Talking To The Competition

The cold night air made Islana shiver for a moment; it likely even felt colder due to her sunburn. It was doubtful any of the penitents had gone through the Pilgrimage unscathed and certainly not untouched by the sun.

As Madaya relayed the story, Islana instinctively looked upward and out among the garden. Her eyes searched for a moment; no Kaithak. Of course not, it was nighttime after all. The young witch just wished to see the falcon again. No calling to him; she still wasn't there.

The grass felt cool as the three sat there. Madaya finished the tale and then went about, happily playing in the grass and humming.

It wasn't until that moment that thought of the upcoming trials came back to mind. The huntress didn't want to fight either of these girls to the death. Especially Madaya, who Islana was fairly certain wouldn't have thought of that possibility.

Her green eyes met brown ones as Silina asked about Islana's homeland.

"I'm originally from Torja, in Helias. The area I lived in was very wooded." The contrast between the woods and the desert were enormous. "I came to Ostiarium, less than a year ago."

Though the time spent in Arcadia felt much longer; like a few lifetimes had passed since arriving to those docks of the stone city.

"Where do you hail from?" Islana asked back.

"I'm an Aroka Sept," Silina explained, "I come from an oasis, in the north, near the border of Hel's Maw.

And Madaya, where do you hail from?"

Madaya spoke up, "An oasis, in the central desert. I'm a Koan Sept."

"Have you seen much of Arcadia?" Silina's gaze turned back on Islana. It seemed as if the Aroka Sept was honestly curious about the woman from Torja.

"From Ostiarium, through the plains, then Fang, to here. I've not seen past Gra'akast." The huntress realized that was likely a lot, which was reinforced by Silina's look of slight surprise.