✧ * GIRL / PRODIGY !

Send ✂ and I will draw my muse instead! 

Lord Pent, forgive me if I am held liable for any actions that may or may not occur.

"I don't mind working hard, even if I'll never be able to reach the levels of a... prodigy like yourself," He didn't need to be a prodigy, he just had to be even half as great as his Lord Pent, and that would be more than enough for him. He clutches tightly to his tome, praying for strength - something that he did not usually do at all - from Saint Elimine to not hit this brat over the head with it.

"I am plently good. I am just practicing not overextending myself. My master would say that recklessly using your magic like that is foolish," He pulls his tome to his chest, folding both of his arms over it, "and I've lit more than enough things on fire by accident for a lifetime." Poor Lord Pent with all he'd had to put up with when Erk was first learning how to cast a tome... and the poor garden as well. Erk's only reassurance was that he had never lit his Lady Louise on fire.

her obnoxious laugh rings on ears while he hisses at her like a stray cat. she doesn't really say or do much and just lets him run his mouth for a bit before he finally decided that words were enough. " uhm ok. first, i instinctively called you dumb, i didn't mean it the way you normally would so sorry if you took it, uhm, personally...? "

her fingers press against her forehead; amber hues close for a moment to process her words for once in her damn life. " what i really meant is you compared to my brother, luthier. assuming that you're the same type of stubborn bookworm as him. " delthea looks at erk with his tome pressed firmly against his chest. unsure of whether he's about to cry or yell at her but she braces herself for either.

" well, not to say you're not smart just... uh, maybe not as smart as my brother? if that makes any sense... even though i can't stand that anti-social nagger. ugh, i'll admit he's got the brain to back-up his crappy social skills. not sure how you'd measure up against him but i'll assume you're the tinier version of him. just equally bad at socializing. " the last part quickly drops into a murmur as she takes a few steps to the side.

"It's class, I'm not trying to kill anyone," He had way too many... incidents in the garden in his past to consider going overboard during simple training. (At least he was older now, and he hadn't set anyone's hair on fire... yet.)

He glances at the brat's dummy, burnt to a crisp, and scoffs.

"You know you're not supposed to completely destroy them right? Besides, I know my limits. Turning something to complete ash would be beyond them," Lord Pent did always tell him to be mindful of how much magic he was using, to not push himself further than he could handle. He wonders: had this brat been trained properly in any capacity at all?

Erk was no prodigy, his skill came only from years of studying and training under the instruction of Lord Pent, and while he could have respect for those with innate talent... this girl was... annoying.

delthea rolls her eyes at his exaggeration and furrows her brow.

" wow, ok. you're weird, for sure. anyway, who said having fun with cool and strong spells means that you need to have murderous intentions to execute it properly?" a groan vibrates in her throat. ' he just doesn't get it does he? ' she throws her hands up in the air for emphasis, falling from her knees to her back on the floor. ok sure in theory, the methodical teachings of magic is controlling magic is a whole other ball park for valentian magicks compared to fódlan's magic... yet, to her fódlan's magic is much easier to learn both with and without tomes not that she can even explain it well. i mean, he's right she isn't up to par on studying and can't give direct pointers but that's not gonna stop her from telling him otherwise. she looks at the ceiling for a sec before springing back up to her knees.

" alright ! listen up, kid, only mages with goo-for-brains think that every mage needs to be some kind of total bookworm and sparring psychopath with a bit more than something you can call a 'crazy' streak. that would just be falling under a really awkward demographic. " she points a hand to her chest and huffs out a scoff and murmurs to herself but loud enough to carry voice. " to which i clearly do not want to be a part of... "

" gods speaking of demographics, you sound just like my brother... just smaller and dumber. ugh, regardless, that's not the point, it's not my fault people like you work twice as hard to even get a drop of what my capabilities are. blame whatever god you believe in for that one, i genuinely wanted no part of it but i might as well put it to use while i can. " she snaps her fingers and lights a small flame above her index finger and flicks it to his dummy, its small and quick but the second it hits it's straw innards, it lights up like a bonfire.

Just the gremlin he'd been hoping to see!

He greets her with a smile, cordial as always. He's got important business to tend to - there's this napping spot that rightly qualifies as divine, in his twofold expert opinion - but it isn't yet ready, hasn't yet hit the magical hour where everyone's scarpered off to supper, leaving Azama his peace.

Maybe he'll mess around with her a bit to kill time.

