Welcome to Gaia! ::

A crisp spring breeze cut through the air. Even though summer was well on its way, the surrounding mountainside was still noticeably cooler than even the crowded city streets with the high buildings that blocked out so much of the sunlight. The trees in the mountains were already in full bloom with bright green and yellow leaves, some even sporting white and lilac colored flowers throughout the branches that lingered despite having blossomed weeks ago. The mountain path itself was fairly easy enough to walk, this area having been worn down from decades of travelers marching along the paved path that the local village kept up as they were paid to maintain the area surrounding a series of cottages that those from the city owned or rented throughout the year. Twisted torches of painted wood decorated the path that would be lit in the evenings for anyone taking a light stroll through the nearby village that had its stalls and shops specifically to cater towards anyone vacationing in the area, the whole community thriving upon the goods that they crafted and specifically traded from this particular region where rare fruits and herbs grew in the nearby wilderness. It was also a good way to deter any wandering dage from wanting to walk the path that so many relied upon whenever venturing between the village and the nearby mountain and cottages. The flickering torches were embedded with more than simple fire since the beasts hated to see the strangely colored flames that seemingly burned brighter than most lights and it was those that Aleksi looked for whenever they arrived at the base of the mountain since that marked their path to his family's cottage.

The mage was dressed in his traveling clothing, a long wool coat covering his slender frame with brass buttons glittering in the rays of early afternoon sunlight and comfortable leggings with sturdy boots that were perfect for hiking. His aqua hair was tied back in a low-ponytail and even his variety of accessories were reduced for their time in the mountains with only basic studs in his ears instead of any of the more complicated chains that could potentially get ripped out if something were to go wrong. Not that Aleksi expected trouble, that was why he had brought them out here to the countryside away from the drama of the city, but even he was wary of any random beast simply appearing in their path. Now that they had departed the wagon that they had taken out of the city, the man was stretching his limbs the best that he could. “I think that was a successful three hour trip.” Aleksi acknowledged before turning back around to face Shierra, the man smiling towards her. Even though he had mostly spent the ride pointing out various landscapes, like that one large rock formation which looked more like an old man with a long beard shaking his fist towards the sky, Aleksi had enjoyed the ride and hoped she felt the same. They had even recently passed a field full of lyari that had been gathered around the base of the mountain, the small hoofed animals happily grazing in the fields owned by the local villagers. “Now that we’re here we can either go visit the village or head up the mountain straight to the cottage. Which would you prefer?” As Aleksi spoke he reached over into the wagon to grab his satchel bag, the man slinging it over his shoulder as he paid the lightning woman who had driven them here and was patiently waiting for them to gather their supplies before heading into the village herself for a break.

[Aleksi 1]

"Not so bad, hmm?" Aleksi tilted his head and studied Shierra, a teasing glint in his gaze. "Maybe I can arrange for another three hour ride then, I wouldn't mind getting jostled around a bit more as long as I have your company." It was hard not to flirt whenever he was looking at Shierra even with the threat of murder. Something about her just felt so familiar and made it easy to be around her, almost like they had met before. If she wasn't from across the ocean then he would even be tempted to say that they surely had run into each other as younglings and maybe just forgotten over the years. But then again could he have forgotten her? It was especially hard to imagine that with how the sunlight seemingly made her gleam, almost like some beautiful enchantress from one of the theater's productions. It was probably just the fresh country air making everything looking more charming, that was all. Aleksi forced himself to look away towards the village before nodding. "That's fair. I would be too tempted to spoil you so that would be a lot to carry."
Adjusting his travel bags, Aleksi made certain nothing was left behind before waving the driver along and joining Shierra by the colorful torches. "Alchemists created special powders for them." He explained quietly with a small smile. "If there's no mages in the area then the villagers can just use the powders before lighting the torches around mid-afternoon. It burns brighter, longer and a little bit more colorfully than normal torches which keeps the bigger mountain beasts away from the path for the night. Also provides a good ambience for anyone walking here in the evenings, wouldn't you agree?" Really not helping with the enchantress imagery. Aleksi quietly teased as he watched Shierra touching the flame before he reached into the torch itself to steal the flickering light, the flame bouncing around in his open palm.

