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Floor 1, Room 2:
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It was their duty to combat mana beasts regardless of their appearance but she could understand that this was likely hard for the paint mage. No one should take pleasure in killing anything in the shape of a child, but she also knew people could and would do it without a second thought. It was something that was needed on occasion and there wasn't anything that they could do to stop it but they could still feel for the life that had been taken mana beast or otherwise. Children shouldn't be allowed anywhere near dungeons and she would hope that the people tending to this particular one would prevent any getting too close but there was no way to know without speaking to them, then again, that would also need for the caretakers to be believed. Thing was she couldn't trust them if they would allow civilians just to wander into a place they knew to be dangerous.
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This place gave off so many red flags and they had barely begun she was sure it was going to get worse as they continued on. She also thought that the shoe trophies and the sickly plant children weren't going to be the worst things they came across in this place. She watched his actions and movements, she wanted to make sure he wasn't mentally distressed, she was taught to compartmentalize but she understood not everyone could do the same, still, it appeared as if Freyr had his own method when it came to dealing with such issues. She was enjoying her conversation with the Silver Eagle member, it was refreshing to find one that wasn't so far up their own rectums that they could see other's point of view and offer a new perspective to the conversation.
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She was glad they seemed to be creating a strong bond, it would be beneficial to both she believed. Then again she was a political prodigy and given his line of work he had to have been born with a silver tongue. She would be happy to have another meaningful conversation with him when they were both off-duty and could relax. She had to admit the taller man was quite attractive but she wasn't interested in him like that, though she could imagine when he walked down the street he got quite a few glances and at balls must end up with sore feet with all the noble ladies asking him for a dance. From what she could tell he was quite the gentleman and likely knew what he wanted in his spouse. She could tell whoever it would be would be a lucky woman and be treated the way they deserved.
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She knew she had giggled a few times by now and realized they didn't know each other all that well. "I laugh not to humiliate or at you but because I genuinely find things you say funny or witty." she wanted to be completely transparent with him she had never done such a thing to be cruel at any time in her life but she understood he only knew her by reputation and not as a person. "Please let me know if you are taking anything the wrong way so I can clear things up or correct my behaviour." she knew that she was a captain and he was below her in the pecking order but they were both just people at the end of the day and as their earlier conversation showed at the end of the day when death came to claim his prize he didn't care about such things.
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She nodded to his words "A few hundred yul might not seem a lot to those as privileged and blessed as us but for those in a less fortunate life it could be world-changing, that's what many nobles don't seem to understand. That or they will help but they will put that bar so high that the ones seeking aid will have to humiliate and debase themselves and in which world is that right." she said shaking her head "The Silva and Vaude are the worst for it as they want to keep those less privileged beneath their feet for all eternity and that's just no way of living." she sounded disgusted at how those kind of arrogant and self-righteous families were. They were no better than those they tried to keep down, they didn't gain the wealth merely by riding on the coattails of those who came before them as if it was their glory.
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She knew that no one should expect to live on handouts and they should never become dependent on them but a little help when severely struggling or to get started in a business or other venture would be beneficial. She understood and approved the male's way of thinking as it was true. Giving constant handouts was nothing more than covering the wound the underlying issue would still be there and fester, it also meant that they would never heal and become dependent on themselves. "In your line of work, what is the worst thing you've seen someone do with the aid you had given them? You don't need to answer of course." she was curious as to the kind of experiences he had had, she knew the best experiences would be heartwarming and so asked for the worst as she wanted to know how he avoided the same predicament in the future.
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She could tell by her words he was caught off-guard and assured her that he wasn't a daemon, she would like to assume that he wasn't as she had dealt with enough of them to fill several lifetimes. He gave reasons as to why he could fool people if he were indeed a daemon "I still think the Silva are daemons in disguise given their disdain for the general public." she said calmly. She watched as he laughed at his own joke, she was glad he was in such high spirits. "The world is an empty canvas?" she seemed perplexed about this idea. "I always thought of the world as an intricate tapestry, every member of the world being a different thread interwoven to tell one grand story." she said showing that they sort of had the same idea just different ways of going about it.