"Not sure it's been quite long enough, my dear Delthea." The corners of his eyes crinkle with genuine mirth, as though he's landed in a particularly funny jest.

Even so, she has posed a fun question. He hums a moment, deliberating.

"Reality isn't so far removed from illusion, if you ask me. The cogs of fate continue to move, and every day we march closer and closer to the preordained finality of our deaths..." He shrugs, quirks his head in consideration. "Suppose Garreg Mach's food tastes better, if that counts?"

But she isn't here for his whimsical thoughts on the finite nature of human life. Soon enough, she gets to the point,

and all Azama can do is bark laughter, chortling with enough force he even wipes a tear or two from his eyes.

"Miss! Are you per chance blackmailing me?" He stifles another bout of giggles best as he can. It sure looks like she is, does it not? "If so, I'm afraid you have much to learn, little one..."

He sits himself across from her in the gazebo, and pulls out some cards - a deck put together by the grace of students too careless to avoid having their stuff confiscated for daring to play in class.

"Let's play, shall we? Teach me, and I will teach you - starting with an important lesson,"

he grins,

she tilts her head for a second. " mm, i guess you're right! it really hasn't been long at all but to be honest... i thought you were gonna avoid me like a newfound plague or something like that. " a pause and idle hand toys with the sleeves of her uniform to avoid a bit of eye contact. " ... but you didn't much to my surprise, in fact the way you look happy to see me is quite strange in that sort of perspective. anyway, reality or not as long as i'm not coughing up my guts again, i think i'll take it. " a giggle smears a smile on her lips as she rolls her eyes. " hah, i can agree with that. i'll take burnt food over bugs and glowy water rations any day. "

ok. yeah, she'll admit it. it was half-assed blackmail attempt but clearly wasn't her intention to actually go through with is but his blatant laughter was another factor she didn't take into consideration either and it was just a bit annoying that he laughed that hard at her not-so harmful joke. delthea pouts in slight annoyance as he takes a seat before her. " it's not a threat. it's a promise. if we don't have a mutual understanding, of course. "

the mage leans into her seat and groans at the ceiling like it'd do something about this old priest's cackling. the priest finally stops his teasing. she lifts herself to look at the deck of cards. " huh? what you want to play poker or something, that's an old timer's game and especially not fun when i'm broke and a kid. seriously, you're gonna steal money from a student or something? i knew you were a corrupted priest oh my god i need to report this to lady mil— i mean archbishop rhea. "

she watches the other students swing their weapons and cast their spells, some clearly as bored as her and others who seem to be waaay to into it like this one mage casting next to her. she didn't really pay mind to the first half of his technique but it was still worth praise, precise and textbook level accurate. she tilts her head over slightly to watch carefully as he finally finishes casting the build up was grand and the flame grew rather fearsomely. delthea grins in excitement before the flame suddenly shrank to a smaller ember and quickly thrown to it's target. cue a blink or two of disbelief. that's it? all that effort just to see it fall flat.

" uhm, what the hell was that?" she shakes her head as she watches the flame only slightly singe the practice dummy. delthea stood there for a moment in the throes of perplexity, putting her head in her hands for a moment. " hah, there's no way. just no way you have the nerve to call that a fire spell...?! " the mage's words hiss like venom as she bursts out into laughter. her hysterics were so damn loud she caught the attention of the other students as well as the caster himself. she couldn't even directly look at him. as delthea was far too preoccupied with burst into tears while clutching her stomach and plopping down to her knees. laughter stammers and finally settles down as she takes a moment to breathe. taking one look at the other mage's face and spitting out another laugh into the palm of her hand.

" oh god, i've seen barbarians make a better campfire with sticks and stones than whatever the heck that was supposed to be...! " with that said, delthea wipes the tears off her cheeks and keeps her distance from the other mage, juuuuuuust in case retaliation was met. a smirk tugs at her lips. well, maybe messing with this kid would be a lot more fun than just twiddling her thumbs waiting for classes to end. " there's no way. that's not the best spell you can do? like c'mon, tell me that was a crappy joke or some weird kind of limit testing and i'll believe you. actually, " she pauses and points at her scorched practice dummy. " why not just turn it to ash? right here, right now. do it, i dare you. "

" oh... and about that whole situation- don't worry! i haven't said anything to the affected parties yet and for the right price, it can stay that way. " the girl taunts while pressing her fingers against her cheek like a certain merchant would. " do you have something in mind, mister azama ? "

Most other times, she hasn’t been starving for weeks. 

