Chapter 3: A Future both Beautiful and Deadly
The sun had been up by the time that Venat finally decided to tuck away her many notes and even drawn out concepts such as for the idea of a moon and the Loporrits. Not that she ever wanted to use them, but the idea of such concepts were interesting to say the least and perhaps they could have a use later down the line. Hopefully, one which could avoid the possible dark future.
To ensure that she wouldn't lose them, she made sure to fold them into her, now worn through, travelling journal. She had kept many such books but this one was the latest in a long line—the others all sitting upon shelves back at her home and she smiled at the memory of every single one of them. How each was filled with countless stories and adventures.
Claire had slept and slept and didn't wake until long after the sun had fully risen. When Venat came to check on her, she found the girl stirring and blinking about curiously, as if she had forgotten the events the day before and wondered how she came to be here. Venat smiled at the bewildered expression on her face as she came in with a tray of various fruits she had gathered from around the area.
"You're finally awake," she said in a cheerful voice as she brought her the food. "I was just wondering if you would be willing to share breakfast with me. Again, there's not much here, but the gardens upon some of the isles here are filled with all assortments of fruits and vegetables. I suppose I could have created some food here but they just never taste as sweet as they do when naturally grown, I find."
Claire rubbed her eyes sleepily, and she seemed to be embarrassed by how late she had overslept but Venat just chuckled, reminding her that rest was often the thing we needed most—especially since it looked like she was about to collapse the night before. She could still remember how dark the shadows were around the girl's eyes. In fact, it looked like she could do with a little more rest if she had to be honest. But now that she was awake, she seemed keen on getting back to work.
Well, she would make sure that she was properly fed before setting out.
"Resolve and perseverance are admirable qualities to be sure," she reassured her as they shared a basket of apples together. "But they can only keep us going so long before we must obey our body's demand for rest. So please, for your own sake, you must learn to listen more often to your own body's demands."
Claire blushed pink at that but there was a hint of a smile there as she said, "My friends are always telling me that."
"Sound like you have some caring friends," Venat grinned back. "Now, once we have some food, we can head out and see what we can discover."
She did encourage the girl to eat as much as she liked, but she could tell that she didn't have much of an appetite—mayhaps the future of her world is hanging heavily over her mind and distracting her. As Venat watched, she tried to see if there were more traces of Azem mixed in there as well. Though very slight, she did notice a few lingering traces that reminded her of Azem… though she couldn't be sure if it was because she imagined it or not. Either way, the girl seemed so young to be facing such challenges.
"How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"
Claire seemed a little taken aback by that and answered, "I was nineteen summers, shortly before my twentieth, when I first set out but it's been a couple years I'm around…?"
"You were nineteen when you left home? That's still a child practically in their infancy," she said in great surprise.
"Well, our lifespans are considerably shorter than yours," she answered back, suddenly nervous again. "Our lives come and go all too soon."
"So young…" Venat repeated in shock, shaking her head. "Yet, you have seen more than most. The way you see the world in a way that very few can ever claim."
She wanted to ask more about the world of which she hailed from, but wasn't sure if she should know more. She thought it over and decided that now wasn't the best time. They could wait until later to discuss it more.
Instead, she could only smile back and said that they would begin their search by the good old-fashioned way by asking the other researchers what they knew. This seemed to cheer Claire up now that they had at least a starting point.
So they began with their search. The greatest challenge however was with so little information about the Final Days—which the first one had yet to happen anyway—they didn't have too many options to look into. But after going over with Claire what little they did know, one thing that she seemed to be certain that Hermes and Meteion were somehow involved. So they began looking into more information about Hermes work on how and more importantly why he created Meteion.
They began to ask around to the different researchers and observers what they knew. But most of them could only give vague answers. After all, it wasn't uncommon for one to experiment with new creations while here after all. All anyone knew was that Meteion just appeared one day and no one really questioned Hermes's reasons.
After asking around for a time, Venat could only conclude that Hermes was planning something with Meteion being the key for it. Especially, since he never even submitted a concept to begin with? So whatever it was that he was working on seemed to be of the utmost secrecy.
When she next met up with Claire, it seemed that she had heard much the same as she did. Save for…?
"She… has sisters?" Venat asked and Claire nodded.
"Hermes told me so himself," she answered as she explained more of the conversation she had with Hermes the other night.
"I rather wish you had mentioned this earlier," she sighed.
"Sorry," Claire answered back, "I didn't remember it until now though. I remember that he say that he created Meteion to be able to travel across the great expanse and that he wished to know more of life on other stars. Though, I'm not sure what it is he hopes to accomplish with all that yet."
Venat thought that all over. To speak with their distant cousins on other stars? She could only imagine the many possibilities that await them out there? Suddenly she felt a surge of curiosity fill her at such a thought, but that was when she noticed the frown on Claire's face.
"What is it?" she asked her softly. "Is there something the matter?"
"Hmm? Oh, no… I was just thinking about Hermes. And…?" she paused there, as if afraid to say more.
"And…?" she gently coaxed and Claire sighed.
