Upon entering the cavern leading to the Fury’s Gaze, Sharla carefully glanced around her surroundings and let out a soft sigh. Just as she had expected, completely empty and little to no sign of anyone even being here, let alone Crofte. “Don’t….jus’ bloody don’t. Another dead end…â€
“Told you there wasn’t something right about that woman, didn’t I? Pretty sure I did...so what now?†Sharla’s traveling companion spoke as she placed her hands on her hips.
“Don’t know...I have no clue now. You know what, jus’ shut up already! Huh...th’ hells is tha’ over there?†Sharla snapped at the younger girl before she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. A dark red object sitting in the middle of a small pool of water, and what seemed to be tracks leading to it as well, as if something...or someone had been dragged to it or from it. “Well...wha’ do we have here?â€
Sharla moved closer to the water, getting a better look at the object she had taken note of earlier, sitting in the middle. She examined the object further and noticed that it appeared to be a blob of coagulated blood. She shook her head, and became even more confused than she was before. “Th’ hells did this come from? An’ what does it have tae do with her? This couldn’t be hers...could it?†Sharla look back to her younger companion, who just shrugged as Sharla have her a questioning look. “Right...time to get some answers then.â€
Sharla had decided to stay around the area a bit more to continue her search. After a few bells of searching in and around the cavern, she had decided to return to the Observatorium. A familiar, armored figured was seen in the Observatorium tavern,  standing away from the fire, in the shadows by the door. Sharla briefly glanced at the woman, carefully looking her over up and down before she moved over the the fire herself. She let out a soft sigh, and removed the blade from her back, placing on the wall beside the fireplace. “So...wha’ exactly was I s’pposed tae find there?â€
The armored woman merely remained standing in the shadows, the blade on her back looking as if it was melting in the ‘warmer’ bar room, water slowly trickling down the bluish steel and pats steadily onto the stonework. “Beyond your own fait? Comfort. Proof.â€
“An empty cave, a blob of coagulated blood? Well damn, guess I should jus’ pack up an’ go home, right? Mission accomplished!†Sharla let out a short chuckle while shaking her head.
The armored woman may have smirked a bit as before responding, but who could tell? “You only see what you wish to.â€
“Hmm, maybe so. Though, if I see wha’ I wish tae see...I probably wouldn’t be here right now...would I?†Sharlo spoke, not even bothering to look back at the other woman, as she rubbed her hands together closer to the fire
“She places you exactly where She wants you.†A quiet hiss came from the dark armored woman. “You have seen proof now with your own eyes. Believe either it...or the words you are told. The choice is yours.â€
“Ah...I get a choice now. “Well isn’t tha’ nice? Okay...say I do believe wha’ I saw, was told...whatever. I still need to know wha’ happened, how it happened...why it happened…â€
A growl came from the armored woman, or perhaps it was a groan. Low and pained. “I have no further answers for you. A mystery to us both, it seems. I am told she trusted poorly.â€
“Yeah...I figured as much. Since I have choice an’ all...maybe I’ll stick around fer a bit, try an’ understand this a little better.†Sharla spoke rather sarcastically as she kept her gaze on the fire, taking in it’s warmth. “Hmmm, perhaps she did choose poorly.†She began to speak softly as she lowered her head, shaking it slightly.
“I know nothing, myself. She has shown me your face, though, as if through a dream. As I should know you. Your loyalty to your friend is commendable. Perhaps Halone will look favourably upon your quest. Or perhaps She will lead us all to our fated ends.†The armored woman's gaze turned slowly towards the door.
Sharla sighed and briefly glanced behind her before turning back to the fire. “Hmmm, perhaps I’ll receive Her blessings in th’ comin’ days. If not for me...then at least for her. Hmph, fated ends..ye make it sound like th’ end has already been written for us all.â€
The armored woman’s gaze turns back to the woman across the room, with no other movement. “Aaah. I see. You...care for her.†Her voice is just as wraith-like as it has been a day ago. Her head slowly turns to watch the newcomers. The sword slung behind her has been slowly dripping water as if melting to form a small puddle now upon the stone.
“Why does everyone keep...okay, I guess I do then. Doesn’t change anything, I still have to do this. I can only hope tha’ she or others would have done th’ same for me…†Sharla sighed and shook her head as she gently rubbed over the scar on her left shoulder.
“Good. Good. Yes, deny such thoughts. Push them away, for they are all foolish, idle fancies. Immaterial. Meaningless, all of them.†The armored woman continued keeping her gaze on Sharla. “The end..perhaps not well. Though I think it went even worse for your friend. The end of all love can only be heartache.â€
“Heartache...yes, tha’ I cannae deny. But...isn’t it worth it? Even through the pain and struggle.†She turned her head to glance back at the armored woman. “An’ even if it’s only for a fleetin’ moment, I’d like to think it’s worth th’ effort..
“Pain only serves to remind you that you are still alive. To willing cause such is foolish.†The woman takes one step towards the door. As her dress crosses the puddle below her, the edges of it instantly frost over like dew on winter grass.
“Hmmm, true...it can also be a reminder to avoid doin’ th’ things tha’ cause it...or adapting to it.†Sharla turned back and and shrugged at the armored woman. “Oh well...I think I can manage bein’ a little foolish fer a wee bit longer then…â€
The armored woman laughs mirthlessly at that. “Even a dog learns not to stick it’s nose where it hurts twice. Continue your searching then, Knight of the South. But remember, you are in Her realm now.
“Maybe I’ll learn m’self one o’ these days, or get killed in th’ process. Her realm, huh? S’ppose I’ll be needin’ tae stay on my best behavior then.†Sharla sighed as she slowly stood up and retrieved her blade, remaining near the warmth of the fire. The armored knight opened the door to exit the tavern. As she did, a cold draft wafts in. But who knows if it was from the outside, or that which her own dress had left behind.
