Finally Returning Home

[Areka D'Rinishad]

Timestamp:Last week of Kalendryas,in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

Riding high upon the horse Areka's eyes are full of what appears to be excitement and a trace hint of happiness as she move throw the gates of Vortex. Looking around at the city where it had all begun she watched the people move about about their lives. Of course her thoughts of most of it being pointless, were kept to herself and she rode though the city. Taking in the sight she could not believe that she had finally returned to the city. As she rode on deeper into the city her mind moved back to that first fateful day of when she had left her underground home and made way up to the surface. She had been put in the unfortunate situation of three drunken men who thought a vyssie child would be the perfect toy of sorts. To her surprise a male vysstichi had come to her aid and it was he who she was seeking out now.

She had not been seen since they left that city a while back. The D'Rinishad family had all gone their separate ways. Areka didn't have anything particular see was doing she simple went out to explore the surface. From city to city she rode visiting and doing what she liked to do best...watch. She had had an interesting encounter in Ifferon and figured that it had been time to make way back home. She had made the long ride back from the island and was now within the city limits of Vortex.

At this point in the day she wondered just where she would find him. Inside, outside, she wasn't even sure if he was in Vortex. She had only hoped that he too had made it back to the city and she could stop by and see him quickly before heading out once more, this time to meet up with the one named Fidelis. Figuring that the best place to start her search would be the D'Rinishad Academy she pulled the reins slightly redirecting the horse in the direction she intended to go and weaved as best she could through the citizens and visitors who were about.

As she neared the Academy, a wider smile started to spread across her face as she saw the building. It had seemed liked ages since she last explored the halls. Though she herself had not taken any classes there, she simply did not have the patience to sit and learn with others, she did rather enjoy being within its walls. Areka pulled back slightly on the reins and carefully slide from the animal's back once she was nearly at the front door. She moved to tie the horse off to the side of the building, petting it with an un-gloved. Whispering sweetly and softly to it. She had a trace thought of a name for the horse that she had come to trust and know rather well but shrugged when once again she came up with nothing she liked or thought was fitting. Slipping the glove back on she unhitched the backpack from the side of the saddle and threw it over left shoulder before turning to proceed up the steps of the Academy. Just as she reached a small hand up to open the front door it swung open. Looking up to see who was coming up her bright eyes light up and the smile, that how so locked away smile, flashed upon her face as she spoke with a tone of happiness "Faust!"

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Little had changed since Areka’s departure. The D’Rinishad Academy of Arcana remained a beacon of the family’s power in Vortex, and its towering walls and lavishly furnished interior were the culmination of thousands of honestly earned crowns. Its instructors, the notorious Mistress Iranca and the wise Master Danvan, continued to attract students by the dozens, and the academy’s reputation had skyrocketed in recent months. The D’Rinishad clan was steadily taking over the necromantic city one business at a time, and there were rumors that the family had even established a high scale armory somewhere in the city’s main quarter. In any case, the aforementioned was old news. Areka’s return, however, was sure to elicit the excitement of her family members currently residing within the city.

It did exactly that.

At the sound of his name, the Prince of Har’oloth spun around, steering his attention away from the mountain of paperwork piled on his desk and towards the doorway. Although he’d only known the voice’s owner for an insignificant period of time, she’d become like a younger sister to him. In his youth, he’d had several sisters, only one of whom had survived the gravest ordeals of House Kitrye’veresi. Subsequently, to learn that Areka D’Rinishad, the youngest member of House D’Rinishad, was safe was alleviating news.

“Areka! Welcome back…” Smiling widely, Faust rose from his seat. Pushing around the corner of his desk, he met the young girl halfway, sweeping her up in a warm embrace. The swordsman seldom displayed physical affection in any form, but he did reserve it for those who meant dearly to him. Examining her like a father would his daughter, he rested his ardentium-gloved hands upon her lithe shoulders. “Are you alright? You should have written. Had I known you were coming or where you were, I would have been less worried about you.” Frowning somewhat, the dark elf stood to full height and sighed.

“It’s good to have you back. Where have you been?” Despite the concern in his tone, it was self-evident that the Vysstichi was relieved that the young woman was safe.

[Areka D'Rinishad]

Areka could not hold back the smile of happiness the spread across her face when she laid eyes upon Faust in such a long time. Moving to him she wrapped her small arms tight around him in a brotherly-sisterly hug. She held the embrace as he spoke and only smiled even though his voice housed concern. Pulling away she stepped back and looked around her at the Academy. She had missed the place.

Looking back to Faust she smiled once more as she pulled the D'Rinishad Winter cloak off and draped it over the chair nearby. She felt so light for the cloak was rather heavy and it hid the two dagger strapped to her sides. Letting out a sigh of relief she finally spoke.

"I know I should have written or sent word to where I was but I assure you I am quite alright. I wondered around for a bit, just going from place to place. Traveling with the horse. I just came from Ifferon it was rather a long travel but it was nice getting to watching the people of other races...they seems so interesting I would like to pick apart one of their brains on day. "

With that she paused a moment before speaking one more "How are you, where is Serion and Kal? I miss them too."

[Faust D'Rinishad]

For all of Areka’s assurances, the dark elf was not convinced. His waning smile betrayed his concern. Areka was, despite her recent induction into House D’Rinishad, as much a family member now as the others were. Not to mention, she was young, the youngest in the entire household. It wasn’t safe for her to travel alone, and she had, regardless of the Dark Prince’s reservations.