"There's probably an empty torch at our cottage which could use this." Aleksi explained as he twisted his hand around, the now teal flame dancing across his skin. Now that he felt more comfortable around Shierra, the mage didn't see any reason to hide himself and maybe he had been a little jealous of the flame as silly as the notion was. There were several other torches near them so honestly it wouldn't harm anything for him to use this to light their way especially since the clouds forming in the sky promised plenty of shadows for them along the path. "We should head up before it's too late in the evening. Ready?"

[Aleksi 2]

“Fair enough.” A chuckle left his lips though at the chastising. “So can I expect a gift then? If I can’t keep spoiling you then maybe I can be a bit spoiled instead.” Aleksi couldn’t resist teasing her before turning back towards the path, the hybrid still chuckling softly under his breath even as he held the flame up so that it lit the path. “I hear Matori is mostly beaches that fade into the desert as you enter Oba.” Aleksi began as he led the way up the twisting path, the trees growing closer together and the foliage thicker the further they wandered away from the base of the mountain. “Have you actually explored forests like these before or seen mountains that stretch so high? This one is a baby compared to others throughout Belrea. We’ll be climbing a truly steep one in the morning, hence the need for those little potions we picked up.”

As he kept up casual conversation, Aleksi peeked back towards Shierra to keep an eye on her and their surroundings. “If it starts getting too dark feel free to snag a flame for yourself. It’s not a busy time of year so I doubt many people will be wandering here like they do during the summer festivals. We’ll miss out on lots of late night music and dancing, but honestly just enjoying the area like this is nice.”

So many families came on holiday then, a lot of scholars and inventors from the Academy included, and it was then that the mountains would constantly be full of noise and life as people moved about the nearby town and their little cabins tucked away here in the woods. Aleksi was honestly a bit thankful that it was a quieter season currently. There was just enough chill in the air to keep their hike refreshing, but it wasn’t cold enough to make it miserable especially as they continued moving forward and the melody of nature around them was relaxing. It also allowed him to freely talk to Shierra without worry of crossing any stranger’s path that could be distracting or lead to more trouble like their first date within the city. A set of worn down steps, made from carved stone, greeted them eventually as Aleksi started towards the more residential area with a few cabins similar to the one they were heading towards. Keeping his flame held up high the hybrid jumped the first step before turning back to smile towards Shierra. “Need a hand stepping up?” He offered warmly as he held out the hand without a flame in case she wanted his help for the slightly higher than usual step.

[Aleksi 3]

"I'll take it." Aleksi winked playfully, a victorious grin crossing his lips as he continued forward. All he knew was that no matter what Shierra gave him Aleksi would treasure it. His interest did grow as he listened to Shierra describe her home with its sheer cliffs. "Well consider this area good practice. There may not be many sheer cliffs but there are definitely some good climbing spots, so the potions will help." A soft chuckle left him at the idea if locals making a ruckus and Aleksi could only guess about how long anyone could make a noise around Shierra if she wasn't in the mood for it. He personally preferred that it was the quieter season for this particular trip, it was nice simply talking to Shierra without needing the extra amusement of festivals and the like.

"Fair enough." Aleksi stepped to the side and allowed Shierra to climb up on her own. As much as he would have enjoyed the opportunity to help her onto the steps, the mage also appreciated how independent she was. The next question made his expression shift slightly, a mixture of emotions both good and bad reflecting in his gaze as he looked past Shierra and towards the forest path below them. "A few years. We used to come every summer when I was growing up but then my mother's health faltered and my father started getting lost in his writing. Thankfully for us he kept the cabin despite not using it as often." Then again it wouldn't surprise Aleksi if his father did sneak out here whenever he hid for a writing spell, the man disappearing for days before returning with a new script. The thought brought a frown to his lips before he shook his head and looked back to Shierra with a small smile. "That was my tidbit of history. What about you? I know you have siblings...what's it like? Does your family vacation in foreign countries often like this?" Now that they had taken a moment, Aleksi continued forward again as he asked the last question. The twisting path would eventually start opening

