"Come now Alana, It's time to move on," Godrick said to his companion as the first lights pierced through the clouds up above.
Looking up, at the barely perceptible rays; Godrick could see that they acted as a reprieve to the usual gloom of the land's sky. No snowfall could be seen, but it would not remain such for long he thought. Dark clouds were approaching, seeming to bring the flurry of nature with them.
Alana grunted angrily at his waking of her, but a quick assent came as she stood up groggily and confused. All the while going through the morning's motions in a near-mechanical manner. They dismantled and stored the campsite inside Godrick's void of a bag.
Their mental processes remained slow as all mornings brought them the comfortable silence in which they could settle themselves. The only interruptions came in the form of nature's wind-fueled acoustics. It was a reprieve since they still ruminated about last night's events. Godrick could be seen contemplating on the proper way to decrypt the mystical language of the Runes; the language of Alana’s people, warriors, and Artisans. It was today on what she claimed was the day of the sun; when the red-haired warrior indicated they would reach Slatvia her home. The markings they had encountered along the way had grown more prominent through their journey of the north, an indication of civilization to him; but to her, it was a welcome sight she had yearned for during the last four years.
Despite the nostalgia she felt, her thoughts were directed to another matter entirely. The figure she had glimpsed during the night had left deep marks of pondering upon her Path. It had seemed to almost resonate at the spiritual level, its strong bestial form inspiring a sense of greatness within her. A grandioseness to itself, present in how she, wanted to portray it; no.
Not only portray, but a dream-like wish of embodiment was her truest of desires. To her chagrin; not an ounce of insight had come. Alana had remained observant of the figure for hours till she had been relieved, unable to glimpse any further than what she had managed. Begrudgingly she accepted her transparent lack of knowledge. She would have to meditate on this more before seeking the counsel of her enlightened friend.
So onwards they continued, through, and by the land over half of Northend. The scenery would pass by them ever so slowly, as they traveled a land with endless white of snow on all sides. Even still beauty always found a way and they revealed themselves as signature encounters, first was the aurora that shones in all the known and not known colors. Then were the springs whose temperature were sadly too hot to enjoy.
Soon enough Slatvia came upon their sight, graciously warm and welcoming with its humble make. Not unlike the rest of the frozen wastelands that surrounded them.
They were close now, a cliff face overlooking the town near them; Alana ran forward at this, smiling happily, her eyes watering at the sight so filled with emotion as she was. The first sign of true emotion that broke her ponderous and solemn mood. By the edge of the cliff, she stood with a genuine expression pulling even Godrick's perpetual frown, into the semblance of a smile.
"Here it is Pilgrim, Slatvia. My hometown, our closest thing to a capital, and the hub of Northender trade. I welcome ya, to my fondest of places." Her honesty disarmed him, oh so powerful it was that he understood the words of the Consang, clearly now.
Observing the scenery she pointed towards, he could see the first river not frozen over by the climate. It streamed with vitality as the salmon jumped upwards of the current, equal in their virility. Even the snow littered their surroundings in smaller amounts, the trailblazing evident from either work or duty. The dirt paths finally became visible to them as they neared, and lantern posts could be seen now every so often.
'Civilized' thought Godrick, considering he believed them savages through his interactions with the young Alana; this was a higher step to civilized society than what he had experienced of her.
The town, when they had observed it from high above; was humble. Comprised mostly of wooden buildings and facilities with easy make. Many people, could be seen walking through its streets, actively interacting among the community from what he could glimpse as either the square or marketplace. Closer to the sea, the ports connected to the town, and ships of Northender design could be made out; remarkable in their craftsmanship and design.
As they finally reached the arch to the town gates, four guards tensed from up above in the wooden-stone platform; bows aimed but not drawn, yet. Two more guards approached them from below, gruff, tall, blonde, and red hairs poking through their metal Nasal helmets. One stepped forward spear at ease, and the other raised their own to where he stood.
"Halt, state yer business. Trade or Slaughter?" The blonde one asked, his free hand raised in a halting gesture.
Godrick looked towards Alana who simply shrugged and stepped forward, meeting the man face to face.
"Don’ reckon I 'member seeing ya with the guard 'fore." Her smirk slightly angered the man but she continued, taking on an imposing posture. Hands at her hips with fists balled up, she looked confident and prideful; disdain dripping from her stance.
"Berserker of the clan, lost and renewed, empowered and growing. I am Alana Skrol, daughter of the rightful late chieftain Alfas, who was the son of the prior, and brother to the current. I have returned." A smirk was on her as she spoke, to Godrick it seemed boastful, but to Alana it was necessary; if she was to be the image of the great beast, everything she did had to convey herself as such a creature. Grand, imposing, confident, elegant, powerful, and ferocious; she was to be all that she saw of this heavens-defying animal from the Dark upper sea.
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The guard far back lowered his spear eyeing her heavily; the one infront looked flabbergasted as he said " 'Lannie, that really you?" his spear had dropped as he approached closer trying to discern the truth of the situation.
"Aye, don' cha' see my beautiful self." She was happy that her old friend had recognized her; despite her recent changes. Even she would not have been able to, given the scars blemishing her appearance, along with the new set of onyx gemmed eyes adorning her face.