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"Paintings have emotions?" she would ask she was confused on the matter, she knew that artists put some emotion into their works but this seemed far more complex. It was when he said that he didn't like the world of others intruding on his that she poked his cheek "And this is why you'll grow old and alone, we need other lives to interfere with ours or our world will be dull and boring." she said with a smile "I mean us doing this task together is me intruding into your world and you intruding into mine." she said with a grin, she knew it was true. "Or would you rather be one of those pathetic lone wolf types who believe they are the protagonist of the world's story?" she would ask him, she knew there were many people who believed their own head cannon that they were the main character of not only their own story but everyone else's too.
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"I wish for a world without fighting too, but if it ever comes to fruition we will be dead and giving nutrition to the flowers that grow above us." she said thoughtfully, the world right now was filled with far too many selfish people, there was no way that it was ever going to change. "I can tell you not all daemons are bad, like us they vary in personality and wants but I still have dealt with enough for several lifetimes." she informed him. To her knowledge, there had been a single one in Raque, three in Kikka and seven within the witch's forest. She just wanted a time of peace from these creatures. "Serena was easy to see through even as she played victim she didn't show the signs of being human." she stated.
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"Sven wanted to cause misery that would last long after he perished and has managed just that. Ito was an observer who isolated himself from the world, although he cared for his sister Lilitu. Lilitu cared for those she brought into her embrace as wraiths even sacrificing parts of herself so they could remain who they once were. Ito and Lilitu would also remain true to their word." she said thoughtfully "And well, the last seven... I can't speak on those since the reports are still classified for now." she said moving to his side. "People always want more than they already have not realizing that it can cause them more strife and if not them it has a ripple effect where it affects others. This is why we end up having wars after all." she said walking with him, she hated people who essentially had more than their fair share but still wanted more.
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"I agree. Stopping and smelling the roses as they say is far more beneficial than starting a war for the pride of people who already have enough." she said with a sigh "It's not those who give the orders that end up on or dying in the frontlines of a war but those far below who are just doing as they are told." her tone was quiet as she spoke "I am a tactician as you likely know but I look at things differently than my offensive counterparts because were all they want is victory all I want is to protect life on both sides. It might mean I lose skirmishes here and there more than they ever would but it ensures that the amount of death is minimized significantly." she said looking at him with a weak smile, this had been the reason she ended up as captain.
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"I am sure in the future your art will be a highly admired and collectable thing." she said with a soft tone "I have no such talent I can leave behind, I'm not saddened by that fact. Flowers are beautiful when they are within the world and are admired by those around them but once they wither and perish no one ever gives them as second thought." she seemed at peace with this fact as it was just the cycle of the life she had been brought up in. She did everything she could to remain out of the limelight "Perhaps we can paint together someday." She doubted she was up to his standard but painting was part of her education given where her family wanted her to end up. She knew it was an honour but she still didn't like her life was decided for her due to her gender.
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She noticed how the other rolled his eyes at her suggestion and looked down "I'm sorry." she whispered, she felt like she offended the man. She was trying her best to help but she realized that his situation was complicated so she shouldn't interfere. "I understand family being stuck in their ways." she said in a small voice "I believe that is the terminology." she said holding her sleeves. "Although sometimes things work can fall behind the times if not innovated and so will become redundant and that is just as bad as being broken." she whispered. She nodded "We do go through a lot of parchment for one reason or another, I couldn't tell you how it is made or if it has changed in my lifetime though, I do know all the materials are grown on my family's estate however." she said quietly.
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She could tell he cared about his father and making him proud she guessed that was just something that was a thing regardless of where a son was born. She noticed his reaction as she poked his cheek and brought back her hand as he chuckled. "That isn't true, even someone with strong broad shoulders can break under the weight if they don't find someone to share the burden with." she said her tone showing worry, she knew in a lot of cases it was difficult but she was sure he could find someone even if it was just within his own family or a trusted friend. She looked concerned as he spoke about how it would be too taxing for his mother and how he would be a bad brother to allow his sisters to do it. "You are a good person Freyr but eventually you're going to buckle under that weight if you try carrying it alone." she showed concern for his well-being.
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"I can understand how taxing obligation and duty are not only when it comes from family but as a member of a squad, we all handle things differently but I know it isn't easy. A balancing act that can easily fail at one, the other or both." she looked down. So many times she had wanted to break down under the pressure put on her by her family to be a good daughter and wife and from others to lead. She often felt like she was going to suffocate. Hearing him say her brother's names her train of thought came back to reality and she nodded "Yes, that's them." she said with a small smile and nodded "Yes, that's right. Given our traditions I doubt my brothers enjoy that I am a higher rank thank them." her tone was nervous as she spoke.