"I think… that he has a lot of demons to get out," Claire muttered softly. "I think that he's been in a dark place for a long time and it… worries me. Meteion said much the same thing as well—that there had been a darkness there long before he even created her."
Venat frowned at that.
"You think that darkness in him may lead him to one day wish to bring about the Final Days?" she questioned but Claire shook her head.
"I don't know," she confessed in a whisper. "When I first met him, I couldn't believe that he was the same Fandaniel that I met—or maybe will meet—the two could not be more different from each other. But… after that talk, I can't help but start to see traces of the man he will become."
Claire seemed hesitant about something and when Venat asked, she looked up and asked, "Tell me… in your opinion… do… creations… who seem imperfect to you, or they didn't turn out exactly like how you hoped… do you see them as living beings?"
Venat blinked at that.
"Yes, of course, why do you ask that?" she questioned softly and Claire sighed.
"Where I come from, we don't have any kind of creation magicks," she reminded her softly. "We are able to learn spells to attack and heal, but to do so means drawing upon our own aether. We simply cannot create out of thin air like you can. Mayhaps I cannot speak for most people here… but many I have seen… they look at even me and they see something incomplete. And when we don't live up to their expectations… we are to be discarded. At least, I have seen more than a few people act like that here. Emet-Selch… of the future… said as much. That he didn't see us as living beings therefore it does not count as murder."
Venat thought that over. That was something she had seen many times. How creations are unmade when they are not considered perfect. It was common for the people to believe that it would be easier to simply start over with a fresh slate rather than try to work on something you deem doomed to fail.
Many of her own colleagues think along those lines, that creations that are incomplete aren't truly alive.
"You believe that Hermes wishes to change that?" she asked and Claire nodded.
"After all, just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean that they aren't alive," she reminded her. "And Hermes is so angry at how little everyone else around him seems to think otherwise."
Disconcerting indeed.
They continued on with their search after that talk, only to hit a few dead ends. It looked like they were about out of leads when they learned of a woman named Galene, who apparently watched Hermes send Meteion's sisters into the sky one night and they set off to find her.
They travelled together up to the Peripeteia Krystalline, where she was rumored to be. An observer was kind enough to offer finding her for them; though that there might be a wait since she was in the middle of an experiment.
"That won't be necessary," Venat reassured them easily. "This lovely view will keep us occupied until she is ready to receive us."
The observer nodded in understanding and left them alone. Venat turned back to her new companion, who seemed to be mesmerized on the view from up here and she smiled at the bright amazement in the girl's eyes. She couldn't blame her for her captivation, for she also turned to gaze out upon Elpis and breathed in the fresh air, picking up the smell of flowers and fresh grass even from up here as a warm breeze caressed their faces.
"A delightful breeze… and a breathtaking view," she said softly.
The two of them gazed out upon the world and Venat couldn't help but think that this place would be gone one day. Apparently, there were several calamities after the Final Days and the ruins of this world were now little more than dust. What did the world look like after all this? What was it like? Was it still beautiful though in a different way? What sort of adventures did she experience? Those that didn't involve something as dreadful to think about as the end of days?
After another moment of silence, she finally found the courage to ask.
"What is it like in the future?" Venat asked suddenly, truly wondering what would be appearing here in Elpis's stead years down the line. "Is the world still a beautiful place?"
Claire looked back and she saw a trace of happiness drift across her face as she answered, "As beautiful as ever."
Venat chuckled, gladdened to see that heavy sorrow that seemed to hang about the girl like a veil, lifted for a moment. "I swear, I could hear the glimmer in your eyes and the adoration in your voice."
That was good… it was so nice to see that she hadn't known nothing but sorrow and suffering all this time.
"Beautiful… but just as many dangers as well," she added softly, but there was a hint of excitement mixed there and Venat felt her curiosity grow at such a thought.
"While we wait, will you not tell me about your adventures?" Venat asked her. Claire looked conflicted once more and she added reassuringly, "Not the portentous events which led you here, but the simple delights all your own. By learning about the future world, I may gain insight into future me's plans."
She gazed into those deep green eyes of her as she then confessed, "But more than that, I have an interest simply as a fellow traveler. Short of going somewhere oneself, there's naught more stirring than hearing another's account."
And since she may be in for a very, very long wait to see these places. This was the next best thing.
Claire nodded… and once she began her tale, it was as if she couldn't stop. For the first time, a smile, a real true smile appeared on the girl's face as she told her all about the world of the future. Of the city upon the ocean of Limsa Lominsa… the forests of Gridania… the vast deserts of Ul'dah… the frozen landscapes of Ishgard… to the colorful lands of the Far East of Doma and Ala Mhigo…? The scholar-filled city of Sharlayan and of the dragon that ruled over the topical lands of Thavnair… to say nothing of the places she had seen from the First Shard. She also spoke of some of the many, countless adventures that ranged from battling against gods to simple errands for ordinary people. Of the kinds of people that live in these places and the problems that they face as they suffer defeat after defeat, only to drag themselves back up to their feet and continue on living.