The skin is soft, and the flesh is sweet - unlike anything she can remember. Juice drips from her lips, over her palms, into her sleeves, but she can’t be bothered to care. 

It is bliss, and Mark can only hum softly, closing her eyes to taste the flavor better. 

“Thank you,” she finally mumbles, once she’s a few bites into the fruit. Her eyes finally return to Delthea, and her feasting pauses at the fear on the other girl’s face. 

“...are we being followed?” A flash of panic runs over Mark’s face as she glances back behind her. “Did you see something?” 

The fruit, mostly gone, is lowered from Mark’s face, and she turns to look into the darkness ahead. 

For a moment, she sees something staring back. 

Roll: 1! 2/3 numbers...

Mark’s breath catches, and she tries not to shriek. “It’s... it must be nothing, or an animal, or something...” A glance, down to the food in her hands. “Maybe it’s just looking for the same food we are...” A painful rationalization, not quite one she believes, but she’s hungry, and not much will make her back away from the potential of a full stomach. She sinks her teeth back into the fruit, her eyes searching the brush for more. 

Roll: 3! No food... 

roll , 1d3 ! -> result : 3 ... it's okay ... the gaze is gone, for now . 1 / 3

she looks at mark with a bit of concern. " i think you might've been right about being followed but i don't feel it anymore. it really is giving me the chills. " a hand runs down her arm, brushing off the lingering fear that clinged to nerves. " well, regardless it seems like something else called it's attention, so hopefully we'll be fine. " she lets off a laugh that didn't seem all too convincing. she follows after the tactician helping her look through the foliage for hopefully another peach, or anything in general...

roll , 1d8 ! -> result : 2 ... failed ... to no avail.

She’d heard, somewhere, there was food to be found outside the town. So her feet turn in that direction, her aching stomach leading her out, into the darkness-

A hand, on her shoulder. 

Tactician spins around, eyes wide with fear, but they alight on Delthea, not an enemy. 

“Ah...” Her gaze wanders back to the darkness. “I... I wasn’t thinking. You’re right.” She gives a hesitant bow of her head. “My name is Mark. You’re welcome to come with me. I would appreciate the help. I have no weapons of my own...” Her stomach chooses then to pang, and it’s all she can do to keep from doubling over. The pain settles in her brow, instead. “If you need to eat as well, I’ll be happy to share if I find anything. I just...” Her gaze darkens. “I’m not sure how much longer I’ll last without... something.” She begins her walk, soft and slowly, as steady as she can manage. Her eyes scan around her, for anything, but she isn’t really sure what she’s looking for. She’d never been a forager - her time on the plains had taught her that. 

But she hears something, on the wind, and her pace stops. She looks back, then forward, eyes wide. 

She listens.

She hears nothing, but she feels eyes on her. 

“Sorry,” she murmurs, after a moment. “I... I’m not thinking straight. I thought there might be someone following us.” Her gaze returns in front of her, embarrassed. “Let’s keep going, shall we?”

the mage follows quickly behind her looking through barren bushes as she trails behind her. " hmm, i'll take your word for it i think we should still be careful even if you didn't feel anything. " a soft laugh hesitates on her lungs. " it's alright, we'll find something out here. i promise. "

roll , 1d8 ! -> result : 7 success ... +1 food !

" oh, like clockwork. " delthea smiles once more. brighter than before. fingers snatch up at a fallen fruit between the foliage, delthea hops over to the tactician and hands it over to mark, placing it between the palms of her hands. " for you, mark. " a toothy grin paired with a gentle pat on the back. " see.... let's look at the brighter side of things— " her words come to an abrupt halt, a slight frown seals her lips.

roll , 1d3 ! -> result : 3 ... uh-oh ... you're been watched !

she watches as everyone breaks away, starting their means of survival and others who just sat deep in their minds. a girl not much taller than her shuffles away from everyone else; all on her own lonesome self although it probably wasn't the tactician's grand plan to venture out alone.

nothing but a mindless action, perhaps... to cope with loss and maybe failure. delthea doesn't know what goes on in the minds of others but it still wasn't hard to figure it out in the long run. regardless of what did, go on up there... it definitely wasn't wise to walk away from what seemed like safety and much less to somewhere without the ability or confidence to defend oneself. delthea catches up to the girl, looking back at the others for a moment before tapping on the other's shoulder.