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She knew that her brother Jirou was a but much to handle for most but he was a good man and she was sure if Freyr gave him a chance they would be able to get along or well at least be civil. She was quite sure that many inside his own squad were far worse than her brother when it came to peacocking, it was run by a Silva after all. "It might be best to meet them at the same time, my eldest brother can always temper Jirou if he becomes too much and I can be there too if you would like. I don't know if you know sign language." she said knowing that her eldest brother's magic was fluctuating and due to it he had lost his spirit companion Isis. He had been taking the loss badly but she couldn't blame him for that.
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"I have to agree, it is because of this that some commoners believe that the only people with troubles, problems or issues is them." she shook her head a little unable to believe that there were truly people out there who believed that nobles had no issues or concerns in the world just because of their status. "The issue is, the higher up in the pecking order you are the more people hope for your fall." it was true so she didn't even want to imagine how many people homed for her downfall given her status as a princess but then as far as she knew she was highly respected within the kingdom but then she also knew that most people hid cruel intentions behind a fake facade of kindness and support. "In my culture it all depends if they want to make an example of you." she said with a very small voice.
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"I don't mean to pry and you don't need to answer but have you fallen victim to this? I mean..." she shook her head she knew that things behind closed doors shouldn't get spoken about "Please forgive my rudeness, I shouldn't have asked." she was wanting to understand what Western nobles went through. She knew she could ask those within the Ravencrest but it wasn't exactly the most conventional family from what she saw. That wasn't a bad thing as both family and staff were happy with the way things were running and that was all that mattered at the end of the day but it still didn't help her understand the differences between east and west nobility. It was then he repeated her question making her confused "Has no one ever asked you that before?" she inquired.
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She found it strange he had to think about the answer to such a question, she listened to his answer and gave him a nod but the fact he even had to think about it was off-putting to her. "You are already courting, she is a very lucky lady." she said after hearing that he mirrored his partners so she just assumed that he already had one. "O... oh or is it a previous person you are talking about? N... no nevermind... I... I'm being rude again, please forgive me." she didn't understand why she was feeling so comfortable around him but it just felt like she could ask questions without being judged. She wasn't attempting to be rude but clearly trying to understand things she wouldn't know being given an upbringing traditional to her culture, still she felt like she was getting too personal with her questions and she was truly apologetic for it.
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She listened to him explain that he didn't think about it much but this was as real as he could be when he didn't have to stand on ceremony, he guessed it did make sense in their world how you appeared was everything so masks for the most part were always worn. She hated how it had to be that way, but then the upper echelons of society seemed to be nothing more than cliques regardless of which culture you came from. "It makes sense that you wouldn't want to let this part be seen, but then, why show it to me?" she asked him confused, she guessed because like he had earlier stated he was just returning the same energy he was being given. She wasn't standing on ceremony and wasn't being formal, she doubted she was even acting like a typical captain but then she wasn't exactly a typical magic knight.
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"I will need to take your word for it Freyr as I have no intention of doing something so improper" she said with a smile, she knew like when she attempted to help him earlier he was attempting to do the same for her now. "I have healthier ways to cope that won't make me seem like a lunatic." she said covering her mouth with a sleeved hand to chuckle lightly. She wasn't insulting his methods as she knew what wouldn't work for her for whatever reason could and likely would work for others but again this came down to perception. "Because I do not wish my name to be attached to the project." she said sheepishly "I believed that it might put you off or believe that there might be something nefarious due to it. I assure you it's not the case." she was honest the entire time.
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"I... I just don't like being in the limelight more than absolutely necessary." she said looking up at him "It was daunting for me when my name became so well known, I am not that special and I don't need to be looked at or spoken of as if I am." she held her sleeves, it was something she did when she was in distress or felt emotional discomfort. "This is your first project you are doing on your own?" she would ask with surprise "This is a good way to show your father that blending his way of thinking with your wish of innovating can be merged together and become very successful. I do hope it goes smoothly but you have my support in anything you need for it." she said truly hoping for his success and that he would be able to make his father proud with how he did things.
