The sun beat down harshly on the Cassardis sands and even with the chilly breeze coming in from across the ocean it was no mystery as to why the towns occupants gained such perfect tans so early in the season. Cassardis was a small town, unlike the grand city of Gran Soren which could be seen across the water from the beach just outside the village. Cassardis was a good rest stop for merchants but never the main trade hub for travellers. For what the fishing village lacked in size it made up for in attitude however. Everyone was seen as family and for that they were all tight nit. In Cassardis, they looked out for each other. The work was honest and they took pleasure in knowing that when they went to bed after a good meal it had been earned through a hard days work. As usual kids played along the shores while the adults worked away in content, fishing and getting the boats ready for yet another busy day at sea.

"Valmiro!" Merin called over the boy who was lost in a daydream. Merin was a stout man yet the hours of labour had finely tuned his muscles over the years. He was kind and understanding so ended up tending to the younger ones. He smiled towards the approaching brunette and patted him on the back, "Be a good lad and go find Keo, eh?"

"Do you know where I can find her?" The boy asked with a dopey smile. Valmiro was quite a handsome young man, being finely tanned and built due to his time helping with the boats. Like most of the villagers in Cassardis he had dark eyes with messy tresses to match. He was strong and very idealistic which always brought distraught to the people who had to look after him and due to his good nature knowing this always saddened him. But over the years he'd shaped into quite a handsome man, much to the girls surprise.

Merin nodded his head towards the gate which led to Gransys, a knowing smirk on his lips. Like Valmiro, Keo longed for adventure. Her head was always up in the clouds. To Merin the two were two peas in a pod. "Where she usually is."

"Ah, no worries, cos. I'll have her back to work in no time." After a charming smile Valmiro took to the path, walking up the hill to leave Cassardis. He knew exactly where the fisher would be, he'd be a terrible best friend if he didn't as that was where the two frequented often. Sure enough it didn't take him long to find her in the big old tree which stood just to the left of the gate entrance to Cassardis. He set his gaze to the sky and spotted her silhouette in the tree, the sunlight blocking her features from view. "Keo, Merin wishes you to return."

Keo snapped her attention down at Valmiro, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink at his mere presence. Despite Valmiro being her best friend she couldn't stop her heart beating that little bit faster every time she heard his voice or saw his face. The girl, unlike her fellow villagers and childhood friend, had a pale complexion which was odd for a fisher in Cassardis as the sun usually did away with such skin colour. She had shoulder length blonde hair that she'd pulled into two braids to keep out her face during her adventures otherwise it'd be tied back in a high ponytail but the braids ended up becoming her trade mark hairstyle as of late. As if she didn't stand out enough the twenty year old had a baby face and stood at the petite size of 5'1''. Growing up in a sea of sun kissed villagers had gained her unwanted attention when she was younger from the local bullies. All it had took was her defiance when they bullied Quina for them to point out all of her differences which soon grew into insecurities but when she limped home after taking the punches and the kicks it had always been Valmiro to visit her empty little house and assure her that her differences made her unique and interesting. Keo stood on the branch and extended her arms to balance herself, musing over the boys words. "I don't wish return though." She responded airily. "Perhaps I wish to venture forth and go off on an adventure."

Valmiro couldn't help but smile warmly up at her. Had he not met her when they were kids he would have lived a very sombre existence. She brought excitement to an otherwise boring life. While others worked away seriously, she would always make a game of it and imagine it to be a quest of sorts in order to save the citizens in danger of being eaten by an ogre who hungered for fish. Of course they didn't go out on the boats like the other fishers for she couldn't swim and he got terribly sea sick so they would fish at the shore instead. It was never dull but he knew she longed for real adventure like he did. "Aye.." He would sigh out dreamily, "If only we could travel the lands like we dreamed."

"So why don't we?" She whined, beginning to walk along the branch idly. "We could become adventurers Valmiro! With your tomes and my magic.. It'd be wonderful!"

Valmiro dropped his gaze at her suggestion. Oh how tempting it was for the man and she had no idea how much he'd wanted to hear those words. To run off with this girl and live a life he'd longed for. As much as it called to him, his kind spirit stopped him from leaving the villagers who'd been nothing but sweet to him despite his constant failures. "You know why. Perhaps one day, no? Now come down and lets get some work done?"

"Make me." She uttered childishly, arms crossing over her chest. Keo knew just how much he wanted to go but when she suggested it, he'd always have a reason to stay. Valmiro had always been like that though, even though it was his dream to become a traveller and answer life's questions he was still too nice for his own good. He would still try to make his parents proud of him.

Chocolate optics lifted to meet her hazel ones and he smirked some, "You know I'll come up there." Having been responded with only a cocky shrug Valmiro took to climbing the old oak in an instant. She let out a squeal and hopped to another branch just as he reached her. With a chuckle he lept across so he landed beside her and hooked his arms around her waist. "Will you come willingly?"

