"At this rate, it might take us longer to get everything ready than I expected..." I mumble to myself as I look over the money I picked up from Futhans before we got here. Luckily, we managed to run into him and Shraymeaus as I struggled to find Rose'lhia a suitable place. Gods above... I was even luckier to run into the leader of this town, and he offered us a room on his estate.

Room is one way to put it... This is a whole house spread across the beyond of a single door.

Massive damn place this is, filled with all kinds of treasures and ancient stuff. I'm not sure why he's letting us stay for free, but mentioning that we're headed to Suhurlodst had a positive effect. I guess this Founding-Lord Brewbrt has a wholesome memory of the place. A reassuring thing to know, given how welcoming he's otherwise been. Rose'lhia was quite taken aback by him as well.

She clung to me so tightly, almost like she was in a state of denial, and he laughed quite heartily. This place, though, it suits my preferences just fine as well. An estate as private as this will all but guarantee my ability to keep my body a secret. No one will be able to tell what I am, not in these walls.

An unbandaged claw runs along my long snout of a jaw. The tips of my digits bump along my teeth. This bug mouth is not the easiest thing to keep closed. The perfume rich, moisture-heavy air of Rose'lhia's taken bath is catching on my taste buds.

A lot of this place reminds me of the brief time I spent in the Crown back home. Opulence and wealth everywhere with the money on top of it to maintain everything to a spotless shine. My reflection catches the corner of my eye, pulling them both towards it. I sigh, long and dreary.

The severity of my current situation is impossible to think away from. It blocks out all other thoughts. Can I even go home now? When I got out of the hive and reached the flower, I spoke to Vapooliar about heading to Suhurlodst. She was convinced there might be a way to resolve the issue of my arm back then.

If such hope exists for an arm... Surely it extends to a whole body as well?

I really do not know, I have no way of confirming this information. Potentially, all I might be doing is simply heading that way so I could get back together with her. Back to the woman who became a dear friend of mine. All in so little time...

Lightning strikes. Rose-sweerui screams. Snapping my eyes to the door, I flinch in place. The ground holds its form but the shelves nearby tremble at the held back force.

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"Hold on, Rose-sweerui! I'm coming!" I let out, panicking about as I hurriedly get my clothes back on in a haphazardous manner.

Another voice muffles its way through the door.

"It's ok, my precious love!" Rose-sweerui calls, slowing me down.

The other voice squeals something, its pitch clearly female.

"It's alright, there's no danger!" Rose-sweerui clarifies calmly as I clumsily finish my looks. Opening the door to the room between us, I trip. Bottles at my side rattle and shake. The door ahead starts to teeter open and only the glow of her bulbs prevents me from going into a frenzy.

She smiles at me, gesturing me with an open palm.

"Get yourself dressed again and come out here. Someone wants to speak to you," she explains, and I frown. Breathing out the sudden build-up of stress, I push myself back onto my feet. Tidying my mess a little, I make sure, most of all, that my mask, hat and cloak are on. Though the latter is on backwards and my bandages are not tight.

Moving out into the open, I awkwardly position my body behind furniture to hide my exposed carapace. My bug claws grip the inside of the cloak together. Tightly, very tightly. I focus my gaze on the filthy woman surrounded by shattered glass and bits of broken wall. A patch of heatwaving floor and burnt carpet at her feet. The new breeze she's given us does little to chill it.

"Who are you?" I ask her as she hastily tries to make herself presentable. Not that, that is all that achievable with all the muck she's soaked in. The heat is caking a lot of it up and it's sprinkling down as she fidgets. She cleans her face up, somewhat, revealing pale skin, almost snow like in its whiteness. In her hair, the signs of a dark red colour break through the mess. It has an almost copper-like shine to it.

"Ahem." the mysterious mud diver coughs and she straightens out way too poshly for someone of her state. Much as I spent little time there, the way the High Floors conducted themselves has stuck with me. Rose-sweerui also seems to pick up on this and she smiles. I guess this woman is fairly well off?

Usually... Anyway.

The girl rolls some words around her mouth, a peculiar warble to her accent.

"I am Einervaene Bosphama. Lady-Heir to the Noble Clan Bosphama. Rulers of the Aegioto Cluster of Northern Eusorochii." she finally answers, some kind of panic attack overtaking her.

My confused quiet only seems to make the issue worse. Lines of mud clear away in fine trails. They all start at her eyes.

"I spoke... I spoke to you before my ferry was... Mother... My mother messaged you in the years prior to my voyage...? D-Do... Do you remember... Honourable... I'm sorry... I thought I had my Wind Tongue learned by now..." Einervaene struggles to get out as she moves to get her sobbing under control. Seems like she's had quite the tiring journey. An eventful one, for sure. If any of us were familiar to her, a hug would be the least she can expect now.

But, I am confused as to how I am to proceed. Completely baffled. I have no clue what way I am to interpret this. Rose-sweerui, however, she seems to have already made up her mind. And it is giving her a wide smile that is almost without end. My aelenvari companion looks back to me, almost proud of this meeting.

"Right..." is all I can muster out of my system as this Einervaene finally brings back some composure.

"I-I'm so-sorry." she whimpers, this noble upbringing of hers securing her emotions for the short-lived moment.