Sharla once more ventured out to central and western highlands of Coerthas in her search. Each passing day she grew more and more frustrated. No clues, no sign, nothing she had come across so far gave her any idea of what happened to Crofte. Only the words of the dark armored woman rang in the back of her mind. She once more made her way back to the Observatorium to gather her thoughts and rest after days of another fruitless search.
“Ya know...and this is just my opinion, but...maybe this might be a lost cause? Possibly? I mean...it’s been how long now?†A familiar, younger sounding voice spoke to Sharla as she walked through the gates of the Observatorium. “Oh hells...you’re not even listening to me. One of these days, you will. Or...you’re going to get yourself into an even bigger mess you can’t find your way out of, and I’m going to be there to say I told you so.â€
“Quiet...I need to find that bitch again. Something’s not right about this, none of this makes any sense at all.†Sharla spoke softly, walking through the gates. She came to a stop and looked around the immediate area before walking towards the tavern. “There’s something I’m missing...how does she know so much? Well...funny still seein’ ye around this place…†She immediately noticed the armored woman and narrowed her eyes at her.
The armored woman’s blade once again looks as if it is melting in the heat of the room. Condensation beads upon the blue steel and trickles down to pat upon the stone. “We must all eat, must we not?†She slowly looked to another pair of patrons in the tavern, before looking back to Sharla.
“Right...I s’ppose we do, huh?†A deep sigh came from Sharla as she seemed to relax herself slightly. “Maybe if ye got time, ye can talk an’ eat at th’ same time…â€
“My time ends when the Fury considers my debt paid. What words would you have with one such as I?â€
“Oh, good...sounds like plenty o’ time tae me then. A young woman passed through here not too long ago...screamin’ some nonsense I could barely make out. Only caught a glimpse of her, but her voice…†Sharla slowly moved closer to the armored woman as she spoke, leaning against the bar counter once she reached her.
“This world is full of urchins and Brume rats. What makes this one different?â€
“Her voice...sounded quite like th’ one I’m lookin’ for…†She merely shook her head and sighed. “But I’m guessin’ ye might not have much tae say on this one...or maybe ye do?â€
A low hiss came from the armored woman, which could have been a sigh instead. “Still you look for your Ul’dahn whore? There are so many more...worthwhile tasks to waste your time on.†She almost seemed to be disgusted by Sharla’s persistence.
Sharla rested an elbow on the counter as she narrowed her eyes at the other woman. “Well, I do have a busy schedule as of late. But this task has my attention for th’ time bein’. An’ now...you have my attention as well…â€
“Do I now? Best listen well then. Yes, I have information you might like. I will not repeat it twice, however. Your little whore was seen recently in the city. The dirty little hole they call the Forgotten Knight. Rumor is she stole a meal from a man named Clay of house Abercrombie, then fled.â€
An eyebrow rose as Sharla listened and kept her gaze on the woman. “Clay...Ishgardian noble I take it. This jus’ gets better an’ better…â€
The armored woman merely laughed. A vindictive humorous chuckle, even. “Lord or not, she spat upon his hospitality. If she crosses my path first, I will have her tongue for such an insult.â€
“I’m sure ye will, if ye get the’ chance. Or maybe…†Sharla narrowed her gaze at the woman as she seemed to be amused by that ‘maybe’, waiting expectantly. Sharla chuckled softly and shook her head. “Maybe th’ Fury will see fit tae give ye such a blessin’, or maybe she’ll send somethin’ else yer way instead.â€
The woman cocked her head at that notion. “Perhaps she will. Or perhaps you intend to challenge her will regardless. This is not the time for needless heroics, however. Lest you want your trail to go cold.â€
Sharla chuckled and merely shook her head. “Heh...when is it ever th’ time. I’m sure I’ll be seein’ ye around again…â€
“I am nearly certain you will. Fury willing, I will deliver the girl’ head to you once her soul has been cleansed.†Her gaze slowly turns to Sharla as she made her way to the door.
Sharla looked back over her shoulder before she departed. “You do tha’, an’ Fury willin’...you won’t be too far behind her. Only your soul won't be cleansed like hers…†She grin slightly as her eyes flashed a familiar violet color briefly. “Ye know...I’m actually enjoyin’ these chats o’ ours. Till next time…â€
“Forgotten Knight...great, back to lovely Ishgard again…†Sharla groaned as she once more ventured out into the bitter cold of the highlands. She made her way over to the nearby chocobo stable to retrieve Gaheris, and start the next part of her search. Weeks of searching with no result had begun to take it’s toll on Sharla. From the highlands of Coerthas, to Gridania and the surrounding Shroud, she had found nothing to indicate that Coatleque Crofte  was anywhere to be found, let alone alive. Nothing but rumors, possible sightings of someone who may have looked like her, and dead ends leading to more and more questions. It was almost seemed she was being lead on, as if everything she was being told was to keep her from finding Crofte.
