The view of the grand forest was always breathtaking. It was, perhaps, the most beautiful sight Alys ever laid eyes upon, though the fact it was the first view she saw after her awakening may have a hand in it. But while the sight demanded attention, the Eliatrope's focus wasn't on the green sea of treetops but on the map she held.

Somewhere far beyond the trees was a place her people could call home, all thanks to the generosity of the Sheran Sharm family. She knew it wouldn't come to pass soon, but one day her king will be ready and take this world head on so he can lead the many orphans to a better future… A free and prosperous future, hopefully. Everyone was waiting for it and while they waited, she would do her best to pave the way.

I'll have you by my side when that time comes, she thought as she rose her gaze and scanned the horizon, her eyebrows furrowed into a thoughtful frown. The breeze which played with her bangs was the only response she received to the silent promise, her words meant for someone who was out of her reach. She wished to believe he could hear her in some way, that the connection they had went deep and beyond any barriers and distance. If her brother could send her twisted images of where he was and what she had to search for to find him and their Dofus, surely there was something ethereal which kept them together.

She rolled up the leaf parchment to no longer gaze upon the marked spot of the drawn Sadida kingdom, her priorities not having changed. If all goes well for Joris, she will be heading for the Cania Plains tomorrow and afterwards her destination will be Bonta. She was curious about what she might learn from Justice Knight, if any information he may have would guide her onto the right path to find her Dofus. It was the only lead she had, all thanks to the Bontarian master.

His duties brought him to Sadida and it were his duties which slightly delayed their journey, but she didn't mind. She wouldn't have felt right if she was to suddenly leave, still needing to say her goodbyes to various people. While Joris wrapped up his business with King Oakheart, she took the moment of solace to put her thoughts straight before seeking out her friends. There was much to think about and mentally prepare for and time was beginning to run short.

Alys nudged herself to continue her walk towards the palace gardens after putting the map away, her eyes peeled for any sign of Bebe. The guest quarters were empty after she headed back upstairs and there was no sign of the two servants Alys asked to watch over the girl, making her assume they were still outside by the lake. Hopefully Bebe was having a good time and wasn't too much trouble for Renate and Canar. After all she went through… She deserved to just have fun, play and be a child.

A puzzled look washed over her when someone further along the path stopped in their tread when they saw her approach, her eyes meeting the Cra's and widening a little in surprise when he flashed her a smile. It was Jourdain, the Cra captain she was introduced to in the throne room. He waited for her to approach before he nodded in a formal manner and kept his smile, greeting her kindly," miss."

"Captain." She returned his nod and smile when she slowed in her step, assuming the Cra wished to speak with her as he stayed where he was rather than be on his way. Their earlier introduction was short and hardly worth of note, so she would give him the time if he had anything he wanted to say to her. Besides, she didn't want to be alone after what happened so a little chat was welcomed with open arms.

He seemed pleased enough with receiving her full attention and asked her without lingering," do you mind if I join you on your walk?"

Join her? His request befuddled her and made her wonder, but she was quick to shake her head. "I don't mind," she answered without really knowing what exactly he wished for before inquiring," do you wish to discuss tomorrow's escort?"

"No, nothing of the sort," the Cra said with a dismissive waving of his gloved hand and a dry chuckle before he stepped up beside her with his hard leather helmet held under his arm," I wish to join you for less political reasons. Basically, I picked up on the rumor that you got well acquainted with my brother."

"Your brother?" Was he speaking of Fernand? Suddenly it clicked for the Eliatrope when she took in Jourdain's face and thought about what he said. No wonder he looked familiar; this Cra shares the same eye and hair color with Fernand, not to mention the same jawline although he lacked a goatee. How did she not see the resemblance before in the throne room?

Jourdain nodded with a growing of his smile, having a pleasant twinkle in his eyes which caught her a little off guard. So unlike Fern… "Fernand is my younger brother," he explained and added casually," I was quite surprised when I heard he returned to Sadida, even more so about him accompanying a diplomat. I wasn't certain if to believe it."

"We traveled together for some time," she said, intrigued by the sudden development. An older brother of Fernand's. The similarities were uncanny the more she allowed herself to observe him as they walked down the path, but this man was a little rougher on the edges with a stubbly chin and jaw and some faint small scars adorning his nose and cheeks. His hair was tied back into a small ponytail rather than cut short, though some of the strands stuck free in the same fashion like Fernand's hair did. They really were related. "I'm glad I met him. He has been a most reliable travel companion, especially during troublesome times through our journeys together."

