Continue assembling

You take a quick sip of the drink...quickly scrunching up your face at the sharp, heavy taste. Meanwhile, Phoebe starts chugging it down, like she'd been drinking it every day...which, for all you know, she very well might. The silence is a bit awkward: your guard fidgeting at his post as you find yourself unable to take your eyes off those puppets. There had to be at least two dozen on each side, hanging limply and constantly bumping into one another...eyes and bodies both so still. It contrasted completely with their owner's bubbling energy, soon slamming her mug on the table and letting out a long, contented sigh. You're only fully brought back to reality when she leans in and flicks your forehead; causing you to shake off the odd hold the lifelike toys had over you.

"Hello...Fortasia to Ridley." she said half-jokingly. "I'm up here, silly. I mean, I know Lizzie is pretty and all but...is she really more interesting then me?"

You find yourself stumbling over a few words before you can manage to answer her question. "I was just...admiring the work." You give a suspicious glance down at the ****; pushing the rest of it to the side of the table. "Anyways, I don't really have time to be drinking. I'm trying to get us out of the city by tonight and we still have to pick of the rest of our adventuring party. You understand, right?" Gods, you sounded so stupid right now...but it'd be a cold day in hell before you admitted you didn't quite understand what was going on. After all, how were you going to get this girl to respect your leadership if she thought this was enough to overwhelm you?

Phoebe frowns upon hearing this. "But I still haven't done my grand finale..." she whined, sounding half like a child on the verge of a tantrum. But you stand firm, not even blinking as she gives you puffy lips and puppy dog eyes.

"Its not polite to keep them waiting, Phoebe," you say sternly, pushing yourself out of your seat. "If you want to stay here until tonight, that's fine. But I'm heading out." You take a few steps towards the door before you hear your companion's seat scrape out behind you, reaching out and tightly grabbing the back of your robes.

"No...I'll come." She agreed, turning back to face the barkeeper. "Sorry...you'll have to find somebody else to do the evening show." The man bit his lower lip, clearly disgruntled, but just gave a nod and returned to pouring the drinks: clearly too busy to do anything about it now.

"Thanks," you give Phoebe a friendly pat on the head once you step outside: the guards shifting around as one of those who'd been guarding the door takes the lead: finding yourself loosening up as you bid this shady quarter of town goodbye. He takes you east, through housing blocks, craftsmen's lanes, and markets, Phoebe moving in short skips behind you. All throughout town, eyes settle on you and this strange prancing women...enough that even somebody as used to public appearances as you start to feel a little uncomfortable. It almost feels like a godsend when you finally make your way past the canal that marked the edge of the Far Eastern quarter; the relative silence and subdued colors helping put you at ease.

From there it's only a short trip to your destination: The Temple of the God of the Whispering Wind; at least, the one for this section of town. While you'd been to the ornate palace chapel of your Kingdom's patron deity plenty of times, as you passed underneath it's black arch it all felt so new: No fancy rituals, no glaring stained glass or hissing of pipe organs: just the calm serenity of a natural garden. For a few moments, that bliss stays with you...until Phoebe reminds you of her presence by rushing out and standing under the trees: standing up on her tip-toes so she could grab one of the high, bright pink blossoms; giggling softly to herself. You just shake your head...in this case her silliness almost endearing as you join her: reaching up and plucking a branch along with the blossom attached to it: the combination looking like a proper flower.

Phoebe tried reaching for the branch as you hold it just above her reach, laughing happily as she hops up; trying to get her hands on it as you slowly guide her down the garden's path. It was funny to watch her try to get you: pulling it further up every time she gets close. You glance back, seeing her dashing forward, arms held out threateningly...before in a flash of dark green she's suddenly on her stomach, the steel of a blade glinting just above her throat before you can focus on her assailant.

"Is this vagrant bothering you, my lord?" you hear the green figure ask, looking down just as she's looking up. From what you could see in those eyes, she was completely serious with where she had the blade, squatting perfectly still as Phoebe stopped her early struggling. "Do not worry yourself," she continued after a few moments of you looking. "She won't be delaying you any longer. Will you?" she asked to Phoebe.

"Get...off...me..." she grunted, weakly trying to shrug the warrior off her. After a few more moments, you motion the ninja to stand up: quickly leaping off Phoebe and landing a foot or so away.

"She's with me." you inform you, offering Phoebe and hand and helping her back onto her feet. "On an important mission in service of the prince. I'm hear to gather warriors to join me on a great adventure...Asuka?"

The second you're done, the ninja gives two deep bows: one to you and the other to Phoebe. "That is I...my deepest apologies." she said sincerely, sheathing her sword. "I didn't realize she was in your service as well. It looked as though she might be trying to rob you..." You see her glance at the blossom in your hand. "Or were you intending to give that to her?" Phoebe adds to the pressure by looking at you as well...griping tightly to the flower as you slyly smile. Time for a little prestidigitation...

"In a way, yes." He say calmly, pulling the branch back into your bulky sleeves. "But I suppose I can share with both of you just as easily." You hold your other hand to your lips, bobbing it up and down as you whisper the words of this simple spell: when your arm emerges the blossom having duplicated itself in your grip. "Tada!" You shout somewhat comically: placing one branch into the belt of Asuka's uniform and the other underneath one of Phoebe's many bracelets. For a moment, you could swear you saw Asuka's eyes light up just a little...while Phoebe stairs at her share and keeps shifting it to try to see it in the best light.

"Ah...understood." Asuka continued. "You are a fine mage, my liege. I can't possibly express my gratitude enough."

'It's just a basic spell...' you think to yourself before brushing the issues aside. "I guess so...but that's part of the problem. Mages aren't good at keeping monsters off ourselves, so I need a good warrior to watch over me in the field."

"Then I shall be your shield." she said matter of factly. "I will dedicate all my efforts to see to it you are not harmed...and will not waver in my duty." You see her cast a slightly dismissive glace at Phoebe, the girl just gawking at the trees for now.

"I'm sure you'll do great, Asuka."

"Then please if there is anything you wish to know before we continue, I'd be happy to answer you." She looks on expectantly...the fabric covering her face standing stern and all her muscles taut: subtly shifting herself on occasion as if trying to emphasis her strength.