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"I'm sure your father will recognise your potential if it doesn't come out completely perfect and will acknowledge your hard work regardless of the outcome." her tone was delicate as she spoke "I am glad to hear that you are respectful to such things, I have heard of nobles that are not and neither are their children." she couldn't imagine going to another families estate and being so disrespectful, that being said recently she had just done that but Jevi needed that last push to show that his father wasn't a being to be feared like he was still a small boy. She was already dreading the outcome of that but she would take it in her stride. "I believe that's why my family chose to settle down in the area that they did. The mist is mystical and shields our way of life." she was proud of her home.
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She nodded to his assumption "You are correct, other than the breathtaking beauty of the area, our estate runs on the traditions of my family's homeland and so it protects our way of life from the western world." she was completely honest as she spoke to him on the matter, she didn't see any reason to lie about it. She believed that of all people he would be the most likely to understand as a painter. "I have never thought of the mist as a gate or wall but a shield but I can understand why people may view it as such given how western estates were protected." Her family took the needs of the civilians on their estate seriously and were given homes, food, an allowance for their needs and for promising children to have an education.
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It wasn't perfect by any means but they still had a better life than a lot of commoners who worked for families in the east. "A dream to see the views of my home? I don't consider them dreams but then I'm not an outsider wondering what lies beyond the mist." she seemed in thought as she spoke on the matter, she had never looked at it from the other side, but she did remember she as a child she was curious what laid pas the mist. She often got scolded for going too near or asking questions about outside being told that monsters lived beyond it and she was safe inside the mist's protection, she did ask why her brothers could go past the mist and was told it was because it was boys and they were strong enough to protect themselves and it was to make sure she was safe.
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Eventually, she stopped asking about it as she grew and believed that she would be forever kept inside her gilded cage with clipped wings. "There are many families that have fallen on their blades, the Vermilion being the most recent one." she said thoughtfully. "I haven't had many interactions with the Silva I do admit but their former heir seemed to have severe daddy issues and believed mommy could do no wrong. I think there's a term for that." she would say as she continued walking "What does alumni mean? I'm sorry the terminology is new to me." she admitted though seemingly embarrassed about it. When she said he didn't have to attend the banquet she could see he was mildly offended at the suggestion "Have you never been invited before?" she would ask in a confused tone, she would have thought that all worthwhile nobles would have been.
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"I will warn you, Hania isn't the most social person but he does have a wide variety of topics he can speak on." she said looking up at him "And yes, he reads micro-expressions, micro-movements, body language, tones and the undertones in one's voice to see what they really think of a situation." she warned him, the head of the Ravencrest was an odd man but due to that his estate was one of the safest in the kingdom, it was also where Amaya's paranoia came from because he was like a walking lie detector. She wasn't so sure if he would be claiming the same after he met him but she believed it should be fine so long as Freyr didn't present himself as an idiot as Hania's survival instincts would kick in and he would excuse himself mid-conversation instead of dying of boredom or cringe.
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She made a mental note to send a letter to Hania when she got home to request the change and when she got confirmation she would send the invite to Freyr. She understood that nobles tended to have many summer homes, then again it was the same in the east but it was more like a change of palaces for a while. She was so glad that she wasn't in the imperial harem she didn't want to even think how bad that could be. She had visited many of the Ravencrest homes since the release of her cage but she understood that not everyone was as lucky. She was impressed by just how they looked, it was clear they were a family of means but they made sure not to make it gaudy, unlike the Silva. She wondered if their first family member had been blind or if the architect just hated them that much.
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She knew that the Ravencrest were militaristic and prideful in nature but they made sure to keep it in check and give people a chance to try and do things themselves before they stepped in to help, she guessed it was another way of doing what Freyr was as neither wanted people dependant on them and wanted to have them try and do things on their own at the end of the day. "Two strands of the same thread." she whispered thoughtfully. "There is no "willing" here, you have done absolutely nothing to make me dislike you Freyr." she said showing to her this was just a friendship blooming naturally "Had I taken a disliking to you then I wouldn't be speaking so much and my mind would be focused on the task at hand." she said her voice as gentle as it had been their entire walk so far.
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"It can be difficult to be heard given my nature and sometimes my gender." she confessed "But that isn't just a Clover thing, my own culture is just as bad if not worse." she said honestly, "I think the only reason I'd be taken seriously there is because of my bloodline." she said nervously as she once again held her sleeves, she would let go after a few seconds and listen to his words more "Sometimes Captains are formal due to their upbringing, what they saw of their former captain or because they want to have a power trip." she said truthfully to him "I'm still not accustomed to my new role but even if I was I would like to think I would still remain how I am now. It's not exactly like this is a serious situation." she said with a small smile, she knew it was still dangerous but still she had been through worse.