"Sounds like him," Jourdain nodded," he always was loyal to the people he bonded with, perhaps to a fault. I'm still surprised though, but in a good way. I didn't expect him to return home anytime soon, so this is good news."

He was indeed loyal, Alys could only agree with him. Fernand had his quirks and oddities but he knew where his priorities lie and what was right or wrong. She should have listened to him more often; he was mostly right, like with Royale and Gard. "I am on my way to see him. He had a long night… and with us parting ways tomorrow, I want to make absolutely certain he will be alright."

"He's not coming with?" Jourdain sounded surprised before a frown crinkled the space between his eyebrows," he's staying in Sadida?"

"That was the plan, unless he changed his mind."

The Cra captain fell silent, the way he thoughtfully stroked his chin reminding her of Fernand and it made her smile. It was like seeing a whole different side of him and it oddly pleased her, though it did make her wonder as to why Fernand seemed to hesitate about returning home. Jourdain didn't come across as a bad person, so what exactly had kept Fernand away from Sadida?

The warmth of her smile faded ever so slightly after she was incapable of making a single guess before she said while looking towards the glistening of water beyond the bushes and flowers they passed," I don't think he would have come here if we hadn't crossed paths, but my duties led me here and it is one of the reasons why he followed. I do like to think he changed during our journey together, for the better. I mean, he absolutely didn't trust me when first we crossed paths and with right; a lot was going on then. But now… " She audibly smirked while her smile became a little crooked. "Saying goodbye won't be easy."

Jourdain nodded in agreement, understanding what Alys was talking about though he didn't go deeper into the thought as something distracted him. There was a group of people ahead, a small group which was all but quiet. There was laughter and overdone squealing, the splashing of water almost drowning out the dramatic but feigned complaining. A little girl was running amok through the shallow water on the lake's shore and chasing a chubby Sadida who tiptoed around while getting splashed with every sweep of water the girl sent at him with a wild flailing of her arms. While the spectacle was a real eyecatcher, it was someone else who distracted him. His grin grew wider when he noticed Fernand looking his way, the Cra standing beside another Sadida who was egging on the child to chuck more water at the one she was chasing.

"He hardly changed a bit," Alys heard him say before he stopped walking and tilted his head to quietly sign for Fernand to come his way, the Eliatrope not leaving his side to not get in the way of what could be a reunion of family.

Fernand's eyes narrowed when his older brother beckoned him over, the scowl he had having an edge of annoyance to it… But he shrugged with a visible sigh before he excused himself to Canar and made his way over to Alys and Jourdain, his eyes flickering in between them before he focused on Alys and said to her," I'm glad to see you on your feet again. How are you feeling?"

Did he just ignore his own brother? Alys blinked while staring at Fernand, his disregard towards Jourdain baffling her. She cast an uncertain glance to Jourdain, her intention to not get in the way having backfired but that wasn't her fault. She didn't expect Fernand to channel his own brother out by using her as a diversion. Jourdain didn't seem all too bothered by the cold shoulder, the knowing smile he held telling her that Fernand's behavior wasn't all that strange, or at least not as strange as she thought it to be. "I am doing much better, thank you," she said while she hid her bandaged hand behind her back to not let it worry him," and you? Have you rested up after…?"

"More or less," he answered before he rose a brow when Alys' gaze intensified and she seemed to motion for the Cra standing beside her with a slight tilting of her head, trying to be inconspicuous with it but not doing an all too good job. Was she really trying to push him to talk with Jourdain? What did she know, what did he tell her? He pulled a face of disinterest at her quiet urging though when the corners of her mouth pulled sharply down and she glared at him with a soft clearing of her throat, he couldn't exactly pretend to not know what she was insinuating. He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes and gruffly sigh before he finally looked at his brother. "Hey."

Jourdain chuckled with a shaking of his head after receiving a rather cold greeting from Fernand before he stepped forward and grabbed for his shoulder to give it a loving shake," I'm happy to see you too, little brother. Don't ever change." He gave Fernand's shoulder a heavy pat before he straightened his back and continued talking, having a twinkle in his eyes once more," I heard quite a few tales about you, like how you barged into the palace. If you wanted a welcome home committee, you could have written us beforehand instead of riling up the guards and risk getting thrown in a cell."

"Very funny," Fernand smirked before he caught Jourdain's hand when the Cra held it up with a grin, the brothers tightly squeezing each other's hands in a more brotherly greeting before Fernand cracked a smile and said with a tone of mockery," at least I can boast it was to save a damsel. Can't say you have anything to top that, now do you, big brother?"

