OPEN

[scythedance]

i.
[After the events of the maze, Astralin found it a bit difficult to relax. Everything was a bit too overwhelming, and even though he's recovered since then, he's been a bit restless. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be any sort of hot springs or spa opened in Aldrip, and he wasn't about to visit the neighboring villages and towns to try and relax. So, as one does, he took it upon himself to use the remaining land that he had now to incorporate a hot springs on his land.

It's busy on the farm again with construction, and despite the citizens of Aldrip being much more... Wary of the chosen, he still managed to find a few of them that would still work with him on the construction. So, you'll find Astralin hovering over the construction with his arms crossed. His focus on some of the construction workers as they begin working on the hot spring. Ready to open it to the public once it was constructed.]

ii.
[After the construction, you'll find Astralin still outside. He isn't relaxing, but instead, honing his magical abilities. The maze has left a scar on him that certainly left him traumatized, and he feels like he needs to practice more to ensure he can keep the people he calls friends here, safe. It's the least that he can do for them, but even then, it seems like his powers didn't have any affect on the illusions when he did try and attack them.

He tries not to let that bother him though, and he focuses on summoning his icicles from thin air. Those icicles being hauled forward and toward their intended targets that he had set up. The whole farm filled with lingering frost that may or may not shift into Aldrip while he practices.]

Comments

ii

[baldrshand]

[Ethlyn sometimes likes to take a gentle ride up to Astralin's farm, but when Venture starts shying and puffing, she hastily dismounts and readies herself for trouble. Her ears pick up the sound of something flying through the air--more like being shot through the air. And it's colder the closer she gets...

Oh. It's Astralin, practicing. She breathse a little sigh of relief and gives Venture a comforting rub along his neck.]

Does it take a long time for the animals to get used to you doing that?

[scythedance]

[Even as Ethlyn approaches, the frost around the area doesn't seem to dissipate. However, she'll notice there's a light barrier around the farm, keeping the animals away from harm. Even his ice magic had no effect around the barrier, and he's the one that made the damn thing.]

They are unaffected. My barrier keeps the animals, and all structures safe from most things. Including my magic.

[He closes his fist, and the ice particles that linger around them start to disappear. His gaze softening as he curves his lips into a smile upon seeing his friend and her companion. Luckily, he had a carrot with him, and he reaches his hand out toward Venture to give him the snack.]

... How are you faring?

[You know. After the maze.]

[baldrshand]

[As she gets closer, Ethlyn does see that. It isn't very obvious until you know what you're looking for, but once she sees it, she understands.]

Ah... very well done. See, Venture? [She smiles at the horse.] There's nothing to worry about.

[Venture snorts, clearly still not so sure.]

How am I faring... [A couple of months ago, Ethlyn would have breezed past this question, saying that she was of course fine and then turn the question on Astralin. (And she will ask him, of course.) But when she did do that after the desert, she found herself almost falling apart.

So... she won't try doing that again.] It was painful. I... relived some things I would rather have not. And I saw how things turned out in my world after I left it. My children are alive, and I'm grateful to know that, but they aren't well.

What of you? I can't imagine your experience was pleasant, either.

[scythedance]

[Both his arms cross over his body, and he waits for Ethlyn to answer his question. Not expectedly, of course -- more like he's waiting for her to either say how she feels, or brush off the question. The latter being more understandable after everything they've been through in the maze and all. Not everyone would want to talk about it. Which is why he's a bit surprised that she chooses to speak up, rather than keep quiet.

So, he listens, and it's no surprise to him that the maze basically messed her up as well. Astralin shooting a emphatic gaze toward her, as he reaches his hand out toward her shoulder to pat it softly. A soft sigh escaping from him as he pulls back.]

I am sorry to hear... I truly do not know what happened, but I hope it brings some solace that your children are alive. Although, I do understand the worry that they are not well.

[Being a Dad and all, he does understand her worries and the cruelty of that maze.]

... I try not to think about it, really. But I will be alright, as I always am.

[baldrshand]

They grew old enough that they're able to defend themselves... even without their mother and father to protect them in such a dangerous world. I'm trying to think about that. That they have time for their lives to get better.

[And it means Finn survived too. She and Quan had left the young knight back in Leonster to defend their son. To see Leif girt in sword and armor, hale in body if not in spirit, means that Finn was able to keep him safe and teach him well.

As for Altena... the longer she thinks of her daughter's appearance, the more she believes that she was raised by their enemies. It's hard for Ethlyn to even conceive of. She had hoped Travant was intelligent enough to use Leonster's heir as a hostage--but to think that he stole her for his own is beyond what even he seemed capable of. Still, so long as she is alive there is the hope she may yet return to her people.]

...I won't press you on what you saw yourself. But I can speak from experience that bottling it all up can just make things worse.