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"I understand your concerns. To me, there are times that strictness is needed such as when the daemons were here or during a war but at current there is no need for that same stiffness." she said warmly, but then she wasn't known for that kind of nature. "The people who ascended to captain around the same time as me also seem to be more or less how they were before they took their titles. I must admit, I will have to visit Barron one of these days, his speeches at the spirit festivals were soothing and he was another one who never seemed to take things too seriously when it wasn't needed." she stated but smiled brightly as he seemingly accepted her help. "You just let me know what you need and I will do my best. Experience is one of the things captains must have so that is something I can help with." she seemed excited to help.
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She nodded to his question "In front of a civilian and two other magic knights." she said sheepishly "And that is a tale for tea." she said showing that she wasn't going to speak of it in a place like this, it also showed that she would like to see him in a more casual setting "That is if you would like to spend time with me socially of course, it was wrong of me to assume." she would say with a small voice, it would be hard to believe this girl was a magic knight let alone the captain of one of the most prestigious squads given her appearance and behaviours. Her hands instantly balled showing that it still got her angry thinking about it. The forest and its inhabitants be they humanoid, animal or mana beast were all innocent and didn't deserve what he was proposing as a "solution".
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"There are some people who can't play dumb even if you ask them to. Hania is a fine example of that as his tolerance for stupidity is extremely low." that was a well-known fact about the ice mage, the unfortunate thing was that he saw the majority of people as stupid just on varying levels. He knew that the man respected her even if he had never said it as he trusted her enough to help Amaya through her magical constipation. All it turned out to be was she was born with a healing magic and yet attempted to be an offensive mage. The floral mage explained to her that she needed to think more defensively than offensively and guided her through what she meant. It had taken several months but she had managed to finally get spells she remembered just how ecstatic the white-haired woman was and couldn't wait to tell her cousin about it.
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"I can see the appeal of playing dumb but it's not like something I or many others can do given our positions." she explained, as the heir to his family she was sure he could understand her position on that sentiment. She nodded as like her he looked around realizing neither of them had any idea where they were they had been walking and talking the entire time. "Where that's true, there was only one path forward so we are exactly where we needed to be." she said covering her mouth as she chuckled lightly. They had both looked at the cloud of fog and she explained what she believed it to be, he seemed none too happy with the realization. She, herself, was still confused as to why he had been affected by it and yet she hadn't been, it wasn't like she had miasma any longer.
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For now, she decided it would be safer to keep her spell active as a means of making sure he was protected from anything airborne. She didn't know if it would still irritate his skin but she could make sure any damage that would have been done would be healed just as quickly as it happened. She looked at him and shook her head "I don't believe so now that we are out of the miasma cloud but we don't know what other dangers could be around and so I would rather make sure you are protected to be on the safe side." it was in her nature to be a caretaker and protector, she couldn't do what most magic knights could but at the same time, she was the best at what she did. She stopped walking as he let out a coughed laugh at her words.
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"A... are you alright?" she would ask him only for him to repeat her words about giant killer ducks "Given what we've come across already do you not think that it could be a possibility?" she would ask him, it seemed as if he agreed that given everything so far that he could see it as an outcome and like her he would just walk the other way and take the lecture from his captain. "In my thoughts, they would have jagged teeth that were bloody red from their latest kill." she continued adding in a bit more detail. She stopped and looked around "Is... is it just me or is this far too easy thus far?" she would ask the taller male it was then she heard something on the rocks not too far away from their location. "Yup... I knew it..." she whispered.
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She took a moment to count what seemed to be eight woman sitting on the mossy boulders, they were gabbing and looked as if they were about to undress for a swim in the serene pond waters. They stopped the instant they sensed the pair, their gentle features turning aggressive "Don't waste your time trying to reason with them Freyr, take them out but as before make it as quick as possible and let me know if you need any further aid on top of the shield you have now." she stated showing him what needed to happen going forward. It wasn't ideal but the fact they were showing such hostility just by their appearance was enough for her to know that nothing they said was going to be listened to.

Combat Summary

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Floor 1, Room 1: Complete[break]
Floor 1, Room 2: 2,139/3,000
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Budding Defenses
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Items: