[Valvatorez had noted that Toki had been unusually quiet for most of the trip, but by and large kept quiet about it himself, as to not unbalance the lad. After all, he knew what was at the end of this... that in itself would require plenty of talking on his own part, as he figured.
Still, he continued speaking nonetheless, even knowing he'd be doing a lot of it. ...Especially as they go deeper into the forest.]
Yes. Well. While I wouldn't normally do this... I feel like now is as good a time as any to put it out there. To you two, at least.
[He had his reasons. He trusted Ekkehardt well enough to know he wouldn't speak of it, and while Toki was a bigger wildcard about that, he'd already seen her through his visions, so the cat was well out of the bag with him anyway.
A few moments later, they would emerge into a field; a clearing, encircled by trees. A place that clearly wasn't natural, as the trees seemed to stop growing within the field itself. The field was wide enough that the sunlight from above could spill into the clearing, though not so wide the branches of the large trees couldn't cast shade into it. In fact, the path seemed to simply go right into the center of the clearing.
In the center of the clearing was a small patch of flowers; modest, but attractive without being grandiose. The ring of plants, though, surrounded a gravestone, standing about three feet tall, hewn to look like a cross... though no name was etched onto the stone, nor were there dates on it. The stone itself looked... surprisingly well kept, though it was also clear it was very old.
Valvatorez led them both up to it, and stopped. He was... quiet, for a moment, pensive and reflective, before he finally spoke.]
Here we are. Gentlemen, this is... Artina. Or, where her final resting place is. However you would prefer to think of it. [He wasn't really sure how he felt about it either, but he sat down the bag from his shoulder, and opened it up. Inside were... simply cleaning tools, meant for stonework.] ...I take time to come out here to make sure this place is... kept.
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Still, he continued speaking nonetheless, even knowing he'd be doing a lot of it. ...Especially as they go deeper into the forest.]
Yes. Well. While I wouldn't normally do this... I feel like now is as good a time as any to put it out there. To you two, at least.
[He had his reasons. He trusted Ekkehardt well enough to know he wouldn't speak of it, and while Toki was a bigger wildcard about that, he'd already seen her through his visions, so the cat was well out of the bag with him anyway.
A few moments later, they would emerge into a field; a clearing, encircled by trees. A place that clearly wasn't natural, as the trees seemed to stop growing within the field itself. The field was wide enough that the sunlight from above could spill into the clearing, though not so wide the branches of the large trees couldn't cast shade into it. In fact, the path seemed to simply go right into the center of the clearing.
In the center of the clearing was a small patch of flowers; modest, but attractive without being grandiose. The ring of plants, though, surrounded a gravestone, standing about three feet tall, hewn to look like a cross... though no name was etched onto the stone, nor were there dates on it. The stone itself looked... surprisingly well kept, though it was also clear it was very old.
Valvatorez led them both up to it, and stopped. He was... quiet, for a moment, pensive and reflective, before he finally spoke.]
Here we are. Gentlemen, this is... Artina. Or, where her final resting place is. However you would prefer to think of it. [He wasn't really sure how he felt about it either, but he sat down the bag from his shoulder, and opened it up. Inside were... simply cleaning tools, meant for stonework.] ...I take time to come out here to make sure this place is... kept.