[That may be presumptuous, given that Astralin is much older and more experienced than she is, but she can't help but give him a piece of gentle advice nonetheless.]

i

[izanagis]

[He hasn't admitted it out loud, but this city boy is actually sort of enjoying some of the country tasks he's been put to. The farm is a strangely soothing place to work, and he looks forward to it. But he wasn't expecting the...construction. So when he arrives at the farm to find such a commotion, he immediately looks for-- ah, there's Astralin. I mean, he's kind of hard to miss.]

What's all this?

[scythedance]

[If he knew that, he would be so happy. He feels a bit bad that he's given Yu so many tasks to help out with Kotone's tasks, but Yu hasn't complained or voiced any concerns, so... Anyway, he tries not to focus on his worries, and oversees the construction. It's loud, and the animals aren't very fond of it, but he turns his gaze when a new voice is heard over the construction.]

Ah, Yu. There you are.

[He smiles at the young man, and gazes back at the work site.]

Well, ah... It is a bit extravagant I suppose, but I recently paid for a certificate to create a hot springs of sorts on my land. I have more than enough room on the outskirts of the farm, and well. After that maze... I figured that people will need time to relax and recover.

[izanagis]

A hot spring?

[That's certainly not what he was expecting, but he's interested. Besides--] I think you're right. A lot of people would probably like that, right now.

[Him included, somewhat, although his experiences at hot springs have been............mixed, at best. But that's neither here nor there.]

Is there anything I can help with?

[scythedance]

There are rumors that there is a sauna somewhere, but... I figured that the meadowlands might be a bit closer in location. That way, at least my closest confidants can use it.

[That includes Yu. There will be no hot springs shenanigans as long as he's around to keep an eye over his hot spring.]

Mm... Ken had asked the same thing earlier. Perhaps if they need more laborers, but I think they will get by with the small group of people that still trust me. ... You have noticed that the citizens are much more wary of us, have you not?

[izanagis]

A hidden sauna sounds exciting, but if it's too hidden, it's not very useful.

[More of a fun idea than something to actually do. Maybe he should investigate that sometime...for now, he thinks about the question a moment, and then nods.]

I have. It happened suddenly, too. Things were fine one day, and the next...they weren't. Do you think something happened?

i

[whatsamada]

[Meanwhile, here Ken was, trying to figure out how to deal with his own situtation after the events in the maze. After fighting and getting his revenge, he wasn't too sure how to feel. Upon knowing that his leader and various other people were in the same mess, he figured he should go and help around.

That was when he saw Astralin doing... something.]

...Do you need any help?

[scythedance]

[When Ken approaches him, he looks rather distracted by overseeing the construction. It was loud, after all, so he doesn't quite hear Ken's footsteps at first. But his eyes do trail over to Ken with a soft smile, as he hears his voice before his footsteps first. Simply shaking his head, before turning his gaze.]

You already help Kotone with her tasks on the farm... I could not ask for you to help in the construction of the hot springs as well. That is a rather hard task.

[That was nice of him to offer though.]

Did you need something, my boy?

[whatsamada]

[So that's what he was doing. Even with his words, he wasn't too sure if Astralin should be doing it by himself. There was a moment of silence before shaking her head.]

No, not really but it just doesn't feel right knowing that you're doing this with no help.

[Pause]

Especially when I'm living on your farmhouse.

[scythedance]

Ah, you need not worry. There are a few citizens of Aldrip that still... I suppose "trust" me to do this work. And, if they truly do not wish to help, I have Vi and Mizuki to help with the labor. You truly need not worry, Ken.

[There are a few people down there through the noise, and Astralin makes room for Ken to see below. They're definitely younger people, luckily, and they wave at the two of them up top.]

Just because you live with me, does not mean you need to earn your keep. I am letting you live with me because I simply want you to. That, and you are friends with Kotone, who... I must admit, I am very worried about at the moment. ... Both of you, actually.

[He knows what went on in that maze for the most part, and he knows it wasn't easy for Kotone. As for Ken... He can only imagine.]

[whatsamada]

[If he was that insist on not anyone helping him out, he couldn't say much of anything. All he could do was give a nod despite the look of wanting to help out regardless.]

...Is that so?

[He said before shifting his weight a little. There was a moment of hesitation before he mumbled something.]

...Why is that?

i

[grappler]

[he'd invited her, so she's finally gotten around to making her way to Astralin's farm. only when she makes it out there, she realizes that it's under construction again.

she approaches him, hands on her hips with a little bit of a smirk on her expression.]

You didn't even ask for help. I'm kinda hurt.

[scythedance]

[Ah, he knows that voice. His eyes turn toward Vi with a half smirk. A soft chuckle escaping from him as he motions Vi a bit closer so that she could look down at the construction site.]

Well... I figured you may be a bit busy with your, ah... Guests... Arriving in Expiation. I did not want to bother you if you were having trouble.

