Chapter Ten: Brief Sojourn

Mira purred as she let herself marinate in the hot, steaming water, resting against the side of the tub. Her body was letting off sighs of relief and for what felt like the longest time she just sat and let the hot water boil and melt off her stress.

Kryv had the perfect idea when it came to baths- this bath wasn't like the ones she'd been in before. It was like a giant… bowl. It was the best thing that she could come up with to describe it. She could actually sit in it and had plenty of room to stretch herself out. He'd told her as he'd shown her the bathtub that it was styled after the eastern styled bathrooms. Onsen was what he'd called it, or so she thought. Onsen- or was it onscent?- were eastern hot springs. Giant tubs of beautiful, blissful hot water to just sit and relax in. She was enjoying it more than enough to start thinking that if she ever became rich that she'd have a bathtub just like this in her own home.

She'd been scrubbing soap in her long ebony hair when she'd heard a female voice outside of the door. Was it Kryv's girlfriend? Mira couldn't even remember her name, as shameful as that was. But a moment later she heard Kryv yell something at the tall Elvaan woman and was granted a pass. Maiev, was it? Mira smiled to herself before taking the bucket and dumping the water over her head. She was almost done and just needed to be sure she didn't have any dirt left on her.

Mira got out of the tub and used the towel that had been left for her to dry herself off. She wrapped the towel around her torso and looked around, searching for something that she needed very badly if she wanted to leave the bathroom. After some searching and realizing that it really wasn't there, she approached the door and opened it just a notch. "Kryv? Um, where are my clothes?"

"Your clothes?"

"Yeah."

"Here," a deep female voice answered her and a few seconds later Maiev's slender frame appeared at the door. She held out some folded clothing through the crack in the door. "Wear these. Your armor needs to be washed before you put it on again."

"Ah, thank you." Mira responded slowly, fairly embarrassed with the idea that her armor smelled that bad. She used one hand to take what had been given to her before shutting the door and then setting it down on a small chair that was near the door. She adjusted her towel before unfolding them and looking at what had been given to her. They looked a bit… large.

"It looks like she came back in one piece, hm?" Kryv remarked as he leaned back in his chair and sipped some tea from his steaming cup.

"Mm." Glowatoke nodded slowly and opted for sitting and watching the fire burn. Mira was still inside of the bathroom washing up from her travels. She'd been in there for a while, but it was to be expected. She probably hadn't been able to bathe for a while and she must have been traveling for a long time- not to mention that there was something about women and baths that made them take a long time in them.

"Would you like some tea?"

"No thank you, Maiev."

The woman nodded and came to sit down, taking a seat next to the sofa beside Kryv. Glowatoke was sitting in a loveseat, although his long limbs he was easily taking up most of the space. The Elvaan scooted closer to the Hume she held her affections for and sighed before checking to be sure that the pin in her hair was held in place. "So, Glowatoke," she began, knowing that Kryv was unlikely to start any form of conversation. "Is Mira your lover?"

Kryv choked on his tea and she immediately looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. "Eh, no," Glowatoke laughed and quickly shook his head. "No, no she ain't."

"So you're just acquaintances then?"

"Hm," he tilted his head back and then gave a mixture of a nod and a shrug. "She's a friend, and my student."

"Aah, I see." She looked at him and rubbed the pad of one of her fingers against the cup. "Where was she?"

"Valkurm Dunes."

"She must have been gone for a while."

"She was. About a month, I think." He rested his chin on the top of his spider like knuckles and crossed his legs. "S'good to see her back. She looked happy."

Maiev smiled and let out a soft, chuckling breath, lightly touching her bottom lip with her pointer and middle fingers. "That girl, though, she looks so young."

"She is." Glowatoke nodded in agreement, his ink colored eyes flickering to Kryv for just a second when the man shifted in his seat. "I think she's only like, fifteen or seventeen, but I dunno."

"You don't?"

"No. We met because she tripped over me when I was asleep on the sidewalk," he seemed to miss the raised eyebrow that Maiev made. "I woke up and as I was walking away she asked me where we were." He laughed and uncrossed his legs just so that he could re-cross them in the opposite position. "I realized that she was lost so I took her to the residential area but she didn't even have a Mog House. So I let her spend the night and she ended up staying. She's a good girl. She has a knack for fighting and came here to San d'Oria with the hope of becoming an adventurer. She definitely didn't prepare, but, she got her own Mog just before she left for Valkurm Dunes a month ago."