"You would be surprised," Jourdain retaliated with an amused grin and quickly added," and eating those words faster than a wabbit makes babies."

Alys took a small step back to let the brothers talk after a more playful mood unexpectedly snuck in, taking a moment to watch and see what Fernand was like around someone who was related to him. He seemed to be in good spirits, even after a wobbly start, her urgings not having done any harm. Good… While she believes family is important, she rather not sour the little time she had left with the Cra archer.

She remained silent when a sudden shift in behavior became noticeable, the way Fernand rubbed the back of his neck an all too familiar sight. Something made him nervous… He was showing the same reluctance he felt whenever he spoke to her about returning to Sadida and it worried her a little to see it.

Fernand opened his mouth before he closed it with a quiet grunt, the rubbing of his neck becoming firmer as his first attempt to speak up failed. He tried again, the words coming this time around with a mumble," how are mom and dad?"

His brother's upbeat attitude simmered down after hearing the question. "The usual, they haven't changed much," he answered after sighing through his nose, his smile holding a sympathetic edge to it though its strength had faded. Neither of the two Cra seemed to have the want to discuss their parents further and perhaps that was why Jourdain changed the subject after they stood awkwardly in silence. He drummed the top of his helmet as he dismissively shrugged his shoulders and said while leaning closer to Fernand," so I heard the king mention something about you having a daughter. Does that mean you settled down with someone and are a father now, or did I mishear him?"

"I uhh…" A sudden red flushed over Fernand's face and ears when the change of subject turned out to be embarrassing, his wide eyed gaze moving in between a grinning Jourdain and an amused looking Alys. What were they smirking about? His long ears lowered with his scowling, not liking how intrusive and curious his brother was so shortly after seeing him again. "I may or may not have adopted someone."

"You adopted?" Jourdain sounded baffled, having to guess Fernand didn't settle down though he should have known; Fernand wasn't the most social Cra out there and picky about far too many things, even as a boy. Though adoption… Whatever got into him do such? He wasn't against it, quite the contrary! He was intrigued and eager to hear the story and reason behind his brother adopting a child, but first… His surprised expression was quickly wiped away by a radiant smile when he searchingly looked around and asked," so where's my niece?"

Fernand let out a very long breath to calm down, the interest Jourdain had a little reassuring. He turned half around to look over to where Bebe was playing with the two servants before he rose a hand to his mouth and shouted," Bebe, come here for a second." The girl glanced back over a shoulder after she heard her name, her eyes large in curiosity before they squinted with her wide growing smile when she recognized a face in Fernand's presence.

"Alys! You're back!"

Bebe splashed some more water around when she quickly waded to dry land and ran over towards Fernand and Alys with a happy giggle, the girl soaking wet. She pushed her wet hair back across her scalp and behind her stubby horns after reaching the small group and brought herself onto her toes, a little out of breath. "Will you come swim with me?" she asked as she reached for Alys' hand to grab it, though stopped herself when the bandages around the Eliatrope's hand reminded her she was hurt. She instead balled her small hands into fists and bit her lip in excitement before she said as she hopped on the spot," it's really great here, and a lot of fun! And the water isn't cold at all, it's very nice to swim in. Like, really nice!"

Alys smiled at the girl, touched by her attempts to lure her into the water but after what happened before… She kept her smile to not worry anyone but her soul felt like it was tumbling backwards into a dark spiral, the panic she felt when she was dragged under by the river's current grasping her hard and firm. It was still too fresh of a terror. Luckily for her, she didn't need to answer Bebe.

Fernand placed his hand on top of Bebe's head like he usually would when wishing for her to calm down or listen, saying before Alys could muster the strength and will to answer," there's someone who wishes to meet you."

Bebe kept rocking back and forth as she shifted her weight from her heels to the ball of her feet, far too worked up by all the play and the hope more fun was to come. She tried to calm down, however, especially when she realized what was expected of her. Her wide-eyed gaze crept up the long legs of the male Cra she didn't know, taking in the pieces of leather armor he wore with the patches of chainmail before she rested her eyes on Jourdain's face.

"Jourdain, please meet Bebe. I took her in after she lost her parents; she had no one else to look after her. Bebe, say hello to Jourdain," Fernand said after he took his hand away from Bebe's wet hair, sticking close by the girl in case she was frightened or uncertain of what to say or do.

