." Masgeo comments as he leans over his seat to wave towards someone or something.
"Quite wise for a farmhand." I jest with my words slipping by him without an issue.
"Make sure to take care now, Miss." Masgeo tells me as he holds a hand as he hops off the back.
"Where are you going? It's still a fair walk..." I say, trailing off as he rushes away from the road.
"Don't mind him, Darling, he's just got some things to do." Sanoukou quietly explains as I shuffle closer to the front so I can hear better. Uenfarmao's traffic now starting to more directly affect us.
"Thank you for the lift, you didn't have to!" I tell him as I can't think of anything else to say to keep my mouth moving. With Brewbrt thoroughly stuffed, I can't expect him to be of much use here.
"It's fine! We're heading the same way anyways." Sanoukou answers with a sudden burst of intensity in his words as we seemingly squeeze into those going in and out of the town.
"Seems busier than usual." I remark as I look around at all the animal-pulled and engine-driven transports on the road. Maybe it's because I am used to looking at it from such a great distance in the sky with Lightning's help.
"It's rare, but you sometimes get quite busy roads here. Bad luck mostly, all the coincidences lining up at once." Sanoukou explains as he points at some of the transports, many clearly marked with small businesses or noble heraldry and markings.
"That bad luck is leading to quite a bit of congestion..." I start to mutter as Lightning quietly sparks out at my side, his little electric points zapping about for whatever reason. Hopefully, he's going to give one of the animals or engines a jump and get them moving quicker. Somehow as well, despite all the business on the road, the calm air has the drivers mellowed.
Only I seem to be bothered by the slowness of it all.
"A little bit longer and you'll be able to hop out and walk, you'll weave in and out to the stores better that way." Sanoukou points out as he gestures to a distant opening as he exploits the slow movement to quickly stand.
"You better be ready to move at that point, Brewbrt." I nearly growl as the old man raises a hand, smiling nonchalantly as the farmer chuckles.
"Be sure to pass the word to those you visit, let them know it was old, reliable Sanoukou who put you like that!"
"I can certainly promise that." Brewbrt laughs gently so he doesn't disturb what might as well be a bruised gut.
"Eugh, what am I likely going to be needing to get?" I ask my frustrating travel companion as he clumsily fights off my attempts to find our shopping list. Squinting my eyes at the crude handwriting, I pick up some of the details with the help of Lightning as he fixes it up.
"That reminds me, Farmer Sanoukou, you mentioned that the Copper Band Terraces need a specific guide?" Brewbrt asks the driver as I tilt and nod my head along as I go down the list. Briefly, I glance at Brewbrt's doodle which otherwise seems to highlight some of the problems we'll be facing. This Copper Band Terrace seems to be quite the inconvenience to travel through, but, it also seems to be our best path forward.
"If you feel safer with it, the weather there needs quite a bit of local knowledge. But, as I also told you back when you first wandered up my road, you got the eyes for that sort of thing." Sanoukou explains, making Brewbrt turn to meet my eyes as I happen to glance up.
"Your choice, Einervaene." he tries to go as stern as he can despite the hindrance.
"I think we should be fine." I tell him, sneaking in a little stroke on Lightning's closest eccentric point. I believe I've heard about such places like this, it's very good for a specific kind of farming. It is very dangerous, however, with its high amount of free-flowing water and the weather being the way it is in Eusorochii...
"Are you sure, Darling? It can get quite rough in them parts for the unaquainted."
"No, we will be able to get through. Your concern is appreciated bu-"
"We can handle it." Brewbrt huffs lightly as he gives my shin a gentle interrupting nudge.
"As you two would have it." Sanoukou says as he slowly starts to edge his way towards the town's footpath.
"Thank you for the help thus far, Sanoukou. Gods and goddesses look kindly upon you." I tell him as a farewell before I head to the back's end in preparation. However, Brewbrt is taking his time and heading to the farm owner instead as his first port of call.
"Take care of that kitchen now, I might come back down once my time here comes to its end." he laughs and the two men share a firm shake as both enjoy the last proper moment they'll have for a long time. Rolling my eyes, I step down and slowly make my way towards the path, leaving Brewbrt to slug down on his own.