[SUCH A DAD.]

Besides, I want you to enjoy the hot spring once it is opened.

[grappler]

[she shrugs.]

I mean, it's either I jump into some work or I beat up something or someone at this rate.

[she stretches her arms out and then shakes them a bit.]

I'll enjoy it when it's done. What d'you need me to do first?

[scythedance]

[Oh man, she really does want to work it seems. He figured that they'd chat a bit before she just goes in and does her thing, but he's always appreciated that about her. That she's willing to help him without a second though.]

Honestly? I will need those larger rocks moved to the main area to give the hot spring a nice aesthetic. If you could do that for me, I would greatly appreciate it.

[grappler]

Will do.

[and she starts this task with not much issue, though she does look back at him for a moment after she moves a few of the rocks.]

What gave you the idea to do something like this, anyway?

ii

[entreats]

[ .. well, Ange did say she might stop by the farm.

And though it's quite a while after she initially said that, especially with that entire maze incident between then and now, the girl still shows up. Maybe meeting Astralin again in the maze and all of the things she saw and heard from him only made her feel even more like she should stop by, even if it's just once.

Though she expected him to be working on the farm. Not to be practicing magic. It's a little surprising, but said surprise doesn't show up on Ange's face at all.

Instead the girl almost looks a little bit shy when she's approaching, though she does her darnest to hide it. ]

You're using magic again.

[ M-Maybe try 'hello' first next time, Ange.. You'll get there, girl.. You'll learn how this entire social thing works. ]

[scythedance]

[Honestly, he's just a bit surprised that she can stand the cold that's surrounding the farm right now. There are bits of frost on the ground, and around the trees, but it seems to dissipate as soon as he spots Ange. His hand balled into a fist, as the ice is crushed underneath them. The area soon becoming normal as Ange approaches him; a smile curving upon his lips.]

I am. After the events of the maze, I... Feel a bit powerless, so I thought I may practice.

[He hated being called a prodigy because of his magical abilities and all, but they didn't come in handy in the maze. So he's a bit vulnerable after the fact, since he's always relied on his magic to get out of a sticky situation. Looks like he couldn't do that here.]

Are you as well as you can be?

[entreats]

[ It's a bit of a tricky question. Ange isn't sure if she's well - not even when he adds a disclaimer like 'as you can be.' The maze was rough, and a part of her is grateful that Astralin didn't see the worst parts of it for her. Surely he would have done even more things she wouldn't be able to understand, more kindness and warmth and reassurances that Ange isn't used to.

So she just falls back on her default answer. ]

Fine.

[ She's not fine.

But she can pretend to be.

Apparently the girl is leaving no room for her answer to be questioned, since she speaks up again a moment later, looking right at Astralin. ]

.. Teach me your magic. [ A-A little direct there, Ange?! You're not even going to ask him, huh. Just going to say it like you're demanding it.. But maybe she's saying it like this exactly because she knows Astralin is kind enough that he'd do it anyway. Because properly asking would be too embarrassing, since he'd give a way too sweet answer in return.

Besides, if Astralin looks closely, he can probably see something flustered about the girl even as she's saying this. Even as she's pretending to be tough. ]

That might make you feel less powerless, anyway.

[scythedance]

[Yeah, that's not a surprising answer. He figures that there's much more going on right now, and that she had her share of the maze before she found him. Although he's worried about her, he's not going to pry. That's the last thing that he wanted to do, and if she says that she's fine, then he'll have to trust her and take it to face value. He didn't want to be pushy, after all.

Though, what he's really surprised over is that she genuinely wants to learn how to use his magic. Astralin left blinking a few times, before he can't help but chuckle a bit. Not at all minding her forwardness, because it truly did remind of him of his child back home. The corner of his lips curving into a smile as he brushes some of his hair back and lifts his hand out to dispel the frost around them.]

I will. Although I am not sure if you can learn ice magic, I will try my best.

[A pause.]

I am not sure if I told you, but people in my world are born with the ability to use magic. So it was something that I was born with.

[entreats]

[ There's a slight pause. It's mostly Ange trying to determine if this is him trying to deter her - the words might imply as much, after all. But even though Ange can't exactly claim to know all that much about Astralin, she's pretty sure she's got a good idea of the other's general personality, at least.

And if she's right about that idea, it feels more like he's trying to make sure that she doesn't end up disappointed by getting her hopes up too high.

(Annoyingly considerate in a way she doesn't know how to deal with.) ]

That's fine. I'm not, but that just means I've already experienced the uphill struggle.

[ It's probably easier to learn magic when you're actually born with it, after all, than when you have to start from the ground up with something that's hard and unfamiliar, something that sometimes still feels like it's tearing you apart. ]

I'm not the type who gives up so easily, you know.