up more to reveal his family's cabin along the mountain side where it overlooked the valley below. Unlike some of the smaller cabins tucked away within the woods this one was fairly big with a large wrap around porch and huge windows to let in the morning sun, the amber rays of sunrise and sunsets easily seen from the porch and the large rooms inside.

[Aleksi 4]

"No need to apologize unless you're the reason she's sick." Teased Aleksi as he regretted bringing down the mood, it wasn't something that he often spoke about and even he had been surprised by the fact that he had told Shierra such a thing. "She's hanging in there, but it's just harder for her to leave the city." He admitted, running a hand through his hair before turning back to face Shierra instead of the path in front of them. "Sorry, I don't mind you asking but I didn't mean to bring up something somber like that here." Life was life, right? Couldn't control everything even with how much more advanced Belrea felt compared to other areas of the world. They were simply mortals and not gods...for anyone who believed in such things, though he remembered that a lot of the other countries had a variety of deities especially Oba and Matori. His expression softened as he listened to Shierra talk about her family, the hybrid's love for them quite obvious in her words. "They sound like a fun bunch, we may have to spend a day so that I can learn about them...just in case you ever want to introduce me." Another teasing comment to hide the actual desire to be introduced to Shierra's family. What would they think of him? Would he be the one to travel to Matori for her when his whole life was in Belrea? Why was he even thinking of such things? Did he actually want something...more? Aleksi's thoughts thankfully drifted away from such crazy ideas when the cabin finally came into view.

"Does it?" A chuckle escaped his lips as he gestured for Shierra to follow him. "Let me check you into the inn then. We don't require tips but endearments or anything affectionate will be gladly accepted for our best services." He joked, the mage moving quickly before Shierra had a chance to smack at him for the obvious flirting. Up the long wide steps onto the porch, the warm wood as bright as the amber sun slowly sinking beneath the horizon in the distance,
Aleksi shifted his belongings so that he could take out a brass key. A few twists of the locks on the wide door, nearly big enough to let two earthlings walk in shoulder to shoulder, and then a push allowed them inside. Across from the entrance there were large windows to let in the sunlight, the golden and crimson rays now slipping across the wooden floorboards and furniture nestled inside. A loft above held a bedroom that Aleksi normally used with a large bed and wardrobe while the downstairs had a sitting room, dining area, kitchen and three bedrooms tucked down a hallway. The sitting room had a side closet full of belongings for things like hiking and picnics, while a smaller room was nestled to the side next to the stairs leading down to a basement storage full of wine and drinks. "Welcome to our cabin. The side room over there even has some games set up if you'd like. Feel free to look around and let me know what questions you may have."

[Aleksi 5]

"After watching you laugh? I think it might be worth the hassle after all. Plus it's only fair considering my father stole mother from Matori all those years ago." Teased Aleksi as he slipped inside the cabin, his cheeks surprisingly warm despite how accustomed he was to flirting with others. There was just something in that moment that truly made his heart jump, the sound of that laughter was far too endearing for a fair fight. Maybe this was a dangerous idea. He joked quietly before shifting his belongings and looking towards the loft. That was normally his place and there was plenty of room, the hybrid's lips pressed together in a thoughtful line at Shierra's question before he realized that his preferred choice for their bedroom would probably get him kicked outside within seconds.