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"Come here and take my hand." I pointlessly suggest as the heavily-armoured man openly bleghs at his other gear.
"I'll keep an eye on it, just don't head on out without it or I'm pinching what I want." Sanoukou chuckles as Brewbrt gives a gentle wave.
"I hope you at least got our money out of that." I say to him quietly as I make it clear my temper is easy to go off over this little thing.
"Pay a little more attention to the little things, it might save your life one day." Brewbrt snickers as he drops one of my strangely heavy braids.
"Hey!" I moan as I untie the money pouch he snuck onto it at some point, somehow. Untying it, I nearly throw it at him before my brain catches up with the reality of what may happen after. Tightening my grip on the small bag, I settle for knocking him upside instead while his helmet is off.
"I love being an ancient wonder." he cackles without a care as my retaliatory strike fails miserably.
"We need to get some long-term camping supplies." I say as I glance at the list. We could maybe skimp out a little with this as we can travel a tremendous amount of distance in a day. But, at the same time, I would like to try and help people on the way to Mother. The unfortunate word about her is still as good as it can get as far as my life has been.
Groaning about senatorial deadlock and the usual smear campaigns headed by those who want her to burn. My body jitters as it shifts once again through the uncertainty of what I should focus on. I need to get to Mother but I can't help but keep remembering how long I have been away. Even walking, I am still getting to her quicker than I ever did back at Suhurlodst with Vadei and the others...
"Einervaene? Einervaene!" Brewbrt waves close up.
Shaking my head a little, I move it back as he nods, "S-Sorry."
"Found us a shop, come on." he tells me as he heads towards the pointed-out establishment. Nodding as I follow after him, I am suddenly approached by a messily-clothed man. Somehow, despite all that is going on and all that is here, this man's smell manages to burst through with great strength. The array and vibrancy of colours staining him makes it clear that this man is some kind of painter.
"Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!" the stranger goes dramatically as I back up, nearly into the external display of the shop.
"Hey, hey!" Brewbrt goes with initial aggression before he notices the man's visage properly. The old man I am unfortunately with develops a smirk and I start to glare at him.
"No Sir, I mean no disrespect, I simply wish to paint such a beautiful woman! Even the crowds agree!" the artist champions to the agreeing cheers of those stopping or those too busy to stop but just not busy enough to pay attention.
"How much?" Brewbrt asks as his smile.
"Don't encourage this, we have things to be doing!" I snap at my friend as he snatches the money pouch from me, already digging into it.
"No, no, no! For free, a face like this will own bring me in more customers in the future. Such beauty so imperfectly painted, it will be a masterpiece of its own worth an island of gold!" the artist explains as he starts to attempt to gently guide me over to his workstation.
"Works for me, have fun, I'm going to go shopping!" Brewbrt cackles as he heads on in without me.
"GRRR! Damn you!" I nearly swear as the artist backs away as I near his private podium.
"My beautiful piece-to-be, calm, smile. Tempers and frustration will only make it worse." the man tells me as his face sets itself in stone as he picks up the tools of his trade.
"Fine..." I huff as I sit down, setting myself up in a way I feel is nice enough at first. The artist stops moving behind his art stand and canvas and peeks out from behind. He makes gestures towards different parts of my body and I do nothing but narrow my stare slightly.
"Posture." he clarifies as he continues to make small, rapid movements with his fingers.
"Oh." I go as I follow along with what he is asking for until he is done with the seemingly silly movements. Retreating into my head, skills I once felt like I would never use again start to come back to me. All those lessons about preparing for portraits of both an official and sentimental variety. Mother enjoyed frustrating me back then indeed, always had to be perfect in such an unnatural sense.
I start to smile even though I was not asked by my artist and I get to thinking about Suhurlodst again. When I was there, I chose to join because of the means it presented in regards to keeping in touch with Mother. Even with all my efforts back on and around Sanoukou's farm, I really can't say no to another chance for my name to spread. Mother surely is aware by this point that I am back home, but, who knows, can't hurt to do a little bit more of this.