Maiev nodded just as she heard the bathroom door creak. "Kryv? Um, where are my clothes?"

"Your clothes?"

"Yeah."

"Here," Maiev rose from the couch and walked over to the bathroom door, picking up some folded clothing on the way. "Wear these. Your armor needs to be washed before you put it on again."

"Ah, thank you," the young Mithra looked uncomfortable as she took the clothes and then shut the door. Maiev left to go into the kitchen, humming to herself as she checked on the food that Kryv's Moogle was preparing. As she was stepping out of the kitchen Mira came out as well looking down at herself and seeming fairly bewildered. "These clothes," Mira admonished, her tail touching the floor and her ears lowered. "They're really, really large."

"I would have given you Kryv's clothes since you're more his size," Maiev quirked an eyebrow as she set some food down on a table between the sofa and loveseat. She gave Kryv a quick look to silently tell him he was forbidden to touch what was on the plate before she walked over to the Mithra. "But it's improper for a lady to wear a man's clothing so I gave you mine. It's the smallest dress I have. Here," she grabbed a pin from her hair, stuck it between her teeth and spun Mira around so that her back was to her. Then she took both hands and pulled the cloth at Mira's shoulders back until they were bunched behind her neck. She then took the pin she had between her teeth and used it to pin the dress together. The dress was fitting and extended down to her knees, meant to fit to her form but be comfortable so that she could both show her bodily grace in her looks and stride. It was a dark red with long sleeves brimmed with golden edges. She wore the colors of her kingdom with pride. It fit her perfectly- her, not the Mithra. Maiev's shoulders weren't much broader than Mira's but it was enough to where the Elvaan needed to pin it back so that it wouldn't slid off of the girl's shoulders. The dress was baggy on Mira and the sleeves dripped past her fingertips and even the bottom of the dress of it was at Mira's ankles. The girl was a tiny thing; that was for certain. "There you are."

"Ah! Thank you," Mira turned around and lifted her arms up to experiment before walking over to Kryv and gently nudging his leg. "See? I smell good now."

"Good. Ain't nothin' worse than a smelly cat. 'Cept for maybe a wet dog."

Mira shook her head before walking over to where Glowatoke was sitting. He smiled at her, uncrossing his legs and scooting over so that she could have room. She gratefully sat down and laid her tail down across her lap, sighing contently. She wasn't even home but Kryv's house already made her feel cozy, although she was doing her best to ignore that plate of snacks that was nearby her.

"Eat," Maiev gestured to the plate she'd set out on the table. "You must be hungry after traveling so far."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Kryv usually never has any house guests unless it's on official business so I'd like for the both of you to enjoy yourselves."

"Thank you," Mira bowed her head before reaching out and picking some grapes off of the table. "Want some Atoke?"

"So Mira, where are you from?" Maiev asked curiously as she leaned back so that Kryv could reach passed her for a slice of bread.

Mira held her hand up as she chewed on a grape, swallowing and chuckling before she answered. "Atoke asked me the same question."

"And you didn't answer me, either."

"Oh? Why not?"

"Well," Mira rolled a plump grape between a finger and her thumb. "I don't know. It just doesn't seem all that important to me."

"You should take pride in where you're from. Surely your previous home was important to you?"

Mira paused, sticking a grape between her lips and eating it so that she had time to gather her answer. "Not particularly. I don't come from anywhere, really, which is why I didn't answer Atoke before."

"You have to have come from somewhere. Your skin is pure white while other Mithra's is tanned. Are you from a foreign country?"

"Ah, well… Bastok."

"Bastok?"

"Yes mam."

Maiev lifted an eyebrow and moved her head to face just a bit to the side. "I've never heard of Mithra living in Bastok."

"No, I suppose not," Mira laughed and ate another grape. "To be honest with you I don't actually know where I was born, but it probably wasn't in Bastok. I was taken there when I was a small child. I didn't live too closely to the city, though."

"Oh?"

"The people there didn't and don't take much of a liking to me." Mira stated with a small smile before she swallowed another grape.

