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After the trip from Oba to Tale, Nicias wasn't sure what he thought of traveling anymore. That wasn't completely true, he had loved every minute of it. It had just been a lot...different than his life at home. A good different but still one that would take some getting used to. He had decided to stay in a larger town this time and upon asking around some of the locals pointed him towards one of the larger inns. Nic was ready for a bath and some sleep but his stomach required told him none of those options mattered. Especially after he smelled the delicious food coming from the kitchen. "mmmm..." He groaned as his stomach growled. "Welcome in!" A voice called. It wasn't long before he saw a middle aged woman weaving her way through tables on her way towards him. He nodded his head in greeting. "I need two rooms please. And a plate of whatever it is you're making in the kitchen." The woman smiled kindly at him before giving him a once over. "Come have a seat! It's not often we get such nicely dressed Obans in our part of town! Except for one other patron, that is. Come, I think they're here tonight. I'll sit you next to a kinsfolk, make it feel a little more like home, hmm?" Nicias nodded and followed the woman around the corner and adjusted the pack on his back.

Nicias had politely followed the woman around the corner but it wasn't until she showed him to his seat and he heard a woman speaking did his body freeze up. He knew that voice so it was no surprise when the woman stepped aside a moment later and he saw his best, and possibly only, friend sitting at this little table in far from home Tale. The woman gently pushed Nicias forward towards the seat across from Reina and set a bowl of food in front of him. But his stomach clenched and he didn't even glance at the food in front of him that he had been so hungry for mere moments ago.

"Reina...." Nicias' voice was soft but also somewhat flat. He had too many emotions inside so he did what he always did at home when he was forced to socialize: he stuffed them down. He took another look at her, realizing that she looked as if she had been doing well, and then lowered his eyes to his food. He resisted the nervous urge to rub the back of his neck and instead picked up his spoon and started in on his soup. What could he even say? It had been over a year now that she had left him--left everyone. "Your brothers are doing well." He figured family was a neutral subject and she might be interested on how her younger siblings were doing.

Nicias wasn't quite sure if he could handle the emotions threatening his carefully placed mask. He did his best to not feel the hurt and betrayal he had felt all that time ago when he had read the note she left for him. The note that almost derailed his plans. The note that almost broke his heart. The young man couldn't quite refrain from scratching the back of his neck nervously. "Hana is doing well...soaking up the limelight I try to stay out of." Nic wasn't sure how to answer the question about himself. How could he answer that? Ever since she left he wasn't really sure how he was at any point in time.

He didn't want to ignore the question though, he wasn't sure he could ever ignore her. So instead he took a spoonful of the stew that was in front of him and tried to collect his thoughts. All in all...what could he be except honest? Taking a deep calming breath he looked up and tried to catch her gaze. "I've been living, just sort of...surviving. I wake up, train, do a few tasks my parents set for me, classes, eat, then sleep. Every day. Before I decided to travel to Zena. Even now, my days are similar. Traveling, training, finding dinner, and sleep." He looked away then, his mask of indifference starting to crack at his admission. Nicias sighed deeply, a sadness in his eyes yet he looked her over. "I'd ask how you're doing but it seems like you're doing well."

"Mhmm..." Was all he said for a few long moments as his gaze dropped to his food and seemed to collect his thoughts. "You were always a good student when you put your mind to it, if you could sit still, at least." A slight tease was in his soft voice as he remembered their childhood. How things used to be. The thought caused his gaze to remain on his food, not sure if he could look at her and not feel the same things he had when she had left.

Mustering up his courage, he set his spoon down and met her gaze. "Traveling is different, yes. If I had my way I'd be traveling alone though we both know that wouldn't happen. My parents insisted I bring a small group of guards, they're likely upstairs. The small silver lining was I got to choose who to bring with me so at least I know they're all competent and at least somewhat trustworthy." He paused as he studied her for a few moments. She seemed to have changed so much in the time they were apart. She'd grown up, he realized, while he felt like he was just the same person he had been. "Your hair is so different, but it looks good on you." He complimented. Out of the dreads it looked a little more like her mothers with a different color of course.

He had to stop and think about her words as he continued to eat through his stew. Nic was glad that she was doing well and learning here though he couldn't help but wonder if she couldn't have done the same while being home. He could maybe understand...Nicias could understand the stress she likely felt especially being close him and his family. Before long, he realized his bowl was empty so he lowered his spoon and set it to the side. His heart clenched as he watched her be a little flustered, how much he had missed her companionship. "Do...will..." He wasn't sure how to phrase his question. "Do you think you'll be going home, next? Or will you also take the time to travel the world?" He tried to hide the hopeful look on his face but it still showed in his eyes. Hopefully he could hide how much her answer would mean to him.

He felt that shield around his heart begin to thaw at her words. She had missed him? And that was the reason she hadn't said goodbye to him face to face? The pain he felt at her departure lessened with that knowledge, the knowledge that she hadn't left to leave him. A soft laugh, almost one of disbelief, left him as he nervously scratched the back of his head. Reina had missed home; had missed him. He exhaled the breath he hadn't been aware he was holding. "Everyone misses you, Reina. Your parents and siblings. Heck, even my parents and Hana miss you and want you to be home safe and sound." Nic smiled gently at her before realizing what reading between the lines of what he said seemed to imply. "Not that anybody was doubting your abilities before you left." He said quickly.

"I--"] Nicias paused as he tried to phrase his feelings. "I wouldn't want to ask you to go home with me because, I wouldn't be going home immediately, I still have a task to complete. But you know, it would never be you tagging along for anything. I would've thought you of all people, Reina, would know things aren't that simple." Nicias took a deep breath and exhaled quickly and began his own confession before he lost the nerve. "I wouldn't want to take you home immediately because I'm not sure I would want to share you with your family. I've missed you, Rei, more than just your company. You're my best friend...no, more than that even. This time away has shown me that." Once again he laughed softly as if he couldn't imagine he was spilling his guts like this.. "It's always been me and you, even when we were young and your sister was around. Even more so as we grew older. You weren't just my best friend, my partner in crime, my confidant. I realized that in our time apart." He looked to her, his heart laid on a platter before her.

Nicias 7

Nicias felt his own shoulders lose their tension as everything seemed to fall into place. Reina would be coming home. Not only coming home but traveling with him for a little bit before they ventured back home, just like they used to talk about doing when they were younger. "My guards and I heard of some interesting treasure hunt or something of that sorts in this area. We had planned to check it out, would you want to do that before we leave town? Of course you'll need some time to get things situated here before you leave so just let me know when you've got your affairs in order." The smile on his face was genuine and he couldn't even begin to be thankful for whatever god allowed their chance meeting here today.