Jourdain adjusted the helmet he carried before his patient smile grew a little warmer and he bent a knee, making himself smaller for the young Osamodas. He held out a hand to Bebe in greeting before he said with a nod," a pleasure. I'm your dad's big brother, Jourdain, though you can call me uncle Joury, if you like."

She looked at his hand in silence before she took it and gave it a shy shake, the introduction sinking in. The shaking of their hands slowly grew a little stronger the more his words processed and their meaning clicked, asking with surprise," uncle Joury?... I have an uncle?" She checked in with Fernand to be certain, the nod he gave her helping everything fall into place for the girl. An uncle, a real one. Her face brightened up like the sun as she squealed with new excitement," I have an uncle! Alys, I have an uncle!" She grabbed for Alys' robes to tug and shake it as she brimmed with an uncontainable joy at the news she got more family than only Fernand, unable to keep still.

"And not just an uncle," Jourdain grinned as he leaned closer to Bebe to get in on her excitement and feed it some more, having fun with it," you'll also get an aunt, three cousins and two grandparents with this uncle package. How great is that?"

There was no end to Bebe's squealing. She released the blue robes she clutched to throw her arms up in the air and jump around, hopping, skipping, spinning and rolling across the grass with kicking legs and flailing arms while she shouted," I have a family! A family! A big family! Renate, Canar! I have an uncle!"

"Awh, that's nice, dear," Canar called back from where he stood while Bebe wildly pointed towards Jourdain to make certain the two Sadida had seen him before she spun around and continued her loud celebration.

"Three kids?" Fernand asked, seeming a little surprised by the number Jourdain mentioned while Bebe zoomed passed with a high pitched hollering and cackling.

The Cra nodded after he stood back up and let the Osamodas exhaust herself, focusing on his brother instead. "Ninette gave birth to a baby girl not too long ago. You missed out on a few things while you were gone, but you'll catch up on everything eventually. No rush, right?"

Fernand's ears lowered ever so slightly, though he nodded in response. "Right," he muttered under his breath, not sounding all too convinced but he was keeping his thoughts to himself. He glanced to Alys, the Eliatrope seeming to listen with half an ear while she watched Bebe run around. Her bandaged hand and faded bruising didn't go by unnoticed, though it was an improvement to how she looked during the night.

"She's a sweet thing."

"Yeah…" Fernand agreed without much thought before it dawned on him that he responded with his outer voice while Jourdain wasn't even talking about the Eliatrope, the realization hitting him like a smack in the face. He cleared his throat in the hopes nobody had picked up on his little slip up before he agreed once more, this time speaking of the young Osamodas," she is."

Jourdain smirked after Bebe finally flopped onto the ground and lay there panting, her excitement and energy finally having reached its limit. "Mom and dad would love her."

"I can see dad warming up to her, but I'm not so sure about mom…"

"She may disapprove of a lot, but she loves grandchildren; she's all over my kids, for instance. Besides, she will approve of you taking on some responsibility. It's what she complained about the most."

Another blow dealt under the belt though he deserved that one, even if it was unintentional. His relationship with his mother was exactly the best. "Right," he muttered again, unable to disagree or object because Jourdain's words were true. He did run from things… "I, uhh, what are you up to now?"

Jourdain looked up to the canopy, the sky having deepened in color. "I have to run over a few details with Master Joris for tomorrow's escort and double check if the dragoturkeys will be prepped and ready before the night sets in, same for the carts. The detained are kept in stasis with sleeping pollen, so they shouldn't give us any trouble, but another check-up wouldn't do any harm. After that, I will go home, tuck my kids in and get some shut eye before I'm needed again in the morning."

So busy. Alys stepped up beside Fernand to be a part of the conversation rather than stand a little off to the side like a third wheel, inclining her head ever so slightly after Jourdain summed up his busy schedule. "I am sorry for the inconveniences, Captain."

"Ah no, there's nothing you need to apologize for, Miss. It's what I signed up for when I got promoted to captain and my duty to serve Sadida and Cra. Besides, the escort is something different for a change; usually I'm chasing after trickster polters or poaching bandits," he chuckled before he rested a hand on Fernand's shoulder and turned a little more serious," I've got a lot to do, so I'll leave you to it. Come visit if you need a place to stay, alright? Don't be a stranger. Ninette and the kids will be happy to see you again and meet your little girl, so don't think for a second you aren't welcome."

"Heh, I'll try… Thanks."