"Well that's not a place for a young lady to be. The area around Bastok is where the Dark Knights hide and there isn't even any proper housing in the places around Bastok." Maiev's brow furrowed and Kryv looked at her before suddenly noticing that he'd gotten toast crumbs all over himself. "And you're living by yourself now?"

"Yes."

Maiev looked rather uncomfortable and Kryv even glanced up at her while he picked crumbs off of his shirt and flicked them onto the floor. "But you're still such a young girl."

Mira smiled and for some reason she seemed to look grateful. "Thank you for your concerns."

"But you don't even have family in San d'Oria?"

"Ah…" Mira's golden orbs made a split-second glance over at the Elvaan beside her. "No, just Glowatoke if he can count."

"What about in Bastok?"

"I have good friends."

Maiev sighed and tightened her grip on her cup of tea. She blinked and looked over when she felt Kryv's hand on her shoulder. "Wild kitten's good," he stated calmly while he used his free hand to wipe his shirt free of any crumbs left. "She'll be fine, Maiev."

"Kry-"

"Kupo!" A Moogle popped up in front of the fireplace, presenting Mira's clothes and looking fairly pleased with itself. "Kupo, kupo! Master, I've cleaned up the nasty armor!" The Moogle looked around the room and suddenly realized that it had just teleported itself into a situation it shouldn't intrude on. "I'll put it over here, kupo," the Moogle set the clothes down on the table beside the food and quickly warped out of the room. Mira stood up a moment later and picked up the clothes on the table, excusing herself and stepping into the bathroom to presumably change.

"I wasn't trying," Maiev started after she noticed the look on Kryv's face. "To make her feel uncomfortable."

Kryv sighed, running his hands through his shortly cropped blond hair. "Maiev," he began, trying to pick his words out before he continued. "Just try not to… agh."

Maiev pursed her lips before sighing, eyelids lowering and shaking her head. "I know, Kryv. But children shouldn't grow up without being loved."

"I'm sure she had someone."

"But what about now?"

"She seems pretty loveable to the tall guy. And a lot of people grew up without their parents after the war."

"I know that," Maiev shut her eyes for a moment and then looked back at Kryv. "But that doesn't mean that it should be that way." She made a hasty glance towards Glowatoke, as if wondering she should speak, before she started on again. "I'm tired of children growing up that way."

Kryv sighed and ran his fingers through his hair again, trying to find the words to say and ultimately failing. Speaking had never been his forte while Maiev could speak strait and smoothly to people. It was for this reason that she almost always won their verbal arguments. But then again women always seemed to win arguments anyway, so it probably didn't matter too much. After he spent some time thinking he sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, I dunno what you can do 'bout it, Maiev."

The door to the bathroom opened and Mira stepped out in her bronze armor, seemingly pleased with the outcome. She had Maiev's dress in her arms with the pin placed on top of it and set it down on the couch's arm. "Thank you Miss Maiev. I should be heading back to my house now."

"That was fast. Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?"

"I am."

"I'll head out with you," Glowatoke rose from his own spot and readjusted his golden tunic, fingers just barely grazing over the various vivid colors that were embroiled on it. "Thank you for the tea."

"No prob. See ya wild kitten." Kryv didn't bother to get up from the couch but he lifted his hand up to her. "We'll have to do this again soon. As long as Maiev or Kupo does the cooking."

"Kryv!"

Mira smiled as Maiev gently thwacked his chest before she bowed and went for the door. Glowatoke followed her, his handle on the door while she bent over to pick up her things. Once her axe was latched properly on her back and her things were in order he opened the door and the two stepped out together. The air seemed colder than it had earlier for some reason, even though it had already been nighttime when she'd arrived.

Glowatoke was right beside her as she walked down the stairs and then moved to her side once they were on the street. It would take a while to get back home. Kryv's house was on the western side of San d'Oria while Mira and Glowatoke's homes were on the opposite eastern end of the capital's walls. But now they had each other to keep company which would make the walk hopefully pass by faster.

"Hey, Mira," the Elvaan set his hand on her shoulder and looked over at a small store. "You wanna have dinner at my place?"

"I should get home."

"C'mon. I should congratulate my student on returning home safely, plus you've gotta be broke." He started walking into the store with her in tow without waiting for her to answer. "And I wanna know what happened while you were gone."

