Nostrum: Tales of Valor

Prompting Reality

With many miles of woodlands, fires, and sparse settlements now separating them from the security of their cottage, Lee stops the wagon and walks to the rear, where he extracts a small, bundled-up tent from the contents within. As he prepares an area of land for camp, Hael sits at the edge of the wagon, alongside Marne and Yuler, who both express a need for rehydration.

"Lee keeps certain that water is easily sourced near camp. I'm sure that if the both of you wouldn't mind venturing off you could fetch us a plentiful supply."

Taking her word on this, Marne tosses quilts and sacks aside, pulling a pail from the bottom of the pile. Then, he too steps away from the wagon, followed closely by Yuler, who clicks her tongue against the roof of her drying mouth.

"Be sure you don't take long." Lee turns towards the sky for a moment as he raises the tent's wooden frame. "Night will be setting in soon enough."

Discovering a small creek not far off from where they had left Hael and Lee, Marne splashes cool water against his face while Yuler fills the pail a little further upstream. Once the pail is filled to the brim, she sets it aside and proceeds to do the same. Ensuring she takes some in as it is pressed against her lips.

"So, Chatswen."

"Hmm?" Yuler furrows her brow as she runs a damp hand over the back of her neck and looks towards Marne, who scrubs at his fingertips beneath the running water.

"Your family; they're in Chatswen, yes?"

"I hope that's the case." A worried tone slips into her words, telling Marne plenty.

"I'm sure no one is intentionally leaving their homes in a time like this."

"Yes, but it's been some time since my last visit. My father had just fallen ill days prior to my leaving." Yuler sighs as she collects the pail and stands upright, ready to head back to camp. "He insisted I go still. He was proud of my decision to join such a... a prestigious...." She pauses for a moment, letting disappointment linger in the air. "He was proud to see one of his children choose to follow the works of Nostrum."

"Ah." Standing himself, the two begin their journey back, but keep a slow and steady pace whilst doing so. "So, you were most certainly born into all of this."

"As harsh as it is, yes."

"What made you decide to pick this line of work?"

"I've already said." Yuler looks to Marne briefly, her lips now pressed to one side. Then, she looks to the ground, keeping an eye on each obstacle in their path. "None of my family, nor siblings were ever brought up to be Nostrum. Nor have any of us ever had a Sigil to fall back on."

"Well, I'm sure the Purebloods were quick to take you in with little to nothing standing in the way of your acceptance."

She smiles, seemingly remembering the day she had been brought into the ranks. Something most every Pureblood has found pride in.

"It was a rather smooth transition. Of course, not having anywhere near the experience of others, I had to be detoured. It was only fitting and I understood." Her smile fades away as she remembers yet another event from her earliest days. "Gru'go was the very first I was to train, once my own training was completed. The Council thought it a wise decision, as their assumption was that he would learn quickly under the wing of someone he had already established trust in."

"I'm sorry." No longer wanting to pry, Marne licks at his bottom lip and decides to offer some words of his own past. "When Belial and Myself came here, we were all alone. The Bethel was something of a safe haven to us. They had even been the ones to set in our Sigils. However, this was only a branch of the thing." Yuler looks to Marne for a moment, then straight ahead. Occasionally switching between the two as her interest becomes peeked. "The night before we were meant to head off, Purebloods had come into the village. It... was instant."

"What was?" Asks Yuler, not wanting the story to end so soon.

"The reaction. A Nostrum atop one outpost shouted out to us a warning. A warning that Purebloods were coming our way. Once it had been said, members of the congregation began packing up, arming themselves, and tucking away the youths. Belial and I were given weapons to defend ourselves and the others, but we never did. The battle was quick and bloody. They had taken out both towers first, then rained fire on the congregation from outside the gates. Many of our leading members began to flee on horseback, taking away the youths in carriages and leaving the rest of us behind to fend off the attack. Once the dust began to settle, the Purebloods approached us. We were shaking and scared, fearing for our lives. The one at the head of it all... Achlys." Marne swallows hard as Yuler's eyes widen. Her intent listening forces Marne to continue his recount. "She saw something in the both of us. We were told it would all be alright and that the youths would be rescued. Rescued. We had thought that that was what had happened already. I could see it then. The corruption that guided the hands of our leaders. The ill teachings that they had forced upon us in our earliest days. We were never truly safe there."

"They were conditioning you. Weren't they?"

"They were." Marne nods his head as a puff of thin smoke is seen overhead. Telling him that Lee had managed to start a fire for the night to come. "I pleaded with Belial to come with me. To come with the Purebloods. It wasn't even necessary to do so, He was willing to follow me wherever I chose to be. I appreciate him for this, even now. Even with my guilt." Clearing his throat, he adds on what little more he has to offer. "Anyhow, the Purebloods informed us of the truth behind The Bethel's intentions and the origin of... Mildew. A silly name, still." He chuckles. "Achlys removed our Sigils herself. Something I now know was nothing more than a way for her to weaken those willing to follow her." He stifles a whimper and clears his throat again. "We stepped out of one trap, only to step right into another."

"Glad to see you've managed to find your way back!" Lee exclaims, waving them over to a pot of dry, salted meats that simmer over the fire. "Pour a bit of that in there, would you? A good stew is certainly not meant to be burnt."

"Of course." Yuler agrees, shuffling over to the fire and tipping the pail towards the pot.

"I'll add potatoes and yams once the meats break down more." Hael adds, sitting on a small rug while mixing a bowl of beaten roots. "Nothing out of place on your trip, I presume?"

"It was quiet. Nothing more than a bonding experience, I would say." Giving Marne an apologetic smile and receiving one in return, Yuler sets the water off to one end of a log and takes a seat, maintaining her distance from the flames out of distaste for the day that has gone by.

"Come midday tomorrow we will have reached Maciofim." Hael assures, passing the bowl off to Lee before brushing away bits of dirt and leaves that managed to fall in her lap. "I'm sure none of us will have any trouble sleeping through the night."

"I would certainly hope not!" States Lee, who is now stirring the pot as small bubbles begin to form within. "Nothing makes me sleep better than a good sweat."

"Yes, well, the booze will do that to you."

Lee sneers at Hael, mimicking her words in a silent and mocking manner as he adds crushed pepper to the stew.

Noticing Marne's silence throughout the exchanges, Yuler turns to him. His expressionless face is fixated on the flames as he has managed to lose himself in thought.

"Everything alright?" She asks, keeping her voice hushed and warm.

"Of course," He assures, pulling himself up and resting his hands against his knees, "just letting what we're up against set in."

"Where we're going, there is nothing for us to truly fear." Hael tips a cheek in Marne's direction in an effort to look his way. "Not one thing within that city is a bigger threat than the things we've encountered under the Pureblood League."

"Not one thing within it was any of our business till just a day ago, if I may add." Lee slaps a ladle full of stew into a bowl and passes it off to Yuler, who then passes it to Marne, who in turn hands it off to Hael.

"You may not." Hael sips at the contents with a spoon and smacks her lips. "Our work here is long overdue. Have some faith in those around you, Lee."