" hi, um, i don't think i caught your name in all that chaos but don't wander on your own especially in this situation..." her lips part to a pause. " ... ah, i understand if you don't trust me i just don't think you should wander off without a single weapon either you don't know what's even out there... " the words slow down as the one-sided conversation petered out. no use talking about that it seems, she must've decided that as well. delthea trails behind her with an ill-at-ease smile. " is it okay if i tag along? of course, all shares go to you. i just rather help avoid another loss if i can. " the girls might as well have been thrown out into the wilderness of a somewhat humorless reality. where the earth, after all, doesn't creak and groan its way around the sun just so they can have a good time all year long... things just were never going to be that easy. / for @allyphase .

Sain pats down the kitchen counter. Getting his hand caught in a cobweb teaches him that doing so was a bad idea. But, dustiness aside, there lies all their hard-foraged ingredients. The recipe Delthea found scrounging around some of the houses called for four cups fruit mixture, eight tablespoons animal fat, and sugar to taste--though it recommends a lot. Looking at it--and then the table--well, it's mostly there.

The animal fat was an easy find, left in this very kitchen. Though, some of it looks less than edible. Sugar was Sain's task, which he thinks he did well on, but again, sometimes one thing can look like another. Whether the white grains he collected had any salt or--gods forbid--other substances, was up for fate to decide.

That leaves the fruit.

"You're not half bad, are you? All this fruit--ah, it makes my heart swell! Just imagining what heavenly cakes a noble lady could bake with it all..." His eyes flutter shut as his mind drifts into its own little pocket of heaven. About a second later, he shakes himself back to reality. "But I suppose this'll have to do!" He grins, giving the crumpled-up paper a tap against the counter.

"So! Which shall we use first?"

" uhmmm... i think so! " she brushes off the dust that tickled her nose. " aCHOO! " ah yes, to no avail, she sneezes off to the side barely avoiding an unsanitary situation. after winding down from the sneeze she quickly whines and jabs into his side with her elbow. " hey! don't brush it off so quickly... you're kicking up all the dust. " she grabs her cape and flips it over her mouth.

" huh??? noble ladies baking? nah, i don't think that'd be up their alley. don't they do like embroidery or whatever? " delthea cuts in, not really noticing the way he was indulging his reveries. fingers looking through the various compartments and drawers. how curious, everything seemed well-used for the most part or at least it looked like it was... well, she doesn't even know what half of these things do. better to bring that up now rather than later. " oh. fair warning , my brother did all the cooking back home... i helped him out here and there but it didn't look too hard. "

roll , 1d10 ! -> result : 1 success ... +1 !

" what about these? i like peaches. " a grin paired with her hands holding up the velvety soft skin of the fruit to the knight. " oooh, maybe we should get apples too!! apples are good. " the mage nods happily as she pushes it onto the countertop. " what do you think, chef ? "

Soren wasn't fond of the idea of hunting the likes of spiders and insects for food, but since they had limited options he'd rather that than not feed everyone again. Delthea was... plucky... to say the least. He only hoped her attitude wouldn't get her killed. Potent spells couldn't make up for impulsive choices.

The caves were difficult to miss, looming nearby what could barely be called their settlement. As they approached, Soren kept a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Be ready for anything," he warned. Predators hunting predators was going to get ugly.

It'd already been proved how deadly a fight with these spiders could get, though he'd settle for catching smaller food sources in peace too.

anything is better than raw flour. literally anything. delthea would do anything that isn't subjected to consuming flour of all things, it honestly traumatized her for years. when it came down to practical life skills, she didn't mind hunting, fishing, or foraging, as a matter of fact it was something rather common for her and luthier back in her village.

normally people would assume that just because they came from a bloodline has value in the arcane that it'd be backed by some kind of coin or heirloom or whatever but no, it was complete bullplop. her ancestors just hid their cool awesome powers like total idiots leaving them nothing short of poverty and a bunch of stupid tomes that had no real use anymore. but oh well, whatever that's a whole other history book she rather not think about right now.

she follows behind him not too far or close, she looks at the mouth of the cave. another damn cave. man, this is getting so old, very quickly. with his warning heard she nods and begins to watch their steps.

" gotcha. " she grins, giving out a half-hearted salute. she turns to the other one and lets him step between them, silently nodding back. " i'll watch your back this time around, misters. "

roll , 1d10 ! -> result : 8 success ... +1 insect !

" oh, hey look! hey, hey, phorycs, soren ! do you think this one is edible? " delthea grins, showing an insect she pulled off the wall. honestly it looked kinda strange and morally felt wrong to think about eating it but as long as it wasn't flour, it'd be fine.