After dinner Mira had been escorted back home by Glowatoke. She didn't mind, it only gave the two more time to talk. Glowatoke had been highly interested in the stories she had to tell, although she wasn't sure if it was because he found them entertaining or if they scared him. He'd nearly dropped the biscuit he'd been about to eat when she'd told him about her run in with the Bogy and he hadn't looked happy when she followed it with the incident at the cave. But as they walked home together he seemed overall proud to her, something that made her smile. The two didn't share much of a master – apprentice relationship, even though Mira certainly respected him, but in some way they were still a teacher and his student. So while he looked proud she felt proud by making him proud- in her mind it was hard to make sense of but somehow it worked.

When she returned home Kupanla had been waiting for her and had greeted her enthusiastically, making Mira feel as if she had been missed. She and Glowatoke had said their good bye and good nights to each other before he started walking back to his own home and she shut the door. She locked it and set her things down, letting out a heavy sigh and setting her things down.

"Things haven't been too boring here I hope."

"No, kupo!"

Mira chuckled and then walked over to the fishbowl that was resting by the windowsill. She leaned over, looking at the fish and tapping the glass. "Kupo!" Kupanla flew over and waved her arms in panic. "Don't tap the glass, master!"

"That's bad?"

"Yes! It might be harmless to you, kupo, but it's really loud for the fish and it's bad for it."

"Oh, um… my bad." Mira looked over at the fish and bowed her head apologetically. "I'm sorry, fish."

After she'd spent a little more time talking to her Moogle and admiring how healthy the golden fish in the glass bowl looked Mira had gone over to where her blanket was. It seemed as if Kupanla had been taking care of it because the blanket didn't look or smell dusty. She laid it out and then stretched out across the floor, yawning loudly and then rolling onto her stomach. She'd really forgotten how comfortable this fur blanket was.

Mira had slept like the dead that night. Even though she'd heard the entire conversation at Kryv's house through the door she'd forced the subject to slip her mind so that she could focus on how wonderful it was to be back again. She'd woken up a bit later than usual and spent an hour trying to figure out exactly how much money she had before using up the rest of the day to wander the city and learn about what had happened in her absence.

The next day Mira had gone to the gatehouse to see if there was any work to be done. Before she'd never been paid for the missions she'd undertaken for the kingdom in order to exchange it towards credit in earning her own Mog house, but with that goal now accomplished she could go and actually get paid for her services. Bi'sou-ou had looked entirely unhappy to see her and if an Elvaan wearing elaborate armor hadn't been standing close behind him Mira sensed that he probably would have slammed the door in her face. He gave her some minor and fairly trivial missions which mostly entailed her running around carrying out errands about the city. The last one involved her going into Ronfaure to deliver a package to the knights stationed at the outpost there. This one had made her uneasy because she had little time to go out and be back before the gate was drawn up but she managed to keep herself on schedule. She was paid and returned home and repeated the same process the next day.

It was on the third day that Mira decided that she had enough money to take a break for the afternoon. She'd decided that she would go over to the port and looking to see the prices and bargains that the stores there had to offer. Once she was finished she started her trek back had been looking down at the basket she was carrying while eating an apple when she suddenly walked strait into someone. She fell over, strait onto her rear end, holding her basket and her apple firmly in her teeth. She was thankful for the lid she had over the basket, else all of the things she'd been carrying would have flown out across the dirty ground.

"I say! Watch where you're going!" Mira looked up to see one of the knights for the kingdom, dressed fully in his metal armor with his sword, helm and crimson tunic all equipped, looking down at her. "Oh, a new recruit, are you? That explains it! Well, far be it from me to chastise someone on his first day. Still, as a citizen of San d'Oria, you—"

"Ah, Avandale! What are you doing there?"

Mira looked to see another Elvaan walking over with a strange hairdo that reminded her of a child's drawing of a star. His face was well cut and thin, practically making him look like royalty. And the Paladin armor he was wearing, that looked incredibly sheen, only made the stereotype stick.

"Prince Trion," Mira blinked rapidly as her tail stopped moving so that she could process this information. Apparently he looked like a prince because he was a prince. "I was explaining to this recruit here about what it means to be a proud citizen of San d'Oria!"

