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Blossom listened to Derrin in silence, keeping one hand around Rin's. His explanation of the mission washed over her like a wave, and she nodded quietly along the way. When it was done and they were beginning to walk away, the Hero glanced over at Quentin. She hadn't known the man for very long, but despite his blindness, he couldn't be that useless on their mission. Otherwise, Lance wouldn't have sent him along to aid them. He wasn't that shortsighted. Blossom knew him better than to make such a foolish decision.

Keeping a hold of Rin's hand, Blossom moved over to Quentin, smiling at him without realizing the general pointlessness of it. "Hey, Quentin! It's Blossom." She hadn't spoken to him very much thus far, so for the time, she still felt it necessary to clarify who she was when she spoke up. If he asked her to stop, obviously she'd stop, but... better safe than sorry, right?

Right.

"Don't let Derrin bother you, all right?" she told him, lowering her voice a tad so the Mage wouldn't catch it. "He's real grumpy, but he's not a bad guy. He's just got... anger issues." Blossom laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of her neck, reaching behind her and adjusting the weight of her axe against her back and shoulders. "Just ignore it. You really don't have to carry people's things. I'm sorry about him."

He would be paired with a man that looked to have as much muscle tone as pudding. He assumed this man was skilled in some sort of magic. If not he must be practically useless in a fight. That's alright though his skill alone would assure him a victory in all but the most hopeless of battles. Then an easy option, though the more cowardly one, was to run. He grimaced at the very thought of it.

So since we will be riding together. What is you specialty? You don't seem to be much of a weapons man and you eyes give you away as anything but that of an archer.

He eyed the man up and down knowing the answer before it came but still allowing the man the allusion of offering up this knowledge voluntarily. He would need to play nice so he could make sure someone had his back. They would be arriving early and he was not so keen on being split from the group with no melee fighters.

Personally I fight with this. I helped to make this silver bow and I take care of it probably a little better than I do myself, haha!

His attempt at humor was a little to forced for his liking but he hoped the other man appreciated the effort.

I even take the time to carve my own arrows and everything. I am of the belief that an archer must be in tune with the bow. A resonance of sorts takes place and I suppose that is why I'm so good at what I do. After landing in Learnaria from my home kingdom I was saddened by the fact that I may never get to see my sister or Princess Erika again. After running into King Joshua and King Ephraim I reafermed that this place would make me change after I too lost my crown. I have spent the time since I got here fighting and learning a few new tricks. I will make a name for myself one step at a time.

The passionate intensity of his words seemed to be noticed as he rode a bit forward to hide his embarrassment. He had to be a fool to trust a stranger with these things.

I apologize for my words. I haven't had anyone to tell that to in a long time.

...Well, the mage sure did show how to keep his temper in check. He swore every time he showed up for just about anything this guy had to yell at him despite the fact they were allies. So much for showing that you were glad that someone was going to be helping you out on a mission that you put out for. Instead of replying he just waved his hand, shaking his head at the bloody mage. This was the last thing he had to worry about since it would just get him to nowhere if he started to fight now. It also wasn't his fault that he passed by the HQ on his way to the gate so he would have run into the group anyways. He just figured that Derrin had no idea about that.

At the gate there seemed to be a variety of people that he had met through Cloak. The group did seem to at least be balanced between possible patrons at his forge later magic users and physical people. Whether that would be good later on or lead to a complete disaster he had no idea. He was just gonna go with the flow.

He turned his head and started to listen once Derrin had spoken up about the mission. The ruins eh? Those were a place that could have some nice, viable resources for him to use in his forge. He kept that thought in the back of his head as he listened on. He really was going on about how he seemed to be more knowledgeable than most of the group, though he added into account that he had a hot temper and seemed to care more about himself. Though as he thought about it, he did seem to be different around Blossom. He still wasn't sure why, but he didn't really put the effort to care about it.

Then with his treatment towards Quentin Enailios just shook his head. The man, while being blind, wasn't a pack mule and so he just held onto his own stuff. There was no need to burden the man with his supplies anyways. Instead, he chose to turn his attention to Blossom with a slight chuckle. "Just grumpy? I think there is more that he isn't wanting to show. Course I tend to notice this when he is around you."

"You know..."

"Hrm?" Iris was careful this time to keep her voice to a hushed murmur to minimize the perception anyone would gather of her talking to herself.

"That guy's a real windbag."

"Yes, hrm, I suppose he is."

"You suppose? Come on, sis, where's that spunk?!"

"Well, the boy has anger issues. While I'm certainly more proficient and far more capable of leading an expedition like this, I don't want to antagonize him! That would be most uncouth."

"I'm sorry, all I hear is 'blah blah blah blah i'm a big wimp who takes orders from pasty thunder mages who pee their pants--'"

She let Adele's tirade wash over her. "Derrin is quite the buffoon," Iris quietly murmured in a tone even more hushed than it was before.

"Yeah, and?"

"And..." She paused. "Hrm, I'm not entirely sure!"

"You gonna take that?!"

"Why, certainly not!"

"You should take over!"

"Wha--" She raised an eyebrow. "Why on earth would I do that, Adele?"

"'Cause it's awesome."

"Well, yes..."

"And you're better than some pasty thunder mage."

"I am..."

"And you could show everyone a thing or two about your skill!" Adele snickered.

"Why yes, I could!" She jumped in place and proclaimed loudly. "Hello! Everyone who doesn't want to follow this imbecile to certain doom, follow me!" Seizing Derrin completely offguard, she stormed up and snatched the map and the paperwork and all his general business right out of his hand. "You!" she called, pointing at Quentin. "Cast that luggage aside; you shall be my number two! And to the rest of you! If you are ready to cast off those cobwebs you've all been gathering by sitting around here, letting your intrepid skills grow rusty, come along! Everyone's talents are certainly worthy!"

Adele merely hovered nearby, watching in delightful amusement this entire trainwreck unfold.

Quentin rested his head in his hand while he listened to the plan Derrin made.

He laughed heartily as the mage proposed the group to split up, and for Quentin to carry the gear.

"Bwahahahaha! You have a good sense of humor, Sir Derrin! Why, you almost make it sound like I'm useless! But fear not, for such is not the case! Baggage boy is not my job! Why, even Sir Lance recommended me to join this expedition! It should be fairly obvious that he meant to put me in charge of us! Such is the faith our leader put in me! Onward, my brothers and sisters! Follow me, to Glory!"

With that said, Quentin marched off proudly, his head held high, his chest sticking out, his spirits pumped up...

...in the wrong direction.

The distress was pretty clear on Blossom's face as Iris spoke up. She had to admit, Derrin was being... even more rude than usual. She frowned, biting her lower lip as she looked to him, then to Iris. It honestly seemed smarter to follow Iris, at least for now. Derrin would likely ignore over half of them and declare them liabilities (unfairly!). But was she supposed to just let him wander off on his own?

That was about when Quentin went in the wrong direction, and Blossom made her mind up. "Hey, Quentin! This way!" Blossom tugged on Rin's hand, urging her to stay close, before rushing after the swordsman. "Quentin, ah, to the-- uh, turn towards about ten o' clock! That way!" Blossom tried not to point; it wasn't exactly helpful. That was when a thought occurred to Blossom, and she looked over at the mage curiously.

"By the way, Iris, do you know where we're actually going?"

Not what you were expecting, was I?