"Never!" She laughed, gripping onto the tree truck in rebellion.

"Keo, you should know by now that won't work with me." Valmiro smiled, eyebrow quirking upwards. "Besides Quina, I know you better than anyone else. You're ticklish." And sure enough when he started tickling her she unlatched herself from the tree in a giggle fit. Valmiro chuckled and hoisted her up over his shoulder before hopping off the tree, his landing cushioned by the bush below. "Right, now lets be off and do our duties, eh?"

"...I guess." Keo mumbled in defeat. He had caught her fair and square so when he set her down she returned willingly. The two entered the village and headed down the hill to the shore line where Merin awaited.

"Ah! I was beginning to think you two had zoned off into your own little world again!" He laughed heartily. "

"Worlds." Keo corrected, gaze locking onto the water which lapped at her ankles. "We don't share a world, Merin. That'd be silly. We have our own separate worlds.."

Merin stared at Keo, his smile ever constant. He'd glance to Valmiro who nodded to show she was speaking a fact before looking back to the girl. "I see, my apologies then. Keo, seen as you dislike the water and the last time we took Valmiro out it was a disaster.. Why don't you two go see if Benita needs any help? I'm sure she'll have use of two able assistants."

Valmiro perked up at the mention of helping Benita as he had a passion for plants and knew fine well she'd ask them to collect things. The fisher had somewhat of a scientific mind so found Benita's herbal tasks to be quite enjoyable. He preferred it to fishing anyway. "Right away, Merin!" Valmiro grinned, grasping onto Keo's arm to pull her with him as she started to drift into her own thoughts again.

"What are we doing?" She blinked in confusion when her surroundings had altered to a store. "I could have sworn we were down at the beach." Keo frowned, her hand raising to rub at the back of her head.

Benita let out a giggle and approached the two who stood in the centre of her store. Benita was a plump yet jolly lady with rosy cheeks. Keo always saw her as the mother of the village, like every mother to live in Cassardis she was warm hearted but Benita was special in the girls heart as she looked after the plants Valmiro adored so much. Benita was the woman to send them on errands that would let them imagine themselves somewhere far off. "I need three greenwarish, four large mushrooms and one mithridate. Think you two are up to the task? I know you're quite knowledgeable when it comes to this."

Valmiro brightened up at the compliment and nodded confidently. "We know exactly where to find the ingredients. Don't we?"

Keo blushed when she felt his arm go around her shoulder to assure the herbalist that they had it under control. When in public she became very self aware of her crush for this boy and she knew others could see it written on her as plain as day. The way Benita smiled made it obviously so. The brunette handed Keo the list of herbs in case they forgot the quantity like last time and went about her business.

"Well this aught be fun." Valmiro mused, shifting his gaze down at the blushing girl. Keo however remained quiet and shrank into herself while fiddling with the corners of the note. With a chuckle he moved to place both hands on her shoulders and ended up guiding her out the shop and up the hill which led to the chapel. "I know of some Mithridate and Greenwarish that grows near the graves. We may have to leave town for the mushrooms though."

"Mm.." Keo managed out. Valmiro was a smart boy, quite scientific in his way of thinking, so she wondered how he remained so oblivious to her feelings which frankly weren't subtle. She'd stutter and blush over the most stupidest of things. Then again she doubted someone like him could like her, not when compared to Quina, so she believed he simply chose not to see her feelings at all. This wasn't a sad thing as she would be a terrible partner. So in the long run he was being very smart. He continued to guide her up the hill, knowing full well that if he let her go her pace would slow to a snails pace due to her small stature. So until they reached the chapel, he pushed her up the hill with a gentle smile.

The chapel was no where near as grand as the cathedral in Gran Soren but it was the most eloquent part of the village. The two soon stood in its shadow as it towered over them. Many of the villagers would go there to pray, the only two who seemed to avoid it was the very two who stood near the doors. Valmiro released Keo's shoulders and instead grasped onto her wrist, pulling her out of her stare while she admired the architecture. "I believe they're around the side." With each step his grin grew wider. One step for him meant a little shuffle for her which gave him a small bubbly feeling in his stomach. What he wanted to do was turn and hug her then exclaim how cute she was but he remained calm and kept his composure, simply grinning away like an idiot instead. "Ah, here we are!" He abruptly stopped and crouched to pull out one mithridate root but the sudden stop sent his companion crashing into him.

Keo squealed when she tripped over Valmiro and with a grunt ended up flat on her back in front of him. Luckily she'd adjusted in the air to avoid crushing the plant but ended up scraping her side on the grave in the process. A small grumble came from her while his gaze softened down at her. "Safe." She gestured, indicating that at least the plant was alright.

