LUMINOUS RIDER

"Me? I came here originally to study." That's an easy answer and a truthful one. There was more to it, of course, but ultimately, she did come here to try to learn.

"I suppose if you're wondering why I stay, well, there is good money to be made as a mercenary." That answer is more complicated. She's created connections here and, as much as she aches to return to the home she loves, she doesn't want to just sever them. Not yet.

When the topic switches to him, he thinks back. "I'm from abroad." Not worlds apart like he once thought considering Rowan and Lianna made their way here, but certainly far considering all he'd gone through before winding up here.

"It's quite the blur honestly, but I owe my life to some people who live in Adrestia and took me in... being a knight-" Is his way to atone. "It was something they suggested to me. I somewhat understand why now."

It's a bit stiff but he smiles. "We're coming up closer on their camp," he says looking forward. In spite of that, he continues speaking.

"Mercenaries definitely have it easier." A particular one who's torn a hole in his pocket comes to mind. "But I kind of like the monotony of the knights, some days you feel like your mind really will just run whilst you stand guard and watch nothing happen."

"I don't mind working with the knights but I could never join them officially." As a mercenary under her own employ, Altena is able to choose jobs that mean something to her. As naive as it might sound, she enjoys being able to follow her heart. And besides, it's what she's always grown up around.

The fillings aren't the only choices for variety in flavor. Altena is also impressed with the different types of chocolate. Even the molds all have different shapes. She imagines it must be difficult for each soon to be chocolatier to create the exact same candies as someone else. It's nice to know that whatever she makes will be something truly personal.

"That's what I thought I'd make for my older brother, at least. Maybe my father, too. I want to make something for my younger brother but I still don't really know what it is that he likes." Altena huffs a laugh. "I guess a variety box would be good for him, too."

She didn't know Maria had a sister. It's nice knowing they both have a similar motive for coming here. At first, it seemed everything this time of year was themed toward romance but at least Maria is on the same page she is.

Still her smile warms and grows as she listens to Altena ponder, how she considers what to make and for who. Had any of the other people she thinks of so fondly now been on that expedition? Maybe she might have even run into them! And of course, she knows Leif. But is he the older brother or the younger brother?

(...Probably the younger one, right? It feels like Altena is a little bit taller.)

"When I went to Iz with Leif and Ronan," she begins, already excitedly sifting through fillings and imagining what, how many, for who, "He got some almonds at the general store! He told us--" Oh! That he used to sneak them between meals, actually, but should she go telling that to his sister...? "--that he used to like eating them. It might not be the same kind, but it's probably a good bet, right?"

At Altena's reassurance, however, she pauses in her many contemplations to look back at her and beam.

While they have been growing closer, it still feels like an almost impossible dream that they might form a bond as strong as some of the other sibling sets that they know.

"I'll have to use almonds for his then," she nods, corners of her lips pricking back up the slightest bit. It really is hard to remain dour around Maria, especially when she gives the opportunity to talk about family.

It is. She knows it is. She hasn't heard from her brother since the end of the war. No one has. Far too many rumors are spread around that he died but Altena wants so desperately to believe that Arion is stronger than that. As naive and foolish as it might be, she still hangs onto the hope that he might return home one day. He'll find the letters she's been sending and know where to find her and that she hasn't forgotten him.

"I tell Arion everything."

She always has. From the moment she stepped into Castle Thracia and was introduced to the little boy she'd call her brother, Altena adored him. Whatever fear she had felt dissolved immediately and they became instant friends. Even if he'd been willing to keep secrets from her, there's nothing she wouldn't share with him.

Not Leif. 

There was a pinch in his brow and a moment of silence longer than perhaps Sigurd had noticed or intended before he tilted his head and said, simply, "Ah." 

While his jibing had been in the spirit of familiarity, all good fun, there was something unsettling about hearing a name he could put no face to and knowing that she called him brother. Was he older? Younger? 

No, Ethlyn could not have had- 

"Infuriating is certainly a word I've heard associated with my presence," he conceded, forcing a smile. "In fact, by my sister, more than anyone. She could not best me during training, either," he added idly, tilting his head, the edges of his smile turning softer. 

But she can't ignore Sigurd's ramblings completely. Not when the fondness with which he speaks of his sister mirrors her own feelings of her brother so well. Infuriating. She feels infuriated again when she realizes this similarity between the two of them.

    “He did,” Leif answers simply at first, seeing no reason to hide it. “He said he took them because there were a lot, so it's his way of helping us since he assumes that's what they're there for.

“...but if you're asking me, that answer isn't what you're asking for, is it?” the prince wagers a guess. She must not think it innocuous... or something happened. After all, it's not like this is her first year at the Ethereal Ball either, and thus with it, it's not the first year she's encountered those very same candies in this hall.

She pauses for a moment to consider it. It also seems odd that Leif would ask this. What would Finn need to be suspicious about? But it dawns on her and her eyes widen.

"Wait, you don't think..." Altena leans a little closer so she can keep her voice hushed. "You don't really think he was trying to prank me do you?"

She'll be the first to admit that she doesn't really know Finn all that well outside of being an extension of Quan. Leif would know far better than she ever would if the knight was even capable of something fun like this. It's pretty hard to believe but she supposes it's possible.

