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Post by Enigma on Feb 21, 2009 21:24:20 GMT 1
The sound of the wind rustling through the leaves of the trees was almost deafening to Enigma as he walked lazily through the woods, Riddle on her leash leading him along. Even though he couldn't see the trees he and Maelstrom had once stalked between together, he could still smell the sickeningly sweet smell of rotting leaves and feel the spungy grass beneath his feet. It brought memories flooding back to him and he pushed them away angrily.
Riddle growled quietly, pressing her body against the side of his leg, her ribs vibrating as the snarls rippled through her. Enigma slowed to a stop and turned his head to the side to listen.
Footsteps. Human. A single person. A bandit? Maybe, but Enigma was used to them travelling in packs. A trader? No. The footsteps weren't clumsy enough. His eyebrows lowered in confusion and wariness and he edged off the path, seeking a tree to take refuge behind until the danger passed.
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Post by Scarlett Dragonavicious on Feb 22, 2009 6:44:44 GMT 1
Scarlett was lonely without Alistair here. The horse didn't usually like to travel through Greatwood and Scarlett would only make him if it was for a Quest. Today she was just taking a stroll for her own purposes. There was just something calming about wasps, beetles and bandits around every corner. It felt like old times.
Scarlett usually kept her sword at her side but today it was on her back giving her arm the freedom to move. The day was bright and sunny, and it made Scarlett's red hair glow brighter.
She passed by a tree and heard a soft rustling. Someone was standing behind it, waiting to attack. Scarlett quietly unsheathed her sword, stood with her back to the tree and waited a moment. Then standing on the balls of her feet she spun around the tree and pointed the tip of the sword at what turned out to be an unarmed male. She stared at him for a minute before lowering her weapon.
"Why are you hiding behind a tree?" Scarlett asked, her eyes squinted at the man.
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Post by Enigma on Feb 22, 2009 10:36:36 GMT 1
Riddle gave a startled, high pitched snarl when Scarlet lunged around the tree, but fell silent almost immediately. Enigma could feel her tail wagging slowly in confusion.
"Why are you hiding behind a tree?" A woman's voice asked and Enigma scowled faintly behind his blindfold. Hiding? Well, he supposed he was but it didn't do his pride any good to have it pointed out. He shifted his weight and turned his head away.
"I'm hiding because its easier than getting into a fight these days." He replied coolly, gesturing at his covered eyes. He twitched his head back towards the woman, curiously. She sounded young. He wondered what she was doing wandering around greatwood.
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Post by Scarlett Dragonavicious on Feb 22, 2009 18:25:40 GMT 1
Scarlett looked at the covering over his eyes and realized that the man was blind. She felt ashamed for asking why he was hiding now.
"Oh... I'm sorry." She stuttered as she sheathed her weapon. "I guess I was looking for a fight. But you're right... sometimes its easier to hide." Scarlett noticed a large black dog by the man's side. She had always liked dogs and extended a hand for it to smell.
"I'm Scarlett. I was just going to take a stroll around Greatwood. I have a Quest for the Guild tomorrow and I like to clear my head first." As the words slipped out of her mouth, Scarlett realized that she wanted to take them back. She didn't know this man. He could be a Bandit or a Conman of some kind. Maybe he wasn't actually blind at all. You could meet a lot of weird people in Greatwood.
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Post by Enigma on Feb 22, 2009 18:41:59 GMT 1
Enigma shook his head and waved her apology off. "It doesn't matter..." He felt Riddle tug on her leash slightly as she leaned forward to sniff Scarlet's hand. The snuffling sounds lasted only a moment before they were cut off by a wet sound as she licked the woman fingers in greeting. He rolled his eyes behind the blindfold. Riddle had always been quick to accept people.
He took a small step to the side, nudging Riddle. The dog got the message and moved away from Scarlet, leading Enigma around her and back to the road. "The Guild you say..?" Enigma replied, one eyebrow arching slightly. "So you're a hero." It more a statement than a question. The corner of his mouth quirked upwards. "Well, I wish you luck with your quest tomorrow. It's been quite some time since I took one of my own..." He left the sentence hanging so she could draw her own, probably correct, conclusions.
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Post by Scarlett Dragonavicious on Feb 22, 2009 19:04:12 GMT 1
" You are a hero as well!" Scarlett was amazed and that fact wasn't lost in her voice. She realized this, swallowed, and tried again. "A hero you say? Well why don't you take another Quest? There are several available for...."
Scarlett realized again that he was blind. It was strange but he didn't seem blind. Although she wasn't sure how a blind person was suppose to act. Maybe more helpless. This man didn't seem helpless in the least.
"Well, anyway, maybe you should get back into fighting?"
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Post by Enigma on Feb 22, 2009 19:29:45 GMT 1
Enigma's smile grew ever so slightly and he turned away. She was fast, he'd give her that. "I have thought about it." He said after a short pause. "But like I said, it's been awhile and since losing my sight..." He gestured at his eyes and shrugged. "Well, you could say my confidence has been shaken somewhat."
He turned back towards where he knew Scarlett to be standing. "My name's Enigma, by the way." He told her, his voice suddenly hesitant, wary. He didn't know how many people had heard about his and Maelstrom's past but their two year long crime spree in Albion certainly hadn't gone unnoticed.
Still, Maelstrom had been the one that everyone had really paid attention too. If he was lucky she wouldn't have heard the rumours, or at least, wouldn't connect him to them.
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Post by Scarlett Dragonavicious on Feb 23, 2009 0:21:17 GMT 1
Scarlett nodded and smiled politely although she had never heard the name before. She hoped that wouldn't offend him.
"I don't know if you are a new graduate or not but, your name just isn't familiar to me. I've been in voluntary exile for two years. Just getting back into the game myself. We could help each other out. And about the confidence... well... I've heard of several heroes who fought without their eyesight. They were all Will Users mostly so... I'm not sure how good you are with Will.... but I'm sure we could get you back into the thick of things. Or at least the thin..."
She added the last part as a joke. For some reason she wanted to help this man. He looked like he had once been filled with confidence but now, without his eyesight, he was lost. If she could give him that confidence back... well, maybe she could regain some of her own.
"What do you say? Training at the Guild?"
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Post by Enigma on Feb 23, 2009 0:32:39 GMT 1
So she hadn't heard of him, or at least wasn't saying so if she had. Enigma almost sighed in relief. That made things easier. "I graduated form the guild five years ago, but I... went travelling for most of that time with a friend, so it's unsurprising that you don't know me. I've never been a very active member of the guild."
He smiled. "As for how good I am with Will..." He trailed off and brushed his hair back away from his face. When he had had his eyesight he remembered his hair naturally covered his cheeks and temples, and the rest of his body was thoroughly covered up by clothing. He tucked it behind his ear, revealing the thin, faint will lines that curved up the sides of his face.
Enigma had never been one to accept help from a stranger in the past, but these days... well, as much as he loathed to admit it, he could use assitance. He knew he could still fight blind. He'd been ambushed plenty of times since losing his sight and sheer adrenaline had sharpened his already enhanced senses. But even so, he wasn't ready to throw himself into a fight deliberately.
"I... would appreciate the help." He finally said, keeping his voice low. "If it's no trouble."
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Post by Scarlett Dragonavicious on Feb 23, 2009 0:40:18 GMT 1
Scarlett had never seen a person with will lines before. They were incredibly beautiful and she didn't understand why she hadn't noticed them before.
"It would be no trouble at all. I have a Quest tomorrow but... hoping that I survive, I can help you the next day. We could meet in the Training area of the Guild. I need to hone up on my skills anyway so really you are doing me a favor." She smiled at him. "I'm glad I met you today Enigma."
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