Cerillium wrote:
Guild Hall
"We will pass along your compliments to Erick," Anais said with a warm smile before sipping her own cup. The slight breeze entered the room, the morning's chill hadn't left leaving tingling shivers that ran down the Ritualist's back. She fought against the prickling rush that left faint goosebumps down her exposed back, such things were normally a welcome feel, this was just another added struggle to her weary body.
Alexia refrained from drinking her tea, instead wrapping her hands around the cup to embrace its warm. "No apologies needed, Minerva, given the first meeting and what happened the morning prior, to have a spare moment is luxury. We know this all too well," the monk trailed off, her tone had gone dimmer by the second. Anais only spared the monk a glance and perked eyebrow that indicated too much was said with a sentence, but Alexia didn't feel any shame or brook any wrong from her matter-of-fact statement.
"Yes, Dan had come by to inform the rest of the guild of the incident and was kind enough to install a tele-vision, though we haven't a clue how it works. I'm afraid we've left the doors closed to the second library as he hadn't shown us how to make the thing cease its endless missives," Anais concluded with a somewhat amused tone. She recalled Traxt's account of the morning, the place (or rather, Building) had a working socket to plug the television and in a whirlwind of electric cords and cables, images of buildings and people were seen in real time. Reyna exclaimed sorcery of the most evil, Erick took to it like a kid in a candy store... until the news. Until they saw the devastation. The rest of that morning had ended in silence save the television that had kept going on ever since. Traxt recalled a thing called a remote, but Balthazar help him if he knew where Dan had put it.
"We were at the observatory helping to set up a new clinic," Alexia concluded. Enough was said on that particular morning. Unlike Cherry, Alexia didn't have a bone of hostility toward Anais' actions, though she had prayed since to Dwayna for mercy and comfort for her friend. Two healers who followed two so different gods, and yet so alike in some aspects. The last question got Alexia's attention and Anais picked up on it, though she remained impassive to glean anything.
"After the first meeting, Cherry went out the next morning on a shopping excursion and to get the lay of the land; we are unfamiliar with the city and if we were going to assist, we figured we send the one person with the best memory. We knew the risks but we are human, also. Our gifts are not simply magic... though it is... but its," the young monk had a slight frown etched in her features and she glanced up to Anais who was better at explaining that particular point.
"It is as much ability as it is a blessing. Our proud warrior, Reyna has no hint of magic in her, but her prowess with sword, shield, or hammer is both a testament to her devotion to her discipline as it is a devotion to the God of War, Balthazar. Blessing and ability is not one without the other," Anais explained smoothly, hoping that her explanation was succinct though she wouldn't be surprised if it was just as vague.
"Anyway, Cherry returned and hours later we found a cut out of Septimus. She wanted it burned, having seen it at a store and given by an old woman from the same place but rejected until it showed up just beyond the garden. We have it in the main library and I suppose now's a good time as any to find out exactly what is its purpose?"
The remaining question was as broad as it was promising and the monk quickly capitulated on it before Anais could interject. "The guild is ready to provide assistance where we can. Anais and I are already part of the healer's enclave; the rest of us can be tasked in any myriad of duties but I will be frank only one time: I will not involve my group in a battle of politics, that is this city's affair alone..."
"Alexia!"
"But neither will we stand by and let injustice fall upon the innocent, human or otherwise," Alexia turned a slight angry eye toward the ritualist for the interruption. She turned her gaze back to Minerva, "We will take action either in the path of aggressive strength or that of defensive grace."
She let that last statement linger for a moment. The cup she held had lost its heat and was getting lukewarm. Pushing her hair away from her shoulders, the blue intricate tattoo on her skull gleamed under the rays of sunlight gently pouring in.
"There is a price, however."
Anais jerked from her seat to interrupt the discussion knowing full well where Alexia was headed; now was not the time! The monk felt differently and held her gaze upon Anais and shook her head. "Our guild - my guild - never expected to be here, wherever 'here' exactly is. In fact, when we escaped the oncoming horde of charr we were convinced it was to another place in Tyria in search of others that still considered Ascalon a friend and ally. Lord Odran's rift let us astray and we have been here since. I lost half my people in the escape, Minerva, and yesterday morning Anais risked her own life - and still risks it - as long as the binding ritual she placed in the clinic exists. My people are not afraid to die for what's just. What's right. If I'm to ask the rest of mine to join ranks, then I will ask the same: fight with us against the charr when the time comes."