Arms crossed, Hector leans against the wall. As he watches pairs of dancers twirl and step in tightly prescribed patterns, he wonders what on earth the appeal is. Turning to see if the woman beside him is on the same page, or waiting her turn, he realizes she's—

"Altena." He nods, first in greeting, then at her shimmering dress. "That fits you way better than my clothes."

Then, turning back to the dance floor, he asks "Does this number look as ridiculous to you as it does to me?"

He looks different when his clothes fit. It's easier to figure out where to put her eyes at least.

"You look...covered." Who even talks like that? "Not that you looked bad." That's worse. Altena is ready to kick herself for sounding so dumb. She's grateful for the change of subject and looks out at the couples dancing together.

Brothers. What would Uther think of his showing here so far? A poor representative, Lachesis had called him. But he hadn't blown off the event entirely, and he hadn't been thrown out yet, which had to count for something. Right?

"My little brother is here somewhere, I'm sure. He's a student in the Golden Deer house."

She looks up at Hector rather curiously. Something about the way he thought to ask if her brother was older or younger and how he also would prefer to escape to the training grounds. She knows she has to be right.

“Me neither” she simply replied, the smirk on her face slowly grew wider, into a genuine smile, a somewhat allusive expression, but she just picked her hands and placed them on her shoulders, then she gradually let her hands slide along Altena's bare arms, brushing the petals of the tulips, which were placed together with the hyacinths between their bodies, wisely put as if they couldn’t fully became that close to each other. Then, Minerva’s hands lastly landed on her hips, slightly above them, she didn't want to appear too intrusive in front of her.

She accepted the compliment with a glance, her response was not long in coming, “You shine like a diamond in the night sky, Altena” she actually admired her dress a lot, her boldness in choosing that was somewhat attractive to the Macedon princess, who considered it a trait of beauty and strength.

She's not entirely sure what she should do with her own hands but, thankfully, there are enough other couples dancing that she's able to look around and figure it out from their example. Shoulders then. That's doable. Her hands hover awkwardly a moment over Minerva's before she commits to it.

And she's not entirely sure where she should look either. When she looks around to see what others are doing for that, the inspiration is less helpful. That person has their head leaning against their partner's shoulder. And over there is someone looking deep into the other's eyes. Both options feel way too bold. Awkwardly over the shoulder it is then.

"Someone gave me this but I don't have anywhere to put it. Do you want it?"

Lachesis turned at the voice, clearly addressing her and one that she did not recognize innately, cocking a brow - more things simply to be handed out? It made sense momentarily, when she thought of how they had all been presented with entire bouquets to start, and how one was supposed to comport themselves about a ball of this size with their hands full was equally a mystery to her.

But when she turned and saw the outstretched hand, and the little mint candies sitting there, her expression scrunched in confusion and indignance, before she composed herself with a glance over the young lady.

What a weird woman.

"You could try it with me sometime, you know. I'm helping you teach, you could help me with a contract." It might just be an excuse to spend more time with Minerva. It might be easier to ask her to help with work than to simply hang out the way friends might. She knows she enjoys the other woman's company but it's not that easy to imagine someone else actually wanting to spend time with herself.

“I’m always free when it comes to help you out with whatever task you have to accomplish” Minerva simply stated, nodding as if, what Altena had just proposed to her, was the most natural thing in the world –and in her opinion, it actually was: she would do anything in order to be more time with her, be it inside the monastery walls or outside, on an adventure. “But first, we need to take care of this” she returned her gaze on the papers, though quietly listening to Altena’s suggestion, “Training ideas, huh?” her right hand reached her chin with a pensive expression, shifting back her glance on the brunette: it actually was a pretty good idea and focusing the attention on physical exercise was of course a perfect example of a healthy lifestyle.

“I really like your idea, you won me over, Altena” she cast a knowing look, tossing aside all the papers and the books –they wouldn’t really need them, since all they should do now, was planning the workouts. “Why don’t we try them together first, before actually teaching and showing them to the students?” she questioned, actually genuinely interested in learning a correct way to offer their lecture with some exercise that could both help students being aware of their health and of their physical status. “Only if you trust me, of course” she heartily laughed, walking in front of Altena to explain her first idea of exercise.

“Perhaps we should start teaching them the importance of balance: throughout life and war, balance is a dominant factor, since it teaches us to develop our inner strength and to trust the others” she glanced at the brunette, offering a hand, “Would you like to try and stand on one leg? This could be the very first exercise of balance” she explained eager to start them off, but of course respecting the will of Altena first.

It's a simple phrase to say and yet it gives Altena pause. This isn't a life and death situation. Whether or not a pair of colleagues working on a lesson plan together fully trust each other shouldn't need to be the most important thing. But this is Minerva. This is someone who continues to become more and more important to Altena.

"I can trust you," Altena repeats and hopes that it's true not just in this situation but in any. She values trust and she values the truth.

Altena takes the hand Minerva offers. Had it been anyone else, she might have argued she can balance just fine on her own. But, with Minerva, there is an eagerness to not only please her but to hold her hand as well.