"The washroom is down the hallway there nestled between the master and guest bedrooms." Aleksi explained as he gestured down that way. "There's a half bathroom in the master itself, but the actual bath is in the hallway one." While Belrea had its advances it would be rather tedious to set up a cabin with more than one full washroom, especially with the way his father had gotten this one constructed with a large brass tub and a system to bring up and heat water from the local springs. Not that Aleksi or Shierra would probably need to rely upon any contraptions to heat any water because of their own talents. Inside the bath would be an arched window that looked over the mountains with no room to peer inside since it looked over the edge of the mountain itself, the wrap around porch ending right before the bath window to avoid temptation, and there was even a shelf full of necessities like towels and soaps that had been restocked by the staff who Aleksi had alerted to their visit. "As for the bedroom well my personal favorite is the loft that I'd be willing to share...err give to you if that was your favorite. Feel free to look around and pick a room, I'll settle for whatever you don't want." He did let out a playful gasp at the idea of Shierra making dinner though. "Are you truly?" The hybrid placed his hand on his chest, fingers splayed out in pure shock. "Do I not even get a full day with you before I get poisoned? Is that the plan?" Aleksi placed down his belongings on the ground and bowed his head towards Shierra. "If I can go out any other way then I'd prefer to avoid poison, I'm not much into that after reading that one play about the ill fated lovers. Tragic, but very frustrating indeed."

[Aleksi 6]

He most definitely had to behave with his answer. Aleksi simply shook his head, a small smile on his lips as he listened to Shierra. "Okay then I'll just have to trust you to not poison me...yet. There's some fish, fresh lemons, nuts and vegetables for a salad if you're alright with that. There's also bread and cheese with sliced meat for sandwiches, my true strength as a cook." He teased lightly before watching Shierra heading down the hallway. It didn't surprise him that she would go that route for a room and so Aleksi quickly went up to his favored spot in the loft to toss his belongings on the bed there. Shedding his jacket, Aleksi opted to change into a lighter shirt that he left somewhat unbuttoned, it simply felt too stuffy and warm inside after their hike, before heading back towards the kitchen to place various ingredients along the counter.

"I'll work on getting the fireplace started for the evening." He raised a hand in greeting towards Shierra as she came out, Aleksi finishing up with placing all the spices and such with the ingredients. "The stove is there and can use a light, easy enough for someone like you I'm hoping." He grinned at the words before looking around as if to check over everything one final time. There was the fish, the fruits and veggies...plates and knives as well even though he did worry about placing such sharp tools in a murderer's hands. The very joke brought a chuckle to his lips as he pointedly looked towards the threatening objects before looking back to Shierra. "Need anything else before I disappear for the fire and possibly some wine?"

[Aleksi 7]

"Hmm, I guess we'll just have to snack on raw ingredients then." Teased Aleksi in return before smirking at the sight of the stove lighting up with fire. Once he had been terrified of his own fire magic, but it was inspiring to see how Shierra handled it easily and with so much confidence. In a way it made him feel like he wasn't alone, especially now that he had a better handle on himself and wasn't setting curtains on fire with every mood swing that came his way. Focusing back on the task at hand, Aleksi playfully took a step further away from Shierra before nodding. "Cheese? I can do that. There's some in the cellar where it's cooler with the wine." He'd bring back a few options for her, that way they could also snack on it throughout the evening since Aleksi planned on probably going through more than one simple bottle of wine considering the variety of different bottles that waited him down below. It was best to not let it go to waste, right?

Giving a slight bow, the courteous movement more playful than anything else, Aleksi first went to the sitting room so that he could drag some logs into the fireplace and light it with a flick of his own wrist. Making certain that the curtains were pulled back to allow the full view of a sunset over the mountains, Aleksi only glanced once more back to the kitchen to listen for a moment to the sounds of Shierra at work before heading to the cellar steps. And down we go. It always sent a chill down his spine to go into areas like this but since he had company, important company at that, Aleksi refused to cower against such silly feelings. An armful of bottles and a basket of cheese later, several white and sharp cheddar varieties with some that had herbs, Aleksi finally climbed the steps again and began placing everything out where he found clear space on the counter. "That enough?" He asked with a grin. "It smells good in here. Do you want some help? I can linger here if you so desire the company."

[Aleksi 8]