Jourdain tapped his chest with a fist in salute as he grinned at Fernand before he politely bowed for Alys, the Eliatrope returning the curtsy. Bebe sat up the moment she noticed the Cra coming her way when he left the two, her smile growing. "I have to leave to do some work but I'm really glad to have met you, Bebe," Jourdain said after he crouched before Bebe to talk with her," make certain your papa there comes to visit soon, have you meet my wife and kids, eat some dinner with us, sleep over and whatever else. Kick his shins if he forgets, and if he complains about it, tell him uncle Joury told you to do it, alright?"

"I'll kick him extra hard if he forgets!" Bebe said as she punched the air before she shuffled up to her feet and curled her arms around Jourdain's neck, hugging the Cra with a gratefulness everyone present could taste.

"Atta girl," he grinned as he returned the hug and winked towards Fernand, having some fun with making certain his brother won't disappear again like he did before. He gave her damp hair a ruffle before he got up and headed back towards the palace, needing to find a certain master. He could catch up with Fernand when duties weren't getting in the way, and hopefully that would be sooner than later. It seemed he wasn't the only one who had a few duties to attend to, however, as the two Sadida stirred once the family reunion was over.

"Most adorable," Canar commented after he and Renate joined Fernand and Alys when the Cra captain took his leave, softly nudging Alys with his shoulder," we should follow the captain's example and go do our jobs before the princess gives us an ear full. Will you manage without us, flower?"

"Yes, most definitely." She took Canar's hands into her own when a relieved sigh left her and she smiled at him and Renate," thank you so much for looking after Bebe today, you two are lifesavers."

"It was nothing, though you do owe us for entertaining the sweet girl. These leaves aren't cheap, you know," Renate dramatically pouted as he gave his skirt another wring, his tall grasshairdo hanging like a sickly flower on the top of his head after Bebe mercilessly bombarded him with water during their play.

Alys softly laughed when she wrapped her arms around the two Sadida to hug them and gave them a grateful peck on their cheeks," of course, anything you wish for. It's the least I can do for all you have done for me, and Bebe."

"Get well first, and stick closer to Master Joris so you'll stay out of trouble," Canar warned as he warmly returned the hug before pulling away to head back to the palace, his smile betraying he was jesting a little with his words," until later, flower." He gave her unbandaged hand a little squeeze before he wove goodbye with his fingers, swung his fur boa over his shoulder and walked away with swaying hips, his companion soon walking alongside him to gossip a little more.

And then there were three.

The sudden calm which swept over the shore was welcomed, especially by the Eliatrope. Her whole posture eased once the leaving Sadida were out of sight, the exhaustion of the day creeping around behind her. She exchanged a glance with Fernand when he stood motionless beside her, appearing to be unsure of what to do or say. She too was at a loss.

"Can we go for a swim now, Alys? Pretty please?"

Alys flinched when Bebe suddenly popped up in between her and Fernand and startled them by breaking the fragile silence, causing her to shuffle a little. "I… I'm sorry, sweetheart," she stammered when Bebe gave her those big pleading eyes which were hard to resist," but I can't swim."

"Alys is still recovering, Bebe. Don't ask her to do strenuous things."

That wasn't what she meant, but she was glad for Fernand excusing her and giving the girl a reason as to why Alys couldn't join her. She won't go into further detail about her lack of swimming skills though it did hurt her a little to see Bebe pout after she was turned down. This was not how she wanted their last day together to end… With that thought, Alys bent down to take her shoes off and hold them in her unbandaged hand before she slowly walked towards the shore, eying the still and clear water of the lake. She hesitated, the same paranoia she felt when she drowned stressing her and making her muscles clamp up.

There is nothing to fear, she told herself before she hooked a finger into the fabrics of her robes, then another, and another, until she gripped a handful of the blue cloth and lifted the skirts of her gown and overcoat to expose her feet. She shivered with a held breath when she took a step forward and dipped her toes into the water, a chill going all the way from her ankle to the top of her head and giving her goosebumps all over. The water wasn't cold at all, but the memories of the previous day were and they came rushing too fast.

She took another step into the shallow water to fight against the struggle before her shoulders slumped and she tilted her head back to take a deep breath, allowing the calm of the moment and scenery to overwhelm her. She focused on the mud underneath her feet and between her toes, how soft it felt while it was still solid enough to stand on, or how the rippling of the disturbed water gently tickled her ankles. The water was pleasant and so were the smells and the view of the lake. No current which could sweep her away and drag her under, and no homicidal maniac which would see her dead. There truly was nothing to fear here.