“Ya know...and this is just my opinion, but...maybe this might be a lost cause? Possibly? I mean...it’s been how long now?†A familiar, younger sounding voice spoke to Sharla as she walked through the gates of the Observatorium. “Oh hells...you’re not even listening to me. One of these days, you will. Or...you’re going to get yourself into an even bigger mess you can’t find your way out of, and I’m going to be there to say I told you so.â€
“Quiet...I need to find that bitch again. Something’s not right about this, none of this makes any sense at all.†Sharla spoke softly, walking through the gates. She came to a stop and looked around the immediate area before walking towards the tavern. “There’s something I’m missing...how does she know so much? Well...funny still seein’ ye around this place…†She immediately noticed the armored woman and narrowed her eyes at her.
The armored woman’s blade once again looks as if it is melting in the heat of the room. Condensation beads upon the blue steel and trickles down to pat upon the stone. “We must all eat, must we not?†She slowly looked to another pair of patrons in the tavern, before looking back to Sharla.
“Right...I s’ppose we do, huh?†A deep sigh came from Sharla as she seemed to relax herself slightly. “Maybe if ye got time, ye can talk an’ eat at th’ same time…â€
“My time ends when the Fury considers my debt paid. What words would you have with one such as I?â€
“Oh, good...sounds like plenty o’ time tae me then. A young woman passed through here not too long ago...screamin’ some nonsense I could barely make out. Only caught a glimpse of her, but her voice…†Sharla slowly moved closer to the armored woman as she spoke, leaning against the bar counter once she reached her.
“This world is full of urchins and Brume rats. What makes this one different?â€
“Her voice...sounded quite like th’ one I’m lookin’ for…†She merely shook her head and sighed. “But I’m guessin’ ye might not have much tae say on this one...or maybe ye do?â€
A low hiss came from the armored woman, which could have been a sigh instead. “Still you look for your Ul’dahn whore? There are so many more...worthwhile tasks to waste your time on.†She almost seemed to be disgusted by Sharla’s persistence.
Sharla rested an elbow on the counter as she narrowed her eyes at the other woman. “Well, I do have a busy schedule as of late. But this task has my attention for th’ time bein’. An’ now...you have my attention as well…â€
“Do I now? Best listen well then. Yes, I have information you might like. I will not repeat it twice, however. Your little whore was seen recently in the city. The dirty little hole they call the Forgotten Knight. Rumor is she stole a meal from a man named Clay of house Abercrombie, then fled.â€
An eyebrow rose as Sharla listened and kept her gaze on the woman. “Clay...Ishgardian noble I take it. This jus’ gets better an’ better…â€
The armored woman merely laughed. A vindictive humorous chuckle, even. “Lord or not, she spat upon his hospitality. If she crosses my path first, I will have her tongue for such an insult.â€
“I’m sure ye will, if ye get the’ chance. Or maybe…†Sharla narrowed her gaze at the woman as she seemed to be amused by that ‘maybe’, waiting expectantly. Sharla chuckled softly and shook her head. “Maybe th’ Fury will see fit tae give ye such a blessin’, or maybe she’ll send somethin’ else yer way instead.â€
The woman cocked her head at that notion. “Perhaps she will. Or perhaps you intend to challenge her will regardless. This is not the time for needless heroics, however. Lest you want your trail to go cold.â€
Sharla chuckled and merely shook her head. “Heh...when is it ever th’ time. I’m sure I’ll be seein’ ye around again…â€
“I am nearly certain you will. Fury willing, I will deliver the girl’ head to you once her soul has been cleansed.†Her gaze slowly turns to Sharla as she made her way to the door.
Sharla looked back over her shoulder before she departed. “You do tha’, an’ Fury willin’...you won’t be too far behind her. Only your soul won't be cleansed like hers…†She grin slightly as her eyes flashed a familiar violet color briefly. “Ye know...I’m actually enjoyin’ these chats o’ ours. Till next time…â€
“Forgotten Knight...great, back to lovely Ishgard again…†Sharla groaned as she once more ventured out into the bitter cold of the highlands. She made her way over to the nearby chocobo stable to retrieve Gaheris, and start the next part of her search. Weeks of searching with no result had begun to take it’s toll on Sharla. From the highlands of Coerthas, to Gridania and the surrounding Shroud, she had found nothing to indicate that Coatleque Crofte  was anywhere to be found, let alone alive. Nothing but rumors, possible sightings of someone who may have looked like her, and dead ends leading to more and more questions. It was almost seemed she was being lead on, as if everything she was being told was to keep her from finding Crofte.