Ennalyssa shuffled her feet, starting at the ground, as she walked with Peter to one side and Traya oher. She aer, of course, were heading to the training field and the young ss was looking forward to the expressions that she expected to see on the different faces on the field. “You don’t have to feel embarrassed.” Peter said, gently patting her shoulder and chug a little as she shrugged his hand off, grumbling. “I don’t have to, yeah.” She mumbled, “Doesn’t mean I won’t anyway…” “That is… fair.” Peter chuckled.Traya giggled despite herself, “I called my teacher 'momma’ o’s okay, everyone has a moment like that.” “… You met my teacher… I think I’d want to die if I called Reva that.” She muttered — Peter notig she had quickly dropped the ‘mistress’ prefag her name, and he was in no rush to correct her on ‘manners’ in this case. “…I ’t argue that…” Traya chuckled, agreeing with the young ss.Peter made an agreeing said nothing more, though he smiled as he looked down when he felt something brush his hand, seeing Ennalyssa ‘sneakily’ her first two fingers around his st two and ‘hold’ his hand. Looking up he briefly caught her looking at him, then shifting her gaze away as her pale cheeks turned a light pink.

  “By Xtha!” a slightly familiar voice called as a female guard ran up. “How are you still alive?!”Peter bliurning with Traya and Ennalyssa to face the person who came running up and nearly tackled him — thankfully he was able to shift his foot back to steady himself. It was a hing, though, weak as he was still from his chaotic shenanigans the other day. “Xtha won’t take me, and Na’at is afraid I’ll take over.” The words left Peter’s mouth before his brain had even half a sed to filter them.He couldn’t lie, though, the reas were hirious: Ennalyssa, being of that sort of boundary-pushing age giggled behind her hand; Traya looked ready to faint thanks to Peter so casually dropping Na’at’s name so pinly; the new person, still ed around him, looking up at him, was wide-eyed in their absolute fusion about his answer. ?I am so lucky I wasn’t drinking anything when you said that, Peter? The goddess of chaos gave a hearty, warm, gremlin-cackle at her son’s ‘casual bsphemy’.

  “Seriously, though… is…” Peter blinked down at the woman hugging him, “…Is… does everyohink I’m dead?”She looked up at him, nodding, “Yes. At dihat night, in the dining hall, Shepherd d’Zaier showed up, something he never does, and addressed us ing the ‘ret events’ and your ‘unfortunate passing’.” “Because… no one could call on all of the Family like I did and could possibly survive because of the athyr drain?” Peter surmised. “Exactly. So… how…” She asked agaier, blushing, looked down at the woman, her bck hair with two green bangs half-c her eyes, and he coughed, “Well before I ahat… could you answer me a question?” “Well, you already asked one…” She grinned, despite herself.Peter rolled his eyes. “But yes. What did you want to ask?”Inhaling, Peter sighed, “I… well…” He swallowed, “Who are you?”