"You were right, Bebe," she said after she stood there in silence and glanced back over a shoulder to the girl, a smile tugging on her lips," it really is nice."

Bebe swelled with pride when she caught sight of her smile and the fact Alys still managed to indulge her request, even though it wasn't exactly swimming. Her feet were in the water, so that was something at least! She placed her hands against Fernand's behind before she started pushing against him and force him towards the water, saying with a strain in her voice as Fernand absolutely didn't budge," you too, Fern! Get in there!"

The Cra didn't seem too bothered by all the pushing, his eyes cast upward towards the sky over the lake before he lowered his gaze down to Alys. He didn't say a word, not even when she slightly tilted her head in a questioning manner when she caught him looking, though he did avert his gaze to avoid needing to answer her quiet question. "It is starting to get late," he muttered to Bebe, not liking the day was almost over," we should head back too."

"Nooo, the sun is still up!" Bebe whined, her shoving and pushing becoming a little rougher," I want to swim with you and Alys. Pleeeeease?"

Alys turned around to face the two on the shore while she still held her shoes and kept up her robes to keep them dry, saying to pick the girl's side without forcing Fernand to go for a dip," let her play in the water, Fernand. We can steadily make our way back while she swims along with us." She rose her arm to gesture with her shoes towards the shore which formed the natural boundary of the palace gardens before she started to wade through the shallow water, enjoying the flow around her feet and ankles. It was relaxing and soothing, a welcome feeling after what she had to endure.

Fernand shook his head when Alys began to move away before he gave Bebe a nudge to let her go back in the water if she pleased, the girl quick with picking up on his hint. She sprinted into the water with a pleased grin before she doggy paddled towards Alys to follow her while Fernand stuck to dry land and kept his boots on. He crossed his arms over his chest as he matched himself to the Eliatrope's pace, the woman seeming lost in her own little world while she watched the ripples she created and distorted her reflection.

"I didn't know you knew my brother," he spoke softly though loud enough to be heard by her, breaking the ice.

She tilted her head to the side so she could look to him while she continued to follow the edge of the water," I don't know him all that well, to be honest. I met him today when I had an audience with the king. He seems nice..." She ended the sentence with a questioning tone, uncertain if she was correct with her observation or if she had the wrong impression of the Cra's brother.

"He is. As you may have picked up on, he is the more supportive relative I have. My parents are, well…" He shrugged, not wanting to finish what he initially was going to say. He instead looked back to make certain Bebe was nearby, the girl swimming in circles and blowing bubbles to amuse herself as Fernand and Alys walked far too slow for how fast she wanted to swim.

"Are they the reason you left and hesitated to come back...?" She asked the question carefully to not step on his toes, knowing this was the first time she inquired about his personal life. How odd she knew so little about him after the time they traveled together.

Fernand grimaced upon hearing her, seeming conflicted to answer. He looked down to the ground to weigh his words or think about what he would do in response before he answered honestly," in part, yes, but there's more to it." He licked his lips in nervous thought before he straightened his back to not walk slouched and gain some more confidence. "Do you know about the Xelor attack on Sadida, not too long ago?"

It was Alys' turn to grimace when Fernand's question awakened a quiet chorus of sounds in the far back of her mind, the rhythmic ticking of clocks and gears trying to demand her whole attention. She swallowed while forcing herself to keep moving, not wanting to be frozen in place by old terrors which hadn't haunted her since her nightmares began. "I-I do, yes," she answered faintly," I was there then, kept in stasis inside the Xelor's Clock. His defeat was my freedom…"

"You were? Huh…" He took a moment to think about the information she reluctantly shared before he said," we weren't all too far away from each other then. Division seventy-four dealt with one of the several Grambo invasion points; we weren't near the Clock, but we could see it tower over the trees in the distance. It's strange to think you were inside of it while we tried to fight off the Grambos."

"What happened…?"

He slowly shook his head, the memories of the battle flooding back to him and delivering punches he had felt far too often but could never get used to. "My battalion got overrun. We were archers, we stuck to the tree line for shelter and to grant those on the field cover fire, but the Grambos came from everywhere; they had a means of transport we were unfamiliar with and the numbers to overwhelm us. We didn't stand a chance. When the horn for retreat was blown, it was already too late."

The thin branch he pushed aside to clear his path creaked before it swung back when Fernand released it, its leaves rustling. The pebble he kicked away during his brooding bounces across the grass and landed in the water, disturbing the Eliatrope's reflection further until the water calmed from the minor disturbance.

