#optimismxmagicism

Ewan wasn’t surprised to see that, now that the event has ended, she was standing by herself. Still, he approached her with waving arms, the biggest smile on his face.

“We won! Can you believe it?” Ah, so that’s why. He was still in post-victory bliss mode. That wasn’t the only reason he wanted to say hi though. “Also, I just wanted to check on ya! How’re you holding up?” He leaned against the wall next to her, the two making an odd pair. Their familiarity though made this interaction anything but awkward. If anything, it was more comfortable than standing in the thick of it with a bunch of strangers.

He enjoyed the quiet moment for a bit, watching the other partygoers mingle. After a beat of silence he spoke up again, albeit much softer than usual. “I know large parties and stuff aren’t always your thing, so.. just wanted to make sure you were alright.” He leaned his head lightly on her shoulder as he sighed. Tonight was fun, but definitely exhausting too…

The two of them together like this, watching a large group mingle and talk amongst themselves.. it almost took Ewan back to the time he spent with Princess Eirika’s army and the mercenaries. “Y’know, I was really surprised to see you here. Happy too, of course! It was just. Never expected you to sign up for something like this.” He let out a soft laugh. Then, a moment of realization. His smile turned knowing as he looked at Marisa directly.

“Maybe the time we spent with Princess Eirika’s group affected you more than I realized, hmm?” His voice was affectionate, yet lightly teasing as well.

“Ewan. Hello.” She was glad to see Ewan, she perked up a little bit, and gave him a tiny wave. “Yeah. We won. Everything just seemed to come together..” She gave him a smile, while exhausted from the trial and the events earlier in the night, she couldn’t deny it wasn’t satisfying to win. “I’m tired. Aren’t you? It’s been a long night.” 

The crowd used to be unfamiliar when she had entered this party but now the crowd had some familiar faces she had met during it. It was nice to put names to faces.

He was right. Being around a lot of people put her on-edge. But if she wanted to keep away from everything, staying in her own world, she would’ve rejected the invitation to be here, at the Monastery, in the first place. She “I’m fine, Ewan. Don’t worry, OK?” Her eyes lit up when Ewan asked that last question. 

cont. from here / @optimismxmagicism

Having still been a bit emotional from an earlier engagement, Ewan had been looking for a comfortable spot to think things over. In his hand was a slightly crinkled paper, similar to the one he found under his pillow a week earlier. As lost in thought as the mage was, it wasn’t until Ishtar was already very close that he noticed her, and click! The switch went on. Earlier pensiveness morphed into bright enthusiasm with a big smile to match it. “Oh, wow! Thank you Miss!” Taking the drink gratefully, he immediately took a sip of it. “Ah… that’s much better.” Feeling relief from the cool drink, he listened to her speak. “Yeah, you’re definitely right. All these objectives we had to choose from.. They’re definitely not very nice, huh?” He winced slightly remembering them. Some were more naughty than outright mean, but some were just cruel. “Well, I’ll try to be as nice as I can be regardless. That’s way more fun! Oh, speaking of, I should introduce myself!” The boy stood up and dusted himself off, before holding out his hand. “My name’s Ewan! I’m a mage and student in the Blue Lion house!”

"No," a shake of her head, "they are not." Though they are, at the very least, largely harmless, she takes little comfort in the idea that everyone around her has one ill intention or another. "We are fortunate to have such kind souls among us as yourself."

She takes his hand in her own, shaking it once.

"You may call me Ishtar." There's a soft, quiet fondness to her gaze. "A mage just as well. Were our circumstances not so, I would be most interested to hear of your studies."

And it's true-- the magic of other lands is a concept of intrigue to any mage worth their tome-- but that is certainly not all of it. Perhaps it is his youthfulness, or otherwise the weight of her own guilt, that softens her to him. Ishtar brings her cup to her lips, humming against its brim.

"I suppose there are worse things that could be asked of us," she says it thoughtfully, but her gaze has turned faraway. "It's hard to understand what the purpose of such... petty actions could be. If this is truly so simple as entertainment..." Her voice trails of, she shakes her head again.

For a while now Ewan had known the man was here on the island too. But for whatever reason it seemed as if he always just barely missed the chance to see him. Not this time though, as soon as Ewan spotted those familiar blond locks he zoomed with the speed and excitement of a small doggy.

“There you are! Did you cast an invisibility spell or something? It’s crazy I didn’t get the chance to greet you until now, haha!” Giggling lightly, he didn’t seem upset by the fact, just surprised. It was then that he noticed the green bandana on Andrei’s person, different from the mage’s red one.

“Rats, huh? Well, that explains why you guys got such a big advantage. Leave some wins for the poor underdogs, won’t you, please?” He put on his best puppy dog expression, though this too was meant more jokingly than be an actual plea. Evident by the fact he could only hold out the sad eyes for a little longer, until he broke out into giggles again. Being with friends just put him in a good mood! “Hehe, just kidding~! We should totally go play on the beach sometime soon, though. We could go swimming, collect shells and make coconut drinks! It’ll be a total blast!”

