(WiP) Together, We Ride!

also me:

ooc;; Lotsa work going on right now, being Summer and all. Retail’s at its busiest right around now. So I’m just gonna stick to my muse’s attending/viewing the festivities instead of trying to get them involved.

“ Ah... s-sorry, I tried to keep my distance... ” Perhaps Nino had gotten a little carried away in the most recent skirmish with her opponents. She’d thought they’d been weakened more than they had... and she’d only barely been able to push through the ensuing counterattack when he survived. As much as she appreciated that someone was willing to patch her up, that she’d wound up in that situation in the first place made her feel like... ... No, Erk wouldn’t want her to say that. Forget that.

Knows how to talk to spirits, which she probably learned from Canas.

She’s a lot more chipper, and her self-loathing only really comes out when she feels like she messed up. Erk happens to be the one who made the most effort to get her past her self-hatred.

“ ... Hmm. No, no, is impossible... ” In spite of the general solemnity and underlying fear around the Askr camp, a certain mercenary seemed to be... thinking. And not in a particularly defeated or winded manner, either.

Kiran is a figure of mystery. Face obscured by a hood, nearly all of their body hidden by the cloak and the gloves they wear, and coming off as somewhat distant... you might mistake them for reclusive, or ambivalent to their cause.

This isn’t the case.

Truthfully, Kiran is deeply invested in the events they’ve been dragged into. In fact, jumping into the conflict was a choice. An impulsive choice, granted, but a choice. Upon the summoning to Askr, Kiran was pulled away to get a glance at the conflict Askr was going through. Fate showed them nothing more than three fighters in trouble, in clear need of guidance and a helping hand... and asked Kiran if they wished to help win their war. Kiran said yes - and while they didn’t quite know in the moment they were in it for the long haul, they don’t regret it at all. They want to see this war through.

But then, why hide themself? Especially if they care for the cause and their allies, why do they remain hooded and distant, giving less and less about themself as they go?

Well, it’s important to remember where Kiran comes from. Regardless of their place in the ongoing war against Embla... Kiran comes from another realm. Their home is in another realm, mostly detached and untouched by the Outrealms... but there’s enough connection to pull them in. This war going on... it spans realms. Victory will save these realms... failure will destroy them. Leave them nothing but a charred battlefield, ruled over by a truly sadistic man with no morals, and nigh-invulnerability. And this man... he knows of the Summoner. This war of magic, fantasy abilities, Múspell and Nifl, flames and ice, and a cause that is crushing the hope of the fighters as quickly as they gain it...

Their realm wouldn’t stand a chance against just what this war would have in store for them. And even among allies... if they return home, their world wouldn’t be ready for the appearance of magic users and spells and seals and all of these fantasy-style additions.

No matter how close their allies may grow to them, and no matter what level they may return the care... Kiran can’t leave an impact on this world. Kiran can’t be a face for it all. Kiran can’t give their real name, or show their face, or leave any chance open for their realm to get involved in the war.