"A new recruit?" He looked from the knight to the Mithra who was still on the floor and had yet to speak, mainly due to the fact that she hadn't removed the apple from her mouth. His eye twitched out of either humor or something else before he looked back to Avandale. "Strengthen your sword arm and your stature as a knight. Thus will you best serve the glory of our great kingdom."

"San d'Oria," another voice interrupted and Mira turned to see yet another prince like figure to walk in. This time his hair was blond and much neater than the others, although he was wearing a tall hat and something that looked more like golden and browned robes than Paladin armor. "Has more than enough soldiers already, brother. Speaking of which should you not be training them, instead of bothering new recruits with talk of war?"

"You are too bold!"

"Really, Pieuje! Is that any way to speak to your brother?" Mira now had to look down the other passageway of the spider tunnels that connected the port to the northern area of San d'Oria to see someone else joining this bizarre situation she was viewing. This time it was a woman. She was tall, graceful, and quite frankly absolutely beautiful. She had golden hair that was held in place by various pearls and possibly diamonds with a crimson dress that could only belong to a princess.

"I've said the truth, nothing more. The ranks of our armies could swell to bursting, and victory would still be far." Pieuje countered as he looked away from her.

"It is your head that is swollen, brother." Trion snapped back, turning away from the female who had appeared on scene to fully face his brother. "With enough numbers, we could crush the beastmen! And without having to resort to your misguided tactics!"

"My tactics, misguided? Oh, that is rich! Tell me of the tactics that lost an entire company in Batallia Downs the other day?"

"It's good you're so fond of talking, as I've never seen you wield a sword! Better to shout orders from the rear than reveal your ineptitude in actual combat!"

At this point the woman had to step between the two, holding her hands out to each of them as a signal for them to show more restraint. "Stop your quarreling, both of you! A divided leadership only creates unrest among the people, soldier and civilian alike." Her soft blue eyes looked to Mira and Avandale before she glanced between the two arguing men. "Surely you are both aware of this?"

"Oh, I suppose." Trion replied through what Mira thought was gritted teeth. The blond woman waited until she felt that the two wouldn't leap at each other's throats before she stepped out from between them. At this moment Mira pushed herself up off of the ground, dusting her rear end off before pulling her apple out of her mouth and trying to wipe the juice that had been trickling down her chin throughout the conversation as discreetly as she could. "I warn you, Pieuje, talk to me that way again and I won't be so forgiving."

"Good old Trion. Threats of violence are his only recourse when a conversation does not go his way. Like a child, he is!" Pieuje growled back before he took a sharp turn on his heel and left the premises.

"They are both like children, quick to insult and quicker to take offense! Really..." the blond woman shook her head before reaching into her pocket and offering Mira and handkerchief so that the Mithra could properly wipe her face. Trion made a sucking noise through his teeth before he also turned and left. "I must apologize for that. But ours is truly a great kingdom, and I expect you to further her glory."

"I…" Mira blinked and looked down from the woman to the handkerchief. "I'll definitely try something."

The woman laughed before she took the handkerchief back, folding it carefully before she put it away. "Those two," Avandale began with a heavy sigh, "are a handful, but they truly are the closest of brothers."

"Even as much as they insist on their childish arguments." The woman nodded in agreement, a smile playing on her face. "I should be returning, father never likes it when I am late upon returning for home. Thank you for putting up with my brash brothers, miss…?"

"Mirasaros."

"Oh, such a lovely name."

"If you don't mind me asking," Mira added as she shifted the basket she was holding. "Who are you?"

The woman blinked at first and Avandale just gave Mira a blank, indescribable stare. Then she laughed, bringing her hand up to hide her mouth before she nodded. "Please, forgive me for forgetting to introduce myself! I am Princess Claidie of San d'Oria."

Mira's eyes widened in alarm and her ears flattened down against her head as much as they could. "I-I-I'm sorry."

"Please, refrain from presenting that look of shame." Claidie smiled sweetly and gently set her hand on Mira's shoulder. "You are new to our kingdom. I do pray that she will treat you well, lady Mirasaros." The princess gave a small nod, the smile never leaving her graceful features. "And now, I must excuse myself to return home. I pray that you and I shall meet again. May Altana bless you." Claidie then turned around and left the port, leaving Avandale and Mirasaros.