“Told you there wasn’t something right about that woman, didn’t I? Pretty sure I did...so what now?†Sharla’s traveling companion spoke as she placed her hands on her hips.
“Don’t know...I have no clue now. You know what, jus’ shut up already! Huh...th’ hells is tha’ over there?†Sharla snapped at the younger girl before she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. A dark red object sitting in the middle of a small pool of water, and what seemed to be tracks leading to it as well, as if something...or someone had been dragged to it or from it. “Well...wha’ do we have here?â€
Sharla moved closer to the water, getting a better look at the object she had taken note of earlier, sitting in the middle. She examined the object further and noticed that it appeared to be a blob of coagulated blood. She shook her head, and became even more confused than she was before. “Th’ hells did this come from? An’ what does it have tae do with her? This couldn’t be hers...could it?†Sharla look back to her younger companion, who just shrugged as Sharla have her a questioning look. “Right...time to get some answers then.â€
Sharla had decided to stay around the area a bit more to continue her search. After a few bells of searching in and around the cavern, she had decided to return to the Observatorium. A familiar, armored figured was seen in the Observatorium tavern,  standing away from the fire, in the shadows by the door. Sharla briefly glanced at the woman, carefully looking her over up and down before she moved over the the fire herself. She let out a soft sigh, and removed the blade from her back, placing on the wall beside the fireplace. “So...wha’ exactly was I s’pposed tae find there?â€
The armored woman merely remained standing in the shadows, the blade on her back looking as if it was melting in the ‘warmer’ bar room, water slowly trickling down the bluish steel and pats steadily onto the stonework. “Beyond your own fait? Comfort. Proof.â€
“An empty cave, a blob of coagulated blood? Well damn, guess I should jus’ pack up an’ go home, right? Mission accomplished!†Sharla let out a short chuckle while shaking her head.
The armored woman may have smirked a bit as before responding, but who could tell? “You only see what you wish to.â€
“Hmm, maybe so. Though, if I see wha’ I wish tae see...I probably wouldn’t be here right now...would I?†Sharlo spoke, not even bothering to look back at the other woman, as she rubbed her hands together closer to the fire
“She places you exactly where She wants you.†A quiet hiss came from the dark armored woman. “You have seen proof now with your own eyes. Believe either it...or the words you are told. The choice is yours.â€
“Ah...I get a choice now. “Well isn’t tha’ nice? Okay...say I do believe wha’ I saw, was told...whatever. I still need to know wha’ happened, how it happened...why it happened…â€
A growl came from the armored woman, or perhaps it was a groan. Low and pained. “I have no further answers for you. A mystery to us both, it seems. I am told she trusted poorly.â€
“Yeah...I figured as much. Since I have choice an’ all...maybe I’ll stick around fer a bit, try an’ understand this a little better.†Sharla spoke rather sarcastically as she kept her gaze on the fire, taking in it’s warmth. “Hmmm, perhaps she did choose poorly.†She began to speak softly as she lowered her head, shaking it slightly.
“I know nothing, myself. She has shown me your face, though, as if through a dream. As I should know you. Your loyalty to your friend is commendable. Perhaps Halone will look favourably upon your quest. Or perhaps She will lead us all to our fated ends.†The armored woman's gaze turned slowly towards the door.
Sharla sighed and briefly glanced behind her before turning back to the fire. “Hmmm, perhaps I’ll receive Her blessings in th’ comin’ days. If not for me...then at least for her. Hmph, fated ends..ye make it sound like th’ end has already been written for us all.â€
The armored woman’s gaze turns back to the woman across the room, with no other movement. “Aaah. I see. You...care for her.†Her voice is just as wraith-like as it has been a day ago. Her head slowly turns to watch the newcomers. The sword slung behind her has been slowly dripping water as if melting to form a small puddle now upon the stone.
“Why does everyone keep...okay, I guess I do then. Doesn’t change anything, I still have to do this. I can only hope tha’ she or others would have done th’ same for me…†Sharla sighed and shook her head as she gently rubbed over the scar on her left shoulder.
“Good. Good. Yes, deny such thoughts. Push them away, for they are all foolish, idle fancies. Immaterial. Meaningless, all of them.†The armored woman continued keeping her gaze on Sharla. “The end..perhaps not well. Though I think it went even worse for your friend. The end of all love can only be heartache.â€
“Heartache...yes, tha’ I cannae deny. But...isn’t it worth it? Even through the pain and struggle.†She turned her head to glance back at the armored woman. “An’ even if it’s only for a fleetin’ moment, I’d like to think it’s worth th’ effort..
“Pain only serves to remind you that you are still alive. To willing cause such is foolish.†The woman takes one step towards the door. As her dress crosses the puddle below her, the edges of it instantly frost over like dew on winter grass.
“Hmmm, true...it can also be a reminder to avoid doin’ th’ things tha’ cause it...or adapting to it.†Sharla turned back and and shrugged at the armored woman. “Oh well...I think I can manage bein’ a little foolish fer a wee bit longer then…â€
The armored woman laughs mirthlessly at that. “Even a dog learns not to stick it’s nose where it hurts twice. Continue your searching then, Knight of the South. But remember, you are in Her realm now.
“Maybe I’ll learn m’self one o’ these days, or get killed in th’ process. Her realm, huh? S’ppose I’ll be needin’ tae stay on my best behavior then.†Sharla sighed as she slowly stood up and retrieved her blade, remaining near the warmth of the fire. The armored knight opened the door to exit the tavern. As she did, a cold draft wafts in. But who knows if it was from the outside, or that which her own dress had left behind.