#chiselight

Closed starter for @chiselight

As the golden eye of the sun dips low and the event of the day draws to a close, the Guardian makes her way back after bidding the participants goodbye. Of all the others she has had the pleasure of exchanging words with, it is to no surprise of hers that Alhaitham is nowhere to be found.

To expect to return home after performing his duties is perfectly reasonable. Nevertheless, knowing him, there must be a reason as to why he'd be willing to accept the task of being a commentator for the Interdarshan Championship. She cannot deny that this line of thought intrigues her.

Hence, instead of returning to her patrol route, Candace takes it upon herself to survey the village. When she eventually spies the telltale green of his coat from a distance, she knows her hunch had been accurate.

"Good evening, Mister Commentator." There is a hint of light-hearted teasing in her tone when she greets him.

"I understand the importance of wealth for the collectivity in a working society... but how much weight should it bear for the individual? Is a rich partner more desirable over someone crippled in debt?"

Eyes shot a curious look at the man hiding behind the edge of an open book.

Even when the rest of the world around her felt like it was nothing but chaos, Nilou would always be able to find one thing that would give her peace - dancing . Sure, she had been trying in secret to come up with something for upcoming festivities, but she'd been so lost in her practice that she'd not noticed a certain pair of eyes upon her.

At least until what sounded like the faint scuff of shoe sole against stone flooring caught her attention.

Quickly her head whipped around, half expecting to see one of the guards or a scholar back to begin some sort of argument all over again ... Only to be met with the sight of none other than the Grand Scribe standing off to the side of the stage, no book to be seen.

Both embarrassment and surprise were evident on fair features as, at first, all she could do was stare toward him as words seemed to fail her for a time, but eventually the stupor seemed to fade - in its place surfacing a clear pout upon Nilou's features.

The earth is dry beneath Xiao’s feet as he moves closer toward the impurity's center. Energies drain from the surrounding forestry, causing leaves to lose their luster and flowers to droop their now listless heads. It is disconcerting, to say the least, but not at all uncommon from what he has learned since coming here. Though 'the withering' has been halted, wayward irregularities of the ley continue to persist.

" the trees here like to trap strangers and it looks like they've found their first victim for the day. "