Valmiro chuckled to himself but at the sight of her wincing and rubbing at her side a frown made a home on his face. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah.. I just.. " Now that she focused on it more her side was stinging something terrible. Of course she'd had worse wounds before and the scrapes paled in comparison but when small specks of red flecked through her white tunic she saw a shift in Valmiro. "It's just a scrape.."

Valmiro abandoned the plant and scooped her up into her arms bridal style, having seen her injured too many times to allow yet more. "I'm taking you to Quina." He mumbled, carrying her around the chapel to the front doors which he used his knee to open. Within the chapel stood the priest who had been sent to look after it for the villagers and upon the sight of the two he was quick to finish what he was scribbling down to shuffle over. "Have you seen Quina, brother?"

"My lord, is she alright?" The priest questioned politely, tilting his head to see if Keo had been crying or the like.

Keo looked from Valmiro to the priest and shook her head. "Valmiro I'm fine. It's only a scrape, you don't need to trouble Quina over something as silly as this."

"It isn't silly. You're hurt." Valmiro reasoned, brows furrowing in disappointment with himself. He could have caught her. "Brother? Quina."

"Ah, yes, yes. She was here not moments ago! She parted ways to see to Iola I believe. Something about a tonic for her joints." The heavily robed man had barely finished the sentence before Valmiro bowed his head in respect and left to track the young healer down. Quina was only two years older than Keo but the girl saw Keo as her hero after she defended her from the bullies when they were younger. In fact if he remembered correctly Quina only became a healer as a way to repay Keo for constantly stepping in. Each time he visited her when she was younger he'd catch Quina in the midst of patching her up after a fight. So Valmiro knew that Quina wouldn't find this scrape silly like Keo did. She'd find it just as serious.

When they found Quina she was waving farewell to Iola and at his shout her eyes widened. "My goodness what happened?" Seeing Valmiro carrying Keo brought back unpleasant memories of when the bullies went too far. The brunette rushed over and inspected her friend, ice blue eyes soon moving to Valmiro for an explanation.

"It's just a scrape!" Keo yelled, arms tossing into the air to make her point.

"Shush you!" Quina frowned as she crossed her arms, concern etching all over her face. "You said that last time and do you remember what happened?"

"It got infected.." Keo mumbled quietly like a toddler getting into trouble by her mother.

"It got infected!" Quina huffed. "I will not allow that to happen again. Valmiro.. Can you be a dear and follow me with her to my house?"

Valmiro nodded and eventually set her down once they travelled to the other side of the village and up to the village chief's house on the highest hill and got inside. Of course he sat down beside her on the blanket and kept glancing between the two females. "Will she be alright, Quina?" He asked as she rushed about to gather her kit. The recent talk of infection had set the boys mind aflame with worry.

"...It's a scrape guys." Keo sighed, having given up on convincing the two she was alright. Honestly it was ridiculous. If she had a paper cut they'd most likely act like her finger would fall off. All because she stuck up for them as kids did they baby her now.

Quina knelt down beside Keo and pulled her long wavy brown hair out the way before lifting her tunic to assess the damage. "Don't worry, Valmiro. I'll do my utmost." The scrapes didn't look too bad and once she ran a damp cloth over the wounds to wash the smeared blood away she relaxed a bit. "A simple healing spell will clear this right up."

Valmiro was quick to avert his gaze on the first sign of skin, a hint of pink creeping along his cheeks as he'd been unprepared and saw a bit of stomach. Had he been warned he would have turned his head long before. Now he was just staring at a bench on the other side of the room, flustered.

Keo watched Quina work away, a nice green hue emitting from her hands as she gently pressed them against the wounds. Quina was a beautiful young woman with incredibly long brown hair which set down her back in waves and stunning ice blue eyes. She wore light make up but she didn't seem to even need it. Quina was a girl who brightened a room just by standing there so it was no wonder Keo had to constantly defend her. When they were younger she remembered encountering the bullies who picked on her for her gentle nature and pure looks. Many of the bullies had long since left the village to venture out on their own but she remembered them like it was yesterday. "Why are you fussing so much over this?"

"Because Keo.." Quina smiled to herself, eyes fixated on the girls wounds. "It's all I can do for you.. I can't forget how much you did for me.. How much you risked. All the injuries you received because of me.. It's all I know how to do.." It seemed silly but Quina remained certain that this girl was her hero. She could never forget the way she just lept to her rescue without so much as a second thought.

"Stop it!" Quina cried as the boy pulled at her hair. "Please, Leon! Let go!" She winced with each sharp tug as his friends laughed on around her.

"Why? Baby gonna cry?" Leon teased, smirking as he saw tears beginning to brim in the girls eyes. "Gonna run to daddy? Oh wait your dad ignores you doesn't he?"