"Rustolph; go, go! To the chief, inform him; 'Lannies back." The guard said to the other, doing as told the red-haired guard sprinted off towards the center of the town.
He looked at her once more, disbelieving; his massive form that was close to seven feet and two-hundred-fifty pounds embraced her tiny figure in what Godrick believed to be a bear-crushing hug.
"Ya' I'm back ya goof, don't ya come watering on me. Haha." She said reciprocating his embrace with her own, one of malicious force.
"Akghh, I give, I give." Breaking off their hugging contest, he rubbed his lower back; surprised at the strength she contained.
"By the Marni. How? We'd heard, ya know. Loss of Path,-exile, a sunken ship from a storm's endeavors. Yet yer here, demon coal eyes and marred with beauty what gives my friend, how?" Many questions teemed inside him, waiting for answers from the miracle that she was.
"It's too long a story friend. Not one to discuss out proper. Later, once duty is concluded, come find me. My companion here, Godrick," She said, grabbing Godrick by the hood of his robe and pulling him forward. His head was held in a position that locked him to her elbow and pit, forcing his stare downwards. "and me are busy. We've a mission here; related to his Pilgrimage and me uncle's Hearth is where we must head."
"Yes yer right, of course, duty." He said sadly, then looked towards the now free man by her side, saying flatly,
"Yer lucky she's been here with ya Oathbreaker, the marking of yer robe dictates yer status as an exile, remember yer not welcomed here." A wad of spit came from him, landing squarely on the hem of Godrick's robe.
"Now listen here you..." Anger bubbled inside the pilgrim as he was about to lash out, Alana interrupted once more before Godrick went on another discourse.
"Once." Spite came out in words as she stood in defense of her companion. "Once ya may offend him for his oaths. Once, do ya understand Orvos?" Her voice came silent and dignified, calm and composed yet behind them was a fury that begged a contradiction from him.
An explosion of her bloodlust came out, wrapping her old friend within. He struggled to remain standing, affected by her thirst for violence forcing him to stumble backward, almost falling over from the mud at his feet.
" 'Course my apologies Pilgrim," Orvos said regaining his breath.
"None taken friend, we have merely had a rough start to our introductions. My name is Godrick and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." An extended hand came to the guard; he looked at Alana, who returned a demanding and disdainful look to him, forcing him to exchange the greeting.
"Orvos, Bane of Oathbreakers." He said through gritted teeth.
"Ah." Was all that Godrick could say in reply.
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Laughter could be heard from the gates to the town as the companions crossed the town of Slatvia, en route to the chief's hearth. The small redheaded miscreant was the source of such noise.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Very much. Not funny you mischievous imp." Godrick said fuming at her.
"No, yer right, that was down and right hysterical ya grump. Hahahaha!" Tears came out of her as the prank concluded.
"Forcing a law bringer to commit such a moral degradation by shaking hands with the reason of his duty is evil, you wench." Godrick was trying to remain calm throughout the whole ordeal once he heard of the man's title.
Orvos's venomous remarks had sparked anger in Godrick, but he could not fault the man for following his beliefs. He could only take the insults he knew to be true and well deserved. Retaliating for such reasons was childish in his opinion. Alana showed no such concerns performing these actions, however, almost delighting in them.
"The motherless goat thumper got what he deserved. To insult mine companion, whom I darn happily introduced is an insult ta me. I refuse any and all intent of ill mannerism."
"Then a path of sorrow and regret may wash over you, enemies, and allies alike," Godrick responded to her withholding his next step.
Her gaze was redirected to him. Simple words came off her reply. "Then so be it." Continuing her route.
"Society. Culture. Civility, they are all meaningless if there is no reason to such concepts beyond blind belief, words from yer own precious Grimoire no?" Her face remained unseen as she passed him, not waiting for him to follow.
Picking up his pace next to her, he continued. "Though I have no idea how you managed to decrypt a language even the clergy could not comprehend." Surprised by her cunning he put it aside at the moment. "It seems that I should add more to this passage, 'antagonizing believers of these concepts is meaningless in seeding a future for the masses'." Scribbling was heard, and she thought about his last words until they reached their destination.
"Alright damn ya, I get it, force ain't always the answer I get it. I'll apologize proper when I can to him, don't worry. But now that we're here, get yer book of yer damn nose."
"Hmmm." Lifting his head he was greeted with an impressive sight.
All around him were many buildings, facilities, and cottages. People and animals moved around while Herders were in front getting ready to exchange the beasts of burdens on the market. The people were eyeing the goods of merchants and traders. Artistic renderings that exceeded what Godrick had witnessed in the Price's cottage were laid into the foundations of the buildings, labeling the wooden structures with glorious depictions of historical accounts. They indicated events such as transactions, peace treaties, blood feuds, and hunts. The people that walked around spoke in fluid Aquilan, more fluent than most peasants he had conversed with in the past.
"Are those proper bathhouses I see as well?" Godrick asked, puzzled by the conflicting reality, and the biases he had been introduced to by the Empire.
"Yer in for a sight my blind friend. We take care of our own here, far more than the likes of ya silk herders from the empire. We're rough because of where we're grown not because we're savages. So I'm glad we could take that out of the way my friend. This, this is Slatvia! Land of the strongest warrior path in existence, and inheritance of our forefather the great Marni. I welcome ya truly Heretic, to Northends Slatvia."