Lyria and Co. En Route to the Market - QO (Lyria’s POV-Mirrored)

Chapter 2, Interlude 3 – Getting Acquainted

Lyria was truly exhilarated to be reunited with her brother, and while she would have loved to spend some more time catching up, she was also excited to see who he would pick for their team. She watched him carefully as he interviewed candidates for a defensive adventurer until he finally settled on the half-giant, Ursa Cloudwalker.

Ursa gave a simple nod to Lyria once she sat down next to her, but after that didn’t say much while they watched Kaylen make his next selection. Then the elf woman joined them – who allowed them to call her Lynn instead of using her full name every time – and she didn’t seem any more inclined to strike up a conversation, at least until Lyria prodded her into it.

But then shortly after Kaylen had made his third choice, a red-haired foreign girl who kept most of her figure concealed by loose clothing and wraps, Kaylen himself approached to speak with them. He told them that he and the guild master were going to find a healer and asked if they wanted to accompany him or meet up later, so since Lyria seemed to functionally be Kaylen’s second, she turned to get the opinions of the other three girls.

Janel shrugged, and Lynn simply looked between them to see if any of them would offer an opinion. It was Ursa who spoke up first. “I need to gather my travel gear. I didn’t bring any of it when I heard they were holding trials.”

Lyria looked at Lynn, and then back to Janel, who seemed to waver a moment before shrugging again, “I mean, I’m in the same boat. Might as well meet up later, I guess.”

Lyria turned back to the elf, “We have a consensus.” Lynn said simply.

So she turned back to her brother and relayed the unanimous answer, and agreed they would meet up with him near the market district before watching him leave and finally turning back to the girls. She did have to wonder at the fact that her brother had somehow managed to choose only women for his team. It looked like he was considering a few men, but ultimately didn’t select them.

As if reading her thoughts, Ursa leaned forward slightly so she could lower her voice and ask, “Lyria. Your brother isn’t a deviant is he?”

“No, of course not!” Lyria protested, maybe a little too quickly. Her little brother may have been away for the last thirteen years, but she couldn’t imagine he’d have changed that much in that time. But what did she really know?

“So what if he is?” Janel asked. “I’m sick of being overlooked just because I’m foreign, or a kitsune, or a girl. If he tried something we could handle him, so long as we work together, right?”

Lyria looked to Lynn once again, and the elf met her gaze for a long moment. “If your brother proves troublesome for us, would you side with him against us?” She asked her straight up.

The question brought Lyria up short. “I’m sure he’s not like that.” She insisted.

“You may be right. But if it became necessary, would you help us subdue your brother?”

Lyria didn’t want to answer, didn’t want to contemplate what they were asking, but she ultimately couldn’t lie. “I would help you, if it came to that. But it won’t, I promise.” She lowered her gaze to watch her feet, as she resumed walking down the street with them. By that point the guild hall was well out of sight behind them, and Lyria wished they’d never broached this topic.

Though she couldn’t put it completely out of her mind, and they made it about a quarter mile before Lyria had to break the uncomfortable silence. “Kaylen has changed while he was away. He has become pretty handsome, I would say.” She muttered, thinking back to the moment she’d seen him again for the first time in thirteen years, before she’d realized who he was.

“He’s a bit short.” Ursa said, clearly having overheard Lyria’s comment to herself.

“I think he’s generally a good height.” Janel said, “I didn’t know mages could be handsome. Isn’t he a bit tall for a human?”

“He’s taller than me.” Lynn affirmed. “I am tall for an elf.”

It was then that Ursa stopped, and after a moment the others turned toward her to see her looking down a cross street. “I’ve been staying down near the docks, so I need to go this way to retrieve my travel equipment.” She informed them.

“Then let’s each go our own ways, and then meet back up here to go on to the market district.” Lyria suggested, and they all agreed.