Releasing Areka from the deep embrace, the dark elf hunched over, resting his hands on his knees as he met the girl’s gaze at a more equitable level. “You know it isn’t safe, Areka. There are far too many cretins in this world to count. The Empire can be a dangerous place for a young girl,” He warned. Sighing finally as he realized that he was sounding like a safety-obsessed parent, the dark elf apologized with a thin, embarrassed smile.

“Iefferon huh?” He asked with a light laugh. “My father lived in Iefferon for a long time. I’m amazed you made it out that far before I did.” Shrugging, he rested a callused hand upon Areka’s shoulder and led her further inside. The winter had been relentless in Vortex, and not even the D’Rinishad Academy’s steel doors had been able to ward the premises from the icy cold.

“Serion is away on business, and Kal is doing fine. I’m faring well myself, though things have been, well, hectic as of late. You needn’t worry, though. But tell me, how long are you planning on staying in Vortex? I can have a room prepared for you in no time.”

[Areka D'Rinishad]

OOC.....sooooo sorries

IC. "Well I skipped many cities. The surface is just so...strange Faust. I got on the horse and just started riding. I met Fidelius on my travels, in Prime. I don't think he thought such a younger person, and a female, was apart of the home. But I would not be alive or would be enslaved if not for your kindness." With this she paused thinking back on the events for the past. Looking off in the distantce she seemed almost lost, captured and held by thoes thoughts. After a moments times she turned her attention back to the Faust, she had come to think of him as the brother she never had. Giving a soft smile she countined as if she had not paused at all.

"I will be meeting Fidelius once again very soon, but untill that time I would like to rest and get maybe a new traveling cloak. I wish to have one that is more custom to....ummm....concealing things, if that is at all possible. And, are you sure all is well, i may not be trained but i plan on learning really quick on all differnt things. I could help if needed." Once again she gave him a smile that she only showed around him. It was if the house had given her a new purpose in the world, but her goal of one day killing her parents would not change. She turned to take a seat in one of the empty chairs when she stopped and asked.

"Is there a place I can go and get a list of all the memebers of the home. I'm sure there are more than just Serion, You, and Kal." Looks around the academy, "I mean not just you three can run all this right?"

[Faust D'Rinishad]

The dark elf’s brows rose concernedly. Although Fidelis Meridius was one of his closest comrades, Faust was duly aware that the Jorelite’s activities generally pitted him in dangerous situations. Of course the Vysstichi did not doubt Fidelis’s aptitude to take care of himself, but Fidelis’s enemies were not exactly weaklings either and if they ever came across Fidelis and suspected that Areka was as much a threat as he…

“Be careful, Areka. I know I’m not your father, but I don’t like you traveling by yourself. There are too many dangerous people out there,” Faust said with a deep sigh. Ruffling the girl’s hair with a gloved hand, the Vysstichi managed a weak smile. And then an idea came to him. “Would be it be too much to ask if you were okay with a guardian accompanying you? I would feel a little bit easier knowing that someone was there to protect you in case something happened…”

Pausing before addressing her next inquiry, the Vysstichi Lord chuckled faintly. “Of course there are more than you, me, Kalenel, and Lord Serion. We have an uncle, Adinirach, traveling the realm right now. There is Eschaton Khazid’hea who, unfortunately, has been incredibly busy lately, and another uncle, Dimnersti. I haven’t seen him in awhile either. Anyway, why do you ask?”

[Areka D'Rinishad]

Areka closed her eyes lightly as Faust's hand ruffled her hard. Looking up at him she nodded and gave a gentle smile. She began to look about the room when she heard his next words. Areka turned to look at him and could see that he really did care for her and her safety. Thinking it over in her mind she could see no reason why it would hurt to have a guardian traveling with her. "If you really think it would be better than traveling alone Faust I will travel with a guradian." She replied in a soft voice.

Areka then turned to place the bag that she had been carring on an open chair before sitting in the same one. She really had missed being around this place. She really did miss being home. "Maybe" she thought, "I will stay a few extra days before heading out to see Fidelis." Yet another smile creeped arcoss her face as she thought of being withing the walls once more.

Looking back to Faust she asked "When will I be able to rest?" She paused for a momemet before adding "Will I every get to meet these uncles and Eschaton Khazid'hea?"

[Faust D'Rinishad]

The dark elf smiled faintly. He noted the reluctance on Areka’s face, but that did not persuade him to withdraw his earlier suggestion. The world was a big place, and the majority of it was too dangerous for a lone child; Faust knew from firsthand experience. And besides, House D’Rinishad hosted a number of competent soldiers, most of whom Areka would probably be fond of anyway.

“You can rest anytime. The mansion is always open to you or you could stay here with me if you’d like,” Faust shrugged. Despite the manor that the clan owned in Vortex, he personally preferred the walls of the Academy. There was something about the lavish lifestyle that did not appeal to him; he preferred simplicity over extravagance.

Snatching Areka’s bag from the chair, the dark elf slung it over his shoulder. “I’ll go with you and make sure you get settled in –wherever you choose. As for Dimnersti and Eschaton, well, to be honest I haven’t seen either of them in awhile…” Pausing momentarily, the dark elf considered his confession. He knew that Eschaton was a busy man, but what about Dimnersti? Where had he been? It was not unusual for any of the D’Rinishad men to go absent for long periods of time, but Dimnersti had, Faust realized, been gone longer than usual.

He would investigate at a later time. Turning back to Areka, he waited to see what she wanted to do.