"Oh, my beloved beauty, keep doing what you are doing..." the artist mumbles with what sounds like a heart with the strings being pulled. My cheeks redden slightly and I can't help but notice those coming in from behind him to have a quick look. Naturally, these eyes fall onto me, yet, they have nowhere near the same effect as when they look at the developing painting.
Curiously enough, I can sense the presence of magic in either this artist's fingers or his tools. Maybe even the paint as I can feel it spreading quite eagerly in a very particular way and then lingering. I do not recall if Mother ever had magic-capable artists look at us back when stuff like this used to be something of a regularity. I can, however, quite easily recall the time and boredom of waiting for it all to be done, only to dread the next day when they came back to doodle an arm or foot.
I nearly shiver as I remember such dissection and reconfiguration, the tedium of it all is not missed at all. I pray that this can be done with some speed and reliable quickness, I do not have time for this if it goes on. This artist has, thankfully for me, so very thankfully, missed out on my time to linger around this town. Though, I suppose it does not matter if he needs me to come back as I won't be under any circumstances.
"Thank you for your patience, my beauty, I am almost done!" the artist nearly sings as the feel of magic in him grows greater. I blink, surprised and I nearly shoot to my feet to look up at the Orbital-Halo's position. Brewbrt hasn't even come out of the shop and this man is nearly done!?
"I was honestly prepared for so much longer..." I mutter as I nearly yawn at the thought of such lengthy stillness.
The artist laughs, "Ah, I knew such hair and skin could only be of someone so divinely blooded. Imperial, perhaps?"
"N-No, not royal, I am a simple noble." I clarify before nearly huffing in bemusement at my statement. Simple noble is certainly one way to downplay what I am for the sake of keeping the details vague.
"Whoever fathered you and held you with such love for under a year must be quite something." the artist compliments, leading to me frowning, likely ruining the expression he really wants. Yeah, those two are quite something...
A father I barely know and a mother so unknowingly close to being taken away from me.
"My beautiful inspiration, please, return that smile to us." the artist asks nicely as his seeming lack of care makes it clear he is nearing the final strokes of the painting. I do as asked, even if it clearly lacks the energy that made it so nice to look at before.
"You are done...?" I dread to ask as the artist seemingly takes a step back to applaud his own work. Getting up, I walk around and end up with wide eyes. This man is good, very good, almost too good!
"My beautiful help, I may ruin this moment with such ugly greed!" the artist cackles maddeningly as I nearly laugh at how real this almost looks. He's even added in some of the details around me from the podium I was on to the stores and the vagueness of those passing by. As is obvious by what it is, a portrait of me, it focuses on me, but, I can't help but feel that this man managed to make it even more so about me.
I seem to be glowing!
"Thank the gods I didn't have to pay for that!" Brewbrt remarks as he hops down from the storefront to meet back up with me.
"I thank you so much for your time, Sir, please, safe travels!" the artist tells him as he grips Brewbrt's armoured hand tight for a nearly teary-eyed handshake.
Moving up to my friend as the artist gets to doing other things to the painting, I look up at him, "Did you get everything?"
"Yes, bar a few odd things I want to try and see if I can get a better deal on."
"We'll be walking in circles if you are so dedicated to that." I tell him, smiling as I look back at the popularity of my portrait. Mother will most certainly hear about this, I mean, this crowd the artist is getting is growing to the point of spilling out onto the road!
"Maybe the one at the register will be a young lad, stick with me and flash those eyes of yours, should make things easier." Brewbrt near mumbles to himself as I play with one of my braids.
"I wonder if people prefer me or you more, Lightning?" I ask my divine friend quietly, even though I am certain I already have a general idea of it in my head. My hair and skin have all taken on such auric qualities since he joined me back at Anvil-Peak. I only really notice the change because I still remember my old paler skin and copper hair so well.
"Hm, food first or last... Buying it last will mean it's fresher for longer." Brewbrt mutters as we find ourselves going by a half-open building containing a sweet-smelling bakery.
"I don't think that is quite how it works." I comment as my eyes find themselves passing over what normally would catch my eye otherwise. Breakfast really was a heavy meal this morning.