"How could you not know the face of Princess Claidie?"

"I've never seen a real princess before!" Mirasaros exasperated before she realized that the voice that had spoken to her was female, not male. She turned around and jumped in the air when she saw Maiev standing not too far behind her.

"You don't jump when you learn who Princess Claidie is but you leap in the air when you see me?"

"I, ah- r-right; sorry."

Maiev sighed and shook her head before walking down the stone passageway and up to Mira. "Oh, you're a newcomer, your ignorance can't be helped; I suppose. Although you should consider yourself extremely honored, to receive a blessing from a member of the royal family is one of the greatest honors you can possibly receive within this kingdom. Or anywhere, for that matter."

Mira's shoulders sank and her eyes grew even wider than before. "I- I did get blessed, didn't I?"

Maiev stared at Mira for a few moments before she laughed and patted the top of Mirasaros' head. "Calm yourself, Mira. You may be an adventurer but you are also a lady." She traced her fingers over Mira's hair before setting them underneath the Mithra's chin. "Never forget that and hold yourself with pride, no matter where it is you go. And also remember that you are now a citizen of San d'Oria. You must represent your kingdom as well." Maiev held the Mithra's eyes for a moment before she dropped her hand. "Would you like to have tea?"

"Er, tea?"

"Yes. I'd like to talk to get to know you a bit more."

Mira looked from Maiev to the basket she was carrying while her mind worked. "I, well… sure. Yes, I mean. I mean yes."

"Alright then, follow me." Maiev started walking and Mira obediently trailed after her. "So what kind of tea do you like?"

"I don't really drink tea."

Maiev came to a halt and turned around to look at Mira. "You don't drink tea? Oh, that's a sin! I'm going to have to educate you. Hurry, the faster we get to my house the better."

Mira had gone into Maiev's house which held a definite female touch to it. It was small but warm, even with the weapons that Maiev had hanging from her wall. The snowy Mithra sat with her ankles crossed while her host was in the kitchen presumably making tea. When she came out there were various cups of tea set out on a silver platter and small bits of bread on a plate. With that Mira was with Maiev trying the different types for the majority of the day. It was interesting how all of the tea tasted. She didn't particularly like it but the tea had some sort of a soothing effect that she didn't mind. She found that one of Glowatoke's favorites was introduced as well. It had a peppermint like taste, although she'd recognized it from its color and smell. The only tea that she'd had a possible liking for was a tea that had some sort of a sweet after taste and didn't taste as strongly as the others. Maiev had laughed at Mira's ending reviews and said that sometimes drinking tea had to be an acquired taste.

Mirasaros left Maiev's home just as the sun was starting to set, merely for the sake of getting home before it got too dark. Mira had been passing by the arches to the gatehouse that was beside the exit to West Ronfaure when someone yelled out her name. She stopped and turned around, blinking in surprise when Bi'sou-ou came running up to her.

"Mirasaros!" He exclaimed loudly and she couldn't help but be curious as to why he was calling for her. "Mirasaros, I need your help."

"You need my help?"

"Just shut up and listen," he growled, lifting up a hand to silence her. "One of the knights who's scouting an area hasn't returned with a report and he's several days late. We need someone to go and check on his condition but we don't have any spare men."

"You want me to go?"

"You're pitifully inexperienced but this is an emergency. We need someone to go to Davoi now."

"Whoa, whoa, wait. You want me to go into Davoi? Alone?"

"I wouldn't be asking if this wasn't an emergency," he restated grimly and pulled off his helm to rub the side of his head. "Just don't let the orcs notice you and find the soldier or the report- either one. Now hurry up and tell me yes or no."

"When would I have to leave?"

"Tonight, as soon as possible."

Mira sucked her lips in and dropped her shoulders while she tried to focus on the situation at hand. "Well—"

"You'll be paid and the chocobo will be free of charge."

"If it's an emergency," she ended grimly before she slowly nodded at him. "I need to go back to my house to get my equipment. Do I meet you here?"

"Yes. Hurry the hell up, cat."

She shook her head and smiled at him nonetheless before turning around and making a beeline for her house. It looked as if her peaceful evening was going to be cut short.

Cryptic….