"You always hear the stories about how the Sadida troops withstood the Clock and saved their Tree of Life, but you hardly hear about the casualties, about who lost their lives and for what. People say I was lucky to have survived the onslaught and that my scars would heal eventually," he said, sounding bitter before he reached for the sleeve he wore on his left arm to pull it slightly down, revealing pinkish colored scar tissue, perfectly hidden under the dark green cloth," perfumed words of nonsense. Nothing will ever mend the loss of the people I trained with each day for years on end, of those I bonded with and considered friends and family. Nothing can erase the memories either…"

Alys' eyes closed when Fernand spoke of scars and memories. She had them too, the mental and physical scars; she could sympathize about how certain scars never heal, or did with difficulty. She looked through her eyelashes to her chest, the faded scar below her collarbone still present. It weren't the scars which hurt or were unbearable, but the memories and feelings tied to them and it was a pain not many people had experienced, or ever would.

"Because of the losses it suffered, division seventy-four was disbanded shortly after the battle was won and the damage was accumulated. Any seventy-four survivor would be placed within another division which suffered losses, to fill the ranks. Me though… I refused," Fernand continued, still sounding a little bitter as he shared something he didn't talk openly about before," I didn't exactly desert the army, but I wasn't active in it either. I skipped training on purpose… I stayed at home to cope with what I lost or to try and sleep when nightmares had kept me up throughout the night. I was a mess and unable to get back into the swing of things again. After a while, my parents believed I had mourned enough and expected me to return to the ranks, but I wasn't ready."

He slowed in his walking as he angrily balled a hand into a fist, though relaxed his muscles before he could tightly clench his hand, a defeated sigh leaving him. He could sense Alys' worry, the woman having brought herself closer to the shore to lessen the distance between them and give him some quiet support while keeping her feet in the water.

Her unspoken care and consideration of his personal space made him wryly smirk. "To be completely honest with you," he shrugged, the darkness which hung over him letting up a little," their urgings only made me resent my place in the army more. I wanted nothing to do with it anymore, so I left, as simple as that. I said my goodbyes, ignored my parents' pleas and demands to stay and wandered off to Yurbut without a single idea of what I was going to do. All I wanted was to stay away from Sadida and the pain that was here, to live a different life and to stay out of trouble."

"And here you are…"

"And here I am," he chuckled with a nod, knowing the irony. He looked back to Bebe, the one thing which prevented him from living a life in solitude and led him on a path which brought him back home, the home he ran from. The girl was waving a reed around like an oversized Eniripsa's wand while she waded waist deep through the water, trailing after him and Alys without knowing what the adults were talking about. Perhaps for the best… "I was hoping to not see any family members for a little while longer, so I could get used to the idea of being in Sadida again, but I didn't expect Jourdain to be stationed at the palace, let alone to learn about me being here."

Alys left the water when the path leading to one of the palace entrances was visible through the lush scenery, having managed to keep her robes dry during the peaceful wade along the edge of the lake She continued to hold her shoes in her hand while she lingered before Fernand after their walk came to an end, his story having moved her. She never expected the reasons for his objections towards Sadida to be this complicated and deep, but she was proud he'd overcome the obstacles to grant Bebe a future. "Your brother approached me when I went looking for Bebe. He'd heard about you and what you did, so he was hoping he would find you if he was to come with me. Tomorrow, he will join Master Joris and me on our way to Cania, to escort us and the prisoners safely to the Justice stronghold."

"Wait. You're leaving?"

His question and the tone of his voice startled her a little, the surprise he asked with confusing her until she reminded herself that Fernand was unaware of any plans she made with Joris this day. She hadn't told him yet... Her eyes shot around when insecurity bubbled up and the hold on her shoes tightened before she met his leering gaze with a nervous swallow. "I am, yes... You knew this was going to happen, Fernand," she said, her voice dipping down in volume as she didn't wish to discuss it," I came to Sadida to talk with Joris and you came with to give Bebe the home she deserves. Parting ways was a part of that plan… And now with my Dofus being in the hands of some madman, I have to go."

"Maybe, yes, but I didn't think you-" He shook his head after he interrupted himself with a huff, not wanting to make a scene while Bebe was in earshot," so soon, after what you have gone through?"