Each week's elimination seems to bring the remaining contestants into closer proximity with one another. Still, Andrei can't help but be pleasantly surprised, being met with a familiar face that he'd managed to miss all the previous weeks.

"We've been sent around to the other islands in groups," he remarks as Ewan rushes over, "Perhaps we just managed to miss being in the same area."

The boy's joy, as ever, sets his heart at ease a little, and the smile that comes to his face is tired but genuine. Honestly, after the harrowing events of the previous weeks, he is all but ready to take up Yuri's offer and retreat to the Abyss, if not for the shame of leaving things unfinished here. He shouldn't be running away.

Not that the same could be said of Ewan, who remains energetic with a list of activities to partake in.

Swimming. Andrei's smile tightens.

"I believe I have seen enough of the beach to last me for some time," he replies, still making an attempt to keep any signs of darkness from his tone, "Though I would not refuse a drink, if you would like. But, Ewan..."

He hesitates, expression turning serious. Even though nothing major has happened for the past weeks, the feeling that there is something sinister about this island had never truly dissipated. As much as he could never discount his own powerlessness — how many times had he watched allies fall to danger before his eyes, since arriving on Fódlan? — he makes the promise, all the same.

Ewan approached the man that had a very sparkling air about him. “Hiya! You were super eye catching out there!” He complimented him, before handing him a juice box. “Here, to recover some strength!”

Bright, glistering eyes noticed first and an offering second. Marth can only smile at this heartfelt combination, now made aware to the great profusion of small boxes and littered straws that have laid claim to the infirmary scene. Taking the juice in hand reveals a light seal of perspiration upon its surface and the visual demarcation of an apple - a favorite flavor.

No wonder some students and professors have reached for seconds.

Most notably though was a plate of fresh fruit he was holding, currently still uneaten. “Um, if you don’t mind.. can we go visit Buttermilk later? I’d love for him to also get to enjoy a bit of the ball!” He made sure the ones he picked were all horse safe, but since Buttermilk was Andrei’s partner, he figured he probably should’ve asked permission first. Ewan was absolutely charmed by the horse though, so he wanted to share some of the celebration with his equine friend.

"You look quite cheerful tonight as well, Ewan."

In no small part thanks to the young mage's unrelenting friendliness, Andrei had, increasingly over their interactions, thought of Ewan as someone to whom it is easy to show a smile, a kind word. Even as he'd caught but a glimpse of the betrayal he'd been capable of, just like his time back in Jugdral, the boy had chosen to place his trust in him.

(And perhaps Andrei had been wrong; perhaps it had been far, far from a foolish choice.)

"How considerate of you to think of him," Andrei says, and the look he gives the boy held much more fond approval than surprise. From their first meeting, he'd known Ewan to be capable of kindness as this.

"Happy Winter Festival! So glad I could find you here!" He rummaged through his bag for a moment, before pulling out a longer, thin present. Inside were three things: one of them was a bundle of arrows, but something was different about them. The arrow tip was as glowing slightly red. The second was as vial with a red liquid that seemed to sparkle in the light. The third was a bag of small sugar candies.

“They’re fire arrows! I read that archers generally struggle against armor. But with these babies that won’t be a problem! Just let one fly, and these arrows will target their resistance against magic instead! Oh but- you don’t need to be a mage to use them! Don’t worry about that!” He explained with an excited grin. He just knew that it was the perfect present for any archer friends he might’ve had! “Oh and with the vial, just dip an arrow in them and they’ll become fire arrows! They’re a little less potent, but they should still be effective!”

Then, were he to look at the very bottom of the box, there was a little drawing. It featured one short red haired figure and a tall long haired figure, both of them having big smiles.

Andrei had not expected to see much of Ewan again after their brief meeting during the game. Even as he'd made the choice to end the game on a positive note between them, their circumstances within the walls of the monastery were not the same, and they share few areas of expertise or interest that would be conducive to furthering any kind of relationship, friendly or otherwise.

As such, the surprise at the other's consideration renders Andrei silent and still as Ewan approaches with the gifts, his explanation showing the thought he'd put into the present. The arrows themselves were of a good make, the extra mechanism a novelty, but not without its uses.

"...You truly believe in the best of others, do you not?" he asks, though there is no disapproval in his tone, merely something between bewilderment and wonder. That this had been specially prepared, that the fragile bonds of temporary camaraderie formed over the course of a short conversation had mattered enough to Ewan for him to do this...

Andrei reaches into the bag of sugar candies, withdrawing three and holding them out to the other, the same gesture he had offered at the end of the game. The boy seems to be of the stance that joy is to be shared, and Andrei would not deny him this, on this day. "Your portion," he says, the briefest twitch of a smile on his lips.

"Happy Winter Festival, Ewan," he echoes the boy's earlier greeting, "I'm grateful for the gift."

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"oh, isn't he just the cutest little boy! what's not to love? he's always doing whatever he can to make everyone smile. and for someone so small, he's got an awfully large protective streak. it's sweet.