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Kenric tried to make head or tails of a map after it had falling into the bog. Somehow, they all managed to arrive at the Fallow Mire after having to take many detours due to demons, templars, mages, enemy avvar, and the list goes on. Even Trader Helsdim is scratching his head on how they even managed to get here. If there was one thing going for them, is that they are nowhere near the heart of the mire. Still dealing with the undead but nothing to worry. He's learning how to use a small bow to defend himself!
"Professor Kenric, please get on the War Nug. We don't want to attract any more of the undead." Ameridan spoked up, causing Kenric to jump.
Kenric let out a nervous laugh before he tried to get on the nug named, Woozles. Woozles, for her own part, slowly sat down to allow Kenric to hop on. This caused Helsdim and the other Avvar to laugh at the scene. Kenric simply smiled at their laughter. He knew he's seen as rather ridiculous to them. More so as he keeps failing to stay on Woozles. One of them took pity on Kenric and helped him stay on Woozles as the massive nug stood back up. Giving the man a thankful smile as Kenric finally managed to get his hold on Woozles. "Shall we get going?"
Looking back to see Ameridan sitting on the wagon, keeping an eye out on their surroundings. His staff would glow on occasion, giving Kenric the impression the recently found Inquisitor is gearing up for a possibly fight. "Is everything alright, Inq-Ameridan?"
"We are near the edges of a bog that has undead rising from it. Yes, everything is quite fine."
-.-
"Inquisition? They are creating the Inquisition?"
"Someone has to do something. The Templars are who knows where and the mages are barricading themselves in Redcliffe."
"…Rogue templars and apostates are fighting all throughout the Hinterlands and who knows where else."
"Exactly the reason this Inquisition has to happen!"
"What about the Chantry?"
"Hah! From what Sister Maybell had mentioned, that nearly all remaining Clerics are now fighting who's going to be the next divine!"
"Or wanting to get their hands on the Herald and hang her…"
"It's a massive mess all around…"
"I truly hope the Herald could close the Breach."
"She is the Herald of Andraste. Chosen by Andraste herself. With the Inquisition, they will save us all."
The chatter of the market that has everyone on the edge of their seat. Everyone commenting about the templars, mages, the chantry, the Herald of Andraste or the rising rumors of the Inquisition. Add in maleficarums, dragons and the occasional runaway halla, it would have felt like Ameridan has never left home. Almost.
Ameridan feels pity for the Herald of Andraste. The only other thing he has heard, is that her hand glows… that's it. Nothing else. He doesn't know if they are human, elf or dwarf.
Is she a mage?
A templar?
A seeker?
Just who is she?
Yet, the only thing Ameridan he could get from those they come across in their travels… is that her hand glows and managed temporarily stopped it from spewing out more demons. Little else of the Herald of Andraste herself. Ameridan looked up towards the sky, grimacing at the sight of the Breach. History is repeating itself once more. Thedas is already erasing who exactly she is, just like they have done to himself.
The further along they get into civilization, it only gets worse. Ameridan started to truly see just how much has changed, for the best and for the far worse. "Professor… what should I expect once we get further into civilization? Lady Colette had told me a brief description on what had happened with my people yet…"
"But did not mention the current state?" Kenric let out an uneasy smile as he turned to see Ameridan giving him a blank expression.
"She mentioned an Exalted March onto the Dales… city elves… and several other things…" Ameridan replied forebodingly, he looked up at the clear sky as he thought over what Colette had told him. "The fact the Chantry have it written that I was some human noble and not a Dalish mage. It makes me wonder how much I should prepare myself once we reached further into civilization."
Silence. Such an unusual thing coming from Professor Kenric.
"Lady Colette gave me an abbreviated version of what happened to our people. I need to know exactly what I am about to get myself into."
"The University and the Chantry will have our heads to keep us rewriting their variation of your history." Kenric replied solemnly. He took off his hat to brush back his hair before putting it back on. "They treat everyone that isn't human as second- or third-class citizens. Many times, far worse. In the University of Orlais, there are very few elves that attend. They would raise the prices, gaining scholarships would be nearly impossible and those that do get in, are not treated with the same respect."
"How did Lady Colette become your research assistant, as she called it?"
"I sponsored her. I specialize in early Chantry history... that's rather mute now, isn't it? With you here and knowing what you know…and lived through it too. You know vastly more than I would ever know! Since you were there at its creation…" Kenric continued to ramble on causing Ameridan to chuckle.
"Professor… you're doing it again." Ameridan grinned at Kenric, this caused Kenric to turned pink in embarrassment. "What's this about you sponsoring Lady Colette?"
"Oh yes! I got lost one day…"
Ameridan nearly bit his tongue as he failed miserably to hold back his laughter. He started to cough in an attempt to regain his composure. Judging from Kenric's growing smile, there was no harm done. Laughter only grew for everyone in the group as Kenric told them about the story of how he met Colette.
Ameridan smile faltered, a wave of sadness overwhelmed him as he recounted his own memories of meeting his friends. Many of which felt like they just happened just yesterday. That yesterday, had occurred well over eight hundred years ago. All the people he once knew, are no more. Places he once visited, he doubts are still there. He fears going to his old stomping grounds for what he has been told.
Change.
Something Ameridan once embraced but is now keeping it at bay. Being told of what had occurred the last eight hundred years, will be vastly different when facing this new reality of his. Just the thought churns his stomach.
"Ameridan?"
Ameridan blinked slowly as he was brought back to reality. He looked over at Kenric who gave him a curious gaze. "My apologies, my mind wondered off."
"There is no need to apologize. I did get sidetrack all the time!" Kenric laughed at his own expense. He looked up ahead and smiled widely at the sight of the sky clearing up. "Looks like we are almost out of the mire."
"Even so. We should keep our weapons close by." Helsdim grunted out as he kept an eye on the bog. "We will have to deal with the fighting between the rogue Templars and Apostates once we are in the Hinterlands."
Ameridan's mouth went dry at the Trader's words. This is really it, isn't it? In a matter of days, he is going to witness the result of his life's work. All in shambles as Templars and Mages fight with innocents dying in its crossfire. Just the mere thought of seeing his aspirations for the Templar Order to fall in such disgrace, has him sending a prayer up to his friend. Hoping Haron's soul is resting and is not twisting in his grave.