"I have to, Fernand…"

Her whole posture shrunk when a disappointed scowl shimmered through Fernand's distraught expression, the worries about saying goodbye increasing before it spiked when Fernand suddenly brushed past her without a word said. She spun around to see where he was going while the urge to plead for him to not walk away burned in the back of her throat, though said nothing in the fear of angry rejection. She saw him take Bebe's hand after the girl finally came out of the water and greeted him with a waving of the long reed, the young Osamodas oblivious to what was going on as she happily walked with him and skipped a little when he headed for the path.

Doubt made Fernand linger when Bebe reached for Alys with the reed to poke her while he wanted nothing more but to leave, but perhaps it was also guilt which prevented him from storming off in frustration after Alys made clear her mind was set on leaving. He huffed through his nose with a light shake of his head before he gave Bebe's arm a gentle tug and said as composed as he possibly could to not involve the young girl in what was brewing," let's go eat something before it is bedtime, alright?"

"Potatoes?"

"I… guess?" He couldn't fully cloak the uncertainty which kept on growing and perhaps it was why he didn't dare to look to the quiet Eliatrope when Bebe cheered in anticipation of a potato themed dinner and started running towards the path with excitement, leaving the adults by themselves. Fernand bit the inside of his cheek as he looked after Bebe, sensing the solemn presence of Alys somewhat behind him. Was it really going to end for them on this note, after what they went through together? He kept his gaze down when he turned to Alys, clearly hesitating before he said quietly," I will seek you out in the morning. Please don't leave before I do…"

All she could do was close her eyes and hang her head after he walked away to follow Bebe, leaving Alys by herself at the edge of the lake while the sun slowly dipped below the far horizon. Now she truly didn't look forward to any goodbyes which may follow the next day… not if this was his reaction to her leaving. Hopefully the night would calm Fernand's thoughts, for she wanted nothing more but to leave Sadida without any arguments following her.

Tomorrow, she told herself as she put on her shoes and cast one last glance towards the lake, the calm surface reflecting the pink and dark blue sky of dusk, tomorrow will be better after some getting rest… if she could find any rest this night.

There is no rest for the wicked, as the saying goes. The night was all but peaceful, though most residing within the massive tree palace were unaware of the ongoings, mostly due to sleep or other distractions. A shadow was lurking and sneaking about, moving swiftly and escaping the ever watchful eye of the Bontarian ambassador as his attention was elsewhere, like making certain a particular someone would be safe and well this night, no matter her restless slumber.

One guard went down before twilight could set in, then another and another, all still breathing but unable to sound the alarm. The shadow was nimble and precise in its search, incapacitating anyone who stood in its way with a skillful hand until it found what it was looking for.

The vine pods stood aligned against the prison walls, all neatly in a row. There wasn't a single sound or a sign of movement within the prison ward, the captives within the pods all sedated with the magic of sleeping pollen.

Gard took the remaining crooked horn from his Psychopath mask to wedge it in between the tightly wrapped vines of the pod he examined and pry them apart, though leaned back when a small puff of pollen seeped free from the opening he forcefully created. The weak light from the lanterns and illuminating flowers and moss revealed an unfamiliar face within the darkness of a pod, still soundly asleep. Gard's eyes narrowed behind the mask he wore before he applied more force to make the gap larger, once more examining the captive to guess their identity before the sharp end of the wooden horn plunged into the poor captive's chest without much hesitation.

No sound escaped the dying feline woman as she remained subdued by the pod's pollen, her crimson attire turning a darker red while she breathed her last breath.

Onto the next pod to pry it open and see who or what it held, a chain of actions Gard repeated several times while he left a trail of damaged pods and bodies behind, bodies he made out of petty revenge. He didn't keep count, his focus on what he may find each time he managed to stick the bloodied end of his improvised weapon between the vines and spread them far enough apart.

The routine was abruptly broken when a black hand suddenly lashed out through the narrow crack he had only just created in a pod, causing Gard to flinch in mild startle and lean away as fingers were frantically grabbing and clawing the air. He calmly took a step back, the rasping and wheezing from within the pod sounding dry and angry while whomever within wildly stirred, the pollen hardly having an effect on whomever it was. The freed hand started to tear and pull on the parted vines in an attempt to make the narrow crack larger before it retracted back inside and a large white eye appeared, glaring through the crack at the Masqueraider before it grew even larger with shock.

"Ahh, crap," Royale's familiar voice sounded from within the pod after she recognized the white and red visage of Gard's mask, a cough following before the tone of her hoarse voice turned darker and more rough," come to finish the job or are you here to bail me out? Whichever it is, someone's going to bloody pay for screwing me over."