Welcome to Gaia! ::

Osthara wandered the quiet halls of her family manor, taking note of how intemperately cold the summer had been, holding her arms to herself to stave of the chill.

Her advisers had recently informed her of new citizens that would be moving into the wood.

"Hmm..." she sighed to herself
"Perhaps- perhaps these newcomers will bring life back into these fading halls, and into the very heart of my forest."

With a small huff and a smirk, she continued on to her chambers to prepare for an outing out to the market.

Tarlo sighed quietly to himself, walking through the diminishing crowd that spread out across the marketplace, a few of the folk greeted him with a nod or a smile - otherwise he was ignored by them. He'd arrived in the city less than a week ago and he'd already been chased by countless bartenders and debt-collectors... They didn't seem to care he did not know them, nor ever had and continued to press him for gold he did not possess - thankfully the merchants were eager to hire the man, apparently he made a good guard.

Tarlo's face shifted, a wry smile growing on his lips, just a quick glance at the sky had announced his shift was almost certainly over... In a few minutes he'd be collecting his earnings and he could spend the night drinking, or gambling - whatever took his fancy really. He could see his employer in the distance, fixating his attention on the man, he strode swiftly towards him.

He didn't notice the woman at first, his attention was solely on the merchant in the distance. Her voice, however, drew him out of his trance-like state and a quick shake of the head brought him back down to earth. "Oh, sorry, was I in the way? My apologies!" He spoke in a deep masculine voice, a heavy accent of unknown origins coated his words. With a nod of his head, he continued to make his way to the merchant, eyeing the purse he held out.

After her brief encounter with the stranger, Osthara made her way to her favorite merchant stall, a small and unremarkable shop just across the way from the tavern. Here, she felt at ease enough to let down her disguise as she walked into the old shop.

She smiled as she browsed the many new books were now gracing the shelves of the old mystic's shop, including many new tomes on ritual. She would love to have the opportunity to share new secrets with her teacher.

"Séreméla, how good it is to see you!" Osthara laughed as the old woman hobbled out from the back room.
Her teacher eyed her skeptically, but then broke into a large smile
"Always so proper." She laughed. "Vanya, still you insist on addressing this old woman by her name from a language long forgotten."
"It is not forgotten. There are those who still know, including me. Including you. How long has it been since you used my name?"
"Long before I took you as my pupil, indeed." She chuckled. "I suppose you are right. I suppose you may be the only one who remembers this old woman's name... I was once a great teacher, and now? Now I sell dusty old books." she said quietly.
"It seems to me you are selling new books. Or are they simply new to you?"
"Oh those aren't supposed to be it here! I'll just-"
"Show me Sére..."
"Oh very well..." The old woman gathered five large, leather-bound tomes from the shelves and handed them to her student. "I must admit child, it does my heart so much good to see you here. There are new comers, yes? The sellsword, yes I feel I may need his services." The old mystic looked to Osthara with a sad look. "I'm afraid there are still whisperings of unrest... It makes me... Ill at ease. Yes that's it."
"I see... My teacher, I assure you that whatever may happen, we will be alright. My visions are increasingly clear, and I feel we will prevail. Besides... If you are so at ease, my invitation to stay with me at the manor is always open."
Séreméla peered affectionately at her pupil, and caressed the silver hair which betrayed a soul of a woman wise beyond her years.
"You know I can't. My place is here, amongst my books and supplies. I need to be here to sell books and candles to the average girl interested in the occult, and to be a guide to those who have the gift and follow the old ways... To you." she finished in a whisper.
"I know." Osthara nodded. "I must be on my way, I'm afraid. May I borrow the books?"
"Of course Vanya. Just bring them to me once you have the knowledge you sought."
"Sére? Why have you always called me Vanya? Beautiful?" Osthara asked as she peered from the doorway, her books bundled safely in her arms and her hood drawn over her hair.
"Because you are child... Because you are." the old mystic smiled, nodding as Osthara shook her head to clear a confused look, and walked away.

Osthara's mood had turned sullen at the words of her old teacher.
"What does beauty have to do with magic? I don't understand." she thought to herself.

Osthara retraced her way through the crowded market, back to her spot by the fountain. She thought of the new stranger, who she now knew to be a sellsword. She determined that she may need to increase her security, after hearing the prophecy of increased danger.
Once she had made herself comfortable on her bench, Osthara reached for one of the books and began to read, tuning out the hustle and bustle of the market.

Osthara had looked up from her now finished book to see that many hours had gone by. Reluctantly, she picked up the remainder of her books and made her way back towards the forest.

She walked towards the path, when a villager stopped to tell her of a recent robbery. The young girl told the princess what had happened, and Osthara thanked her, giving the young girl a gold coin for the information. She looked up to see that it had begun to rain, and she took a hidden path that led back to the manor in the trees.