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Siegell took the soup gratefully, taking the spoon and lifting a hot spoonful to his mouth. "Oh god," he moaned, closing his eyes after a moment. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until he'd smelled it, and anything he could put in his mouth would be delicious. "It's wonderful," he murmured, sitting up a bit straighter and lifting the hot bowl to his face. After a few more spoonfuls, he shifted on the bed and patted it, offering Ninian a place to sit. "You can sit down... I wouldn't mind the company." He offered her another smile, then picked his soup back up. "I can't promise it'll be a romantic dinner, but at least it's someone to talk to. So... Asami really attacked Nils?" He seemed honestly concerned. "He's... okay, I hope. I'd hate for anything to happen to him." Or for that flute to fall into Asami's claws...

Siegell put the bowl aside on the table, then slowly reached out and took Ninian's hand. "I... I can't do anything right now. But when I'm better... I'll find him, Ninian. Whatever I have to do. I want to hunt Asami down too... so it's good for both of us. I'll bring him back to you, Ninian, somehow. Alive. And then... then maybe we can fix him..." He pulled her gently into his arms, hugging her, stroking her back to keep her from crying.

"I promise. If you want... I'll fly you out on Shastah to search. As soon as I'm ready to fly again... tomorrow, I hope." He let her sit back and smiled again. "I... Thanks for the soup. You should get some sleep." He added, after a moment, "I'll be okay in here alone. Probably."

[[No worries, Ephraim!]]

She had been surprised when he'd taken her hand, but even more so when he pulled her close, hugging her. Most surprising of all was his promise to not only find her brother, but bring him back. His attempts to sooth her only made her want to cry more; she had no idea he could be like this when he was normally so . . . aloof.

Sitting back, she offered a tiny smile as thanks. She heard a voice coming from the door and jumped. It was Ephraim.

"Pardon the intrusion," the noble said. "I found this...and I think it was meant for you.." He held out a necklace, a locket of some kind. Rising, she took it.

"What's this . . . ?" She opened it, removed the note. And then she saw what was written on it.

To-Ninian

From your beloved brother-Nils

It couldn't be. . . . It wasn't possible. . . . He was still in the forest. Wasn't he?

Her knees gave out and she collapsed, kneeling on the floor, both note and locket slipping from her hand.

Shaking, Ninian let Ephraim help her stand. He was gone before she could tell him not to go, that it was too dangerous, and it was too dark outside to leave the house. The dancer managed to make it to the bed before collapsing on it, still in shock.

Nils. . . .

A part of her wanted to go with the noble, but it really was dangerous, and what use could she be? no, she would stay here. Stay, and try to remember how to breathe.

Ninian barely heard Siegell, too in shock to really understand what he was saying. She sat in silence for a long moment.

"I . . . I'm sure he--he'll be f-fine," she whispered, drying her tears with the back of her hand. "I don't think he'd actually h-hurt anyone, but. . . . He's not himself anymore."

She'd sensed the first time she'd seen him smirk. That boy wasn't her brother. Ninian didn't know who or what he was, but he definitely wasn't Nils.

Eyes clear, she looked up at Siegell. About to tell him thank you for . . . something, she froze. Quickly, she turned her eyes back at the floor, letting her hair hide her sudden blush when she'd seen what he was wearing, or rather, what he wasn't.

"I-I should be going now," she said, rising. "I-if there's anything else you need, I'll be down the hall." She headed for the door.

[Ninian isn't leaving, Ephraim is. >.> I doubt Ninian's gonna run out into the woods at night right now.]

(( Ha ha, I probably should have finished making that post before I ran off o talk with my friend xP;;, was gonna go back to edit but I logged instead lol Oh well xD, more fun ))

~*Before Victoria*~
The moment he noble stepped out of the door, a cold breeze blew, sending a slight chill up his spine. He looked towad he horizon, seeing small lights from the village where they chased that druid to earlier. It was rather nice even though it was attacked just earlier during the day.

He turned his head upwards and noticed how clea the night sky was, more clear then his original home that's for sure. Ephraim sighed and looked around once more, spotting a tree jst a few feet away frmo he manor and moved toward it.

~*Victoria Entered*~
Before Ephraim could set himself down at the base, it appeared someone had followed him outside.

"Jus where do you think you're going?"

was what he had heard. He turnd just after settign his spear down. "Hopefully not outside these walls. Its far too dangerous" informed by the formal dressed Bishop. Ephraim let out a small 'heh' and turned to sit himself down on he grass.

"I"m not that stupid or reckless to go venturing off in he middle of the night" he informed, leaning back against the tree. "I just needed some air is all...After just arriving here yesturday, is hard to comprehend all that is happening if you know what I'm saying" He sighed again, staring at he grass beneath him before he started to pick at it.

"Care to join me?" curiously asking, wondering if she was still worried he might run off. Though Ephraim was the type to stay true to his words, he wasn't the type to lie at all.

((If there's any other post directed to me, I'll probably ead it but I won't be able to post at work xD!! he keyboard in my office is broken, so if you see any missing 'T' and 'R' in my post, you know why XP! You see it here case i'm slamming down on it XD! Only posting once but that's it))

Chad, after helping Amelia with Siegell, had gone back to his room. He unbuckled his belt and unpinned his cloak leaving them beside the bed next to his bag. Sitting on the bed he lifted the bag up rumaging through its contents, a few moments later and he pulled a small, but thick book. An examination of the cover would reveal some ornate decoration. Simple patterns embossed with... gold leaf perhaps, patterns circling and embedded pearl, not big, but still worth some money. He imagined the book wasn't of much importance, it wasn't a magical tome of any sort, probably just a historical book, but it would fetch a fair bit of gold at a market so he'd decided to grab it.

Placing the book down he got something else out of the bag, the real goal of his last job. It was a simple locket. No intricate patterns, no expensive material used in it's manufacture, only a simple insciption 'From me, to you.' In fact it was probably worthless... monetarily, but this wasn't for sale. It reminded him of an old friend back in Lycia. This friend had a similar locket, that they had lost, This of course wasn't the same locket, just one like it and it reminded Chad of home... of the orphanage.

With a sigh Chad put the locket on, under his shirt and climbed under his covers to get some sleep. He was tired and he was out before his head hit the pillow.