Quina sniffled and covered her face with her hands, she didn't want to cry but Leon's words stung at her heart. "Stop it!" She begged.

"Aww poor baby Quina is crying. Quick call the chief!" A rather fat child laughed.

"That's mean Reuben!" A small red-headed girl with freckles stepped forward, punching the boys shoulder.

Leon shot a glare over his shoulder to meet the gaze of his best friend Issac. Issac pushed the red head and scowled at her, "Shut up Isla!"

Isla pulled a face and crossed her arms as her best friend Amelia raised an eyebrow at her. "I meant its mean because not even the chief cares. He's totally just putting up with the brat."

Amelia let out a giggle and nodded, walking over to stand beside Leon. "Yeah but what's with her hair anyway? It's so stupid!"

"Maybe we should cut it off then." Leon grinned, pushing Quina down against the sand. "Guys go get some scissors!"

"Please don't!" Quina cried, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Shut up, brat!" Leon snapped, leaning in to scare her further. "Or I'll cut off more than your stupid hair."

"Hey!" Issac whined as he was sent face first into the sand. He winced and rubbed at the back of his head, eyes moving to the rock which rolled to a stop beside him. "Who threw that!?" He yelled at the shore.

Keo slid herself down the rocks and landed in front of the group who'd dragged Quina out to the little cove where the adults wouldn't be able to interfere. Lucky for her Keo liked to explore the rocky cliffs near that area and had caught them bullying her. "Leave her alone." She warned, another rock gripped in her hand.

Leon sneered and climbed off of the now sobbing Quina to square up to the orphan. "Or what? You gonna tell your parents on us, freak?"

"You shouldn't.. Say things like that!" Quina managed out between sobs as Amelia had gripped onto her hair in place of Leon.

Keo tore her gaze away from the glaring Leon to smile over at Quina. "It's alright." Her smile soon shifted into a smirk the second her gaze met the leader of the bullies eyes. "He's just acting out because his dad cares more about his ale than he does him."

"You'll pay for that you little freak!" Leon yelled and punched her out of anger.

Keo stumbled back a bit and gripped at her cheek, she had half a mind to throw the rock at him but instead she tossed it aside and held up her fists. "You don't need to hurt other people, Leon. Just because you're angry doesn't mean you can take it out on others."

"Shut up!" Leon rushed forward to hit her again but this time she ducked out the way and circled around him. "Stand still!"

Quina's eyes widened as she watched the little tomboy, the girl who'd secluded herself from everyone when her parents passed away, guard her from Leon's rage. She watched with a tear stained face as Keo stood her ground even when Issac and Reuben stood behind Leon to back him up. She gasped and covered her mouth when they held her down to let Leon pummel her with punches. She could have ran or ignored her completely but Keo took the beating and when they were done rose to her feet once more. Quina couldn't take it any more, she pushed Amelia off her and stumbled forward to grip onto the younger girl, holding her in a hug. "Please stop! Please!"

"It's alright." Keo responded with another smile, she was bruised and beaten but kept her smile, the same smile she gave everyone when they asked if she was alright about her parents unfortunate deaths. "I won't let them hurt you any more.." The tomboy glared at Leon and his lackeys. "Because I know Leon can't actually do anything!"

"Tch, I bet you up pretty good, loud mouth!" Leon growled.

"No. Your friends held me down for you to do that." Keo then did the unthinkable. She pointed to Leon who was so full of pride and deflated him. "Leon's nothing but a coward who beats up girls because he has a small weiner!"

From that moment on Leon's bullying was more focused on Keo and she would always limp home to an empty house. She never once told an adult or flinched away from her bully. Nor did she cry. She had become her hero without even knowing and everything Quina did was to find some way of becoming useful to the girl whom she owed all her thanks to. Quina smiled warmly and dropped her hands, "There. All done."

Keo grinned and hopped to her feet, fixing her tunic on the way up. "You're the best, Quina! Thanks! But seriously.. You guys shouldn't fuss over me so much."

Quina glanced to Valmiro who ended up just smiling up at the the little tomboy. "Yes.. Well.. We care for you, cos." She spoke softly, beginning to tidy up her things. "A great deal in fact. We hate to see you injured."

Valmiro nodded and rose to his feet, hands placing on his hips as he pondered continuing the herb hunt on his own but he knew Keo would have his head if he even mentioned it. "Indeed we do. We'll have no more brave folly from you, eh?"

"It was just a scrape!" Keo retorted, her face contorting as she raged somewhat at the air causing the two to laugh away at her. Yes, growing up in Cassardis had been quite lovely despite the bullies. Only because of these two however. She found herself hoping that things wouldn't change but of course fate is never kind.