  The question, in its quiet, wing tone was met with cag ughter from Ennalyssa and Na’at both. Traya did her best to keep a solid cadre-face, biting her knuckle to stifle herself, though she shook with that barely-restrained ughter and the dy who had ackled him pushed away from Peter, blushing. “I’m sorry!” Peter said quickly, “You look familiar… but I haven’t learned anyone’s names except like… three people? Maybe four?” He motioo his two panions, “That’s including these two, by the way.” “You… really don’t know my name…” She blirying not to sound hurt.Peter shook his head, “I’m sorry but… this past week has been a bit of a ‘trip’. I havely had the time to be social, after all.” He said, looking her over, “Though… like I said. You look familiar.” He paused, then snapped his fingers, “Ah. I remember you were the only one who got close to getting my name right.”She blushed lightly, nodding. “I really am sorry… but I think… I only heard d’Zaier address you by rank. Shieldbearer?” “Teically High Shieldbearer.” She corrected gently, then, seeier’s fusion, “Um. I am actually two ranks under Sir Havengard, who is Swordbearer.” “Ah. Yes, I recall he made quite the point to ensuring I knew his rank… though he seemed to feel his family held more importahan his rank in the Church’s guard.”Ahing for him to look up was the ranking structure of the Church Luminous, if only so he knew how much ‘respect’ to afford whoever he was talking to, not wanting to repeat his mistake with d’Zaier and Vaunn. If he could get an idea of what the ranks were analogs to for easier ‘transtion’ that would help as well. “There are some like that.” She informed, “I am not one of them.” “Devotion and Duty over family ties?” Peter asked.She nodded, “I was called to serve, and that means that, regardless of my own family, helping those around me.”Peter nodded, “I get behind that sort of cause.” He cleared his throat, “Ah, now. As to your name, High Shieldbearer… if it is not improper of me to ask that, of course.”s “It’s not.” She assured, smiling, “My name is Heidynn Corrlite.” “Peter Karl. Though you already khat.” He chuckled.She nodded in agreement, “It’s a very strong-sounding name.” She plimerying not to g his arms or chest, and the implications thereof. She only succeeded a little. “You know… something I’ve noticed is that… some people introduce themselves with family names, and some don’t.”He recalled having this versation with Traya and Sharra, the baker-dy in town but now he could get the perspective of someone who had a surname.For example: Ennalyssa and Broseff were orphans and thus had no st name, uhey had ‘orphanage names’ based ohe child was found or something simir.He had no idea about Traya or if Vaunn was the older man’s family name or his given. d’Zaier, Havengard, and now Heidynn all had surnames. “Oh.” Heidynn blinked, “Well. I am unsure of how it was on your world, but here family names are a mark of prestige and honor. Earned or Entitled for as.”Peter’s guess back at the beginning of the week seemed to be correbsp; “Mh. So… like being given a title, or Knighthood, by a King or Queen.” “Exactly. Family names are actually the lowest of these Entitlements, with Knighthood bei, and a Title with appropriate noble Rank, Privileges, and sometimes even Land, above that.” Heidynn expined. “Oh, iing.” Peter smiled, “Good to know how things work a little more now.” While it did sate some curiosity, he had to admit that this was ‘above his paygrade’ and, at the moment, was superfluous to his situation. “Fair being Fair… in my former world… family arted out as job titles in most cases. Smith, Baker, Cooper, Fletcher, and the like.” He expined, “Admittedly I don’t know a lot more than that, it wasn’t really my field of study, more a passing i.” “You studied?” Heidynn asked.Peter chuckled, “Don’t be too impressed. I have a feeling our education systems might be quite different as well.” “I… wouldn’t mind hearing about it…” She admitted, “Ah, well. When you have the time. You look like you’re on your way to practice.” “Yes. I didn’t want Enna to get in trouble.” He expined.Blushing she nodded, “The’s walk? I was going that way anyway, as the… um…’ She blushed deeper. “Mh?”Traya blinked, “Oh.” She piped up finally, “The temple of Xtha’leri’gath is by the gate that’s by the training field.” “Temple of…” Peter blinked, looking at Heidynn. “Well—“ She brushed bangs behind an ear, “— I had thought you died, after all. It seemed only right to offer you due respect.”

  Peter grinned widely, “Oh I ot wait to show up at the training field if that’s the case.” “Mh, what?” “If you, if everyohinks I died… especially after d’Zaier’s diime annou…”Heidynn bnched, “Please, be careful. You would do well not to draw his ire.” “He already doesn’t like me. Nor does Havengard.” Peter shrugged dismissively, frowning and fixing Heidynn with a look, “I’m all but certain Havengard was my supposed training parto beat ohe past week anyway.” “But… you told the goddess…” She looked aghast. “Oh, I remember what I told them. I didn’t lie. I only had an idea… and even though one of my supposed partners ft out admitted… well, how do I know for sure?” Peter said, “I’d rather not falsely accuse someone, even someone like Havengard. That much is true.” He admitted, then grinned widely, “However… if he is responsible, well, theerday will likely have caused quite the personal turmoil, I imagine. And if not Havengard, I imagine whoever was is, if they’re smart, sed-guessing keeping that shit up.” “I hope you’re right.” Heidynn whispered, “And may Bel’i’ch over yardless.” “Appreciate that too.” Peter smiled.

  The quartet walked, casually talkiweehree of them; Ennalyssa, keeping herself on the opposite side of Peter that Heidynn was, said nothing. She said nothing… but she watched Heidynn aer i, her fingers grippier’s more tightly now.Traya was respectful, a bit stilted in her versation with Heidynn, even after the guardswoman invited her to speak up, encing her. I wohen, if it’s because Heidynn has a family name and Traya doesn’t? Peter woo himself, and likely Na’at, Heidynn also looks a bit older than me… and I’m already a bit older than Traya — maybe it’s a ‘respect your elder’ thing, mixed with her Guard rank?His musings were cut short as Heidynn stopped short, causier, who saw it out of the er of his eye, to stop short as well. Traya and Ennalyssa also stopped when they heard the otion. It wasly shouting, but the voice was loud and it carried across the practice field. Corre: Both voices carried and while one was not yelling the other voice eter exhaled, frustrated; grahings had beeional but his m had gone fairly well after getting Ennalyssa out of bed. He made her a sed sandwich, and another for both himself and Traya. They sat around their kit table and talked. It was ruly.He had hoped to hold onto that feeling for longer, but sadly, as soon as he heard that higher-pitched, nasally, infuriatingly ‘sure of his own superiority’ voice Peter’s spine shivered as he straightened, brag himself. Elbert Havengard really did know how to ruin a person’s mood.

  But theer got an idea.He could feel his lips curling — was it a good idea?Likely not; it could very well be sidered ‘poking the bear’ (another mental note on his ever-growing list: Peter had to wonder what the animal life was like oyros. Did they have bears? A bear-equivalent?) with Peter’s only saving graot being his e to Na’at, as that was something he was not wanting to abuse lest he really screw himself over by upsetting the Goddess of Chaos (not to mention upsetting his mother in the same stroke), but rather the fact Havengard might not want to risk ‘strike three’ with Peter. Though to be ho, Peter had no idea what ‘strike three’ would end up being — not like he had anything pnned for it if the Swordbearer pushed that particur button.

  Gods and Goddesses, though, how delicious it would be to see the look on his face as I just walk up to him like it was just any other day? He had to ask himself. ?I ’t exactly warn you off of it… that’s exactly something I’d do.? Na’at admitted, giggling ier’s ‘ear’. Ah, there you are, Mom, Peter snickered, You don’t think that’s too much then? ?Not in the least. If it was d’Zaier, I’d have advised caution, sidering I know you worry about your as bringing trouble to Enna. That said you’re still going to have to face d’Zaier after he wrote you off to die anyway…? That will be on him, I don’t pn on going looking for him…With a ge to Ennalyssa’s shoulder and a quiet word to her that she should stay with Traya, Peter started to walk forward with Heidynn just a step behind him. “What are you doing?” She asked, curious.Peter smiled, “I’m going to see what’s going on.”

  “I don’t care.” Havengard growled at the much rger man before him, “He is not here, thank the Family. He is gone, dead.” He spoke sharply, loudly, and in a tohat one reserved for ohat the speaker thought was tiresome to speak to, as well as failing ial faculties. “And good riddance.” He added under his breath.Peter could not have prayed for a better entrahan that, sidling up behind Havengard and, casually, joining the versation with a “Who is?” “That troublesome otherworlder, of course!” Havengard chuffed, not b to look over his shoulder at whom he eaking to, assuming that aalking to him would be of ‘proper station’ to address him — apparently fetting that it might be someone of superior rank to him, “He, in his infiupidity, signed his owh warrant when he called down all of the Family on him. Including that one.” “Whie?” Peter asked, again, keeping his tone casual and unassuming.The very rge man, taller and more muscur thaer, looked at Havengard with a curious look — equal measure disbelieving and trying to hide his amusement. Peter having a grin going nearly ear-to-ear likely did not help.On that note, Peter took in the rger man before him, having to look up to do so. He had a very dark skin tone, almost truly bck, with vibrant greehat pierced Peter to the core… though they were warm and weling, bright. His hair was done up in dreads, green as well, though a more moss-like or vine-like green.This newer wore a wreath on their head, leaves of autumn colors, and little else it seemed. The most being a hide loin cloth and a pair of reed sandals. “The ohat Shepherd d’Zaier forbade the mentioning of!” Havengard snapped, “Are you thick?” “I mean… kinda.” Peter poked at his own belly.Heidynn snorted, c her mouth and h her hand — this was like a three-cart-pile up and she could not look away. “Obviously.” Havengard rolled his eyes, sneering, “Now, get out of here while I get back to this waste of my precious time.” He motioo the rger man before him. “Hey now.” The taller man frowned, “o be rude.” He looked to Peter, “My masters wish to invite you, and the young miss, of course, to e train at their temple.” “Do they?” Peter asked, “And, as politely as I ask, who might your masters be, sir?” “The lords of the Earth, Sean and Sky.” The taller man ined his head in a bow, “I, specifically, am a priest of Teoh'ir'aen and current avatar of his power oyros’ soil.” “Pleasure to meet you.” Peter greeted, mirr the head-bow, putting a hand over his heart as well.The priest of Teoh'ir'aen mirrored the gesture with a smile.

  Havengard had been sputtering at the ‘disrespect’ of the priest taking eyes off him to speak to whoever was behind him but when the w of the priest and avatar finally got Havengard’s attention the Swordbearer slowly turned, uo decide if he should be narrowing his eyes in disgust, or widening them in shock at what he saw before him.That damherwordler was there!

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