Claire spoke of the little island that she had been born on and how she later set out on her own to see the world when she felt she was ready. She told Venat of the Scions and the trouble they often drag her into… and of their antics and quirks that made her grin. Once she named each of the Scions, she went on to other friends… those who were long gone and to whom she owed so much. Venat's heart ached when she learned of the love and sorrow that merged together in her voice at simply mentioning them.
It was as if Venat was listen to a fairy tale and found herself hanging onto every word. She shook her head in amazement before looking back at her in awe. Even the most resolute and distant place of Etheirys, at least the Etheirys of this time, the people suffered with death and sorrow yet never did it hang so heavily above them like the people from where she came from. But as she thought more and more of the suffering of these people in the future, she wondered more to what kind of strength would be found upon suffering. Again, in this time, mankind has wings to bear them to joy… to paradise… but where this girl hails from, mankind must walk. And even still, they stumble and fall before getting back up and walk on. Truly miraculous.
Claire talked for a good long while, her laughter growing ever more frequent as she recalled many stories of a long, long journey full of joy and pain in equal measure. Venat savored the delight that shone from her like light. Most of which was just as unbelievable as her story of the coming doom… but Venat could not bring herself to stop listening. She laughed with her, gasped in shock, and felt the thrill of excitement whenever she mentioned journeying to a new place. She drunk deep on her stories, feeling a longing to see this world and its resilient people with her own eyes.
Claire had just finished regaling her tale of returning to the nation of Ishgard upon back of the dragon Midgarsormor when Venat couldn't hold back her admiration.
"Incredible! Would that I could have been there to see it!" she said happily before letting out a contented sigh. "Yours is a harsh and unforgiving world. Yet in spite of this, your brethren hold fast to their virtue. To know that the light of mankind's potential still shines, even in that faraway place… it gives me heart."
She gazed back at her fondly and added, "Thank you for regaling me with your tales. I will treasure every word."
Even now, she had the stories sheered into her very memory as she walked to the very edge of the balcony and gazed out at Elpis once more lovingly.
"What of you?" Claire asked curiously. "What made you accept the title of Azem?"
That question triggered the return of another memory, of a girl whom she had taken under her wing as she explained more of what it meant to bear this title—unique even among the Convocation:
"Mistress Azem, what made you accept the title of Azem?"
There had only been one other person she revealed such the truth too before… and that had been her young protégée… when she had asked that same question shortly after they first met. Oh, that was so long ago now. But Venat thought back to that day and how a split-second decision made such a difference to her life.
"As you know, I was once a scholar," she explained, still remembering how she had been a young woman—hardly more than a child really—and her thirst for the truth. "And among other things, I sought to understand the workings of the world. What exactly is aether? How formed the laws of nature? Whence sprung mankind? Riddles and mysteries beyond counting. Over the years I have managed to find answers to some few of them… yet rather than attain a sense of mastery, the more I understood, the more I came to hold the world and its miracles in awe."
Venat gazed up at the bright sky and sighed happily, "We too are miracles, each and every one of us. Born of the warm breath of life that traverses the heavens, swirling through eternity." Her own adventures filled her mind and she walked through them once more. "When I fully grasped the improvability of our existence, nothing felt impossible any more. If it could be imagined, it could be done."
She gazed back at her new friend and admitted, "A passion swelled within me. An epiphany dispelling all preconceptions of what was natural and true. And a presence without. Immense yet intimate—fate, perhaps—holding us in its tender embrace… as reassuring as it was intimidating. How keenly aware I became of creation's fragility, built as it is upon precarious happenstance."
Venat chuckled at how simple the answer was, but knew she could not find any other way to explain how she felt. She held up her arms as more memories came flooding back as she admitted, "I was overcome with an irrepressible urge to know the world more intimately. To hear its voice, feel its breath… I ventured forth on a journey that very day. So very long ago now."
Claire was listening in very intently, she could tell, and she wondered if that was how her journey started.
"Freed from presumption and prejudice, I saw the world through a newborn's eyes," she continued on, closing her eyes once more and thought of her own journey, of the people and places she had visited. "Everything fresh and new and so, so beautiful. Lands that stretched on forever. Skies one could drown in. the heartbeat of nature, silent yet strong. And amidst it all a people. Beacons of light and life. Laughter that warmed my heart like naught else before. They are my meaning and my purpose. My love." She opened her eyes and whispered, "And so long as they need help, I cannot return to the star."
It was a sad truth. For as much as she longed to rest, she could not do so… not yet. Not until she was sure that the future would be a bright one for the people and the world she loved so dearly.
"Perhaps my future self is still waiting for it. The moment she can let go and walk unto the end… safe in the knowledge that man will find his own way." she sighed, this time it was sad. Would she truly be waiting after who knows how long? Just the idea of being forced to sit back and watch the people being torn apart… was difficult to imagine. No, she would have to find another way. If there was any chance at all she could change this dark future, she would do her best to find it. But deep down, she knew that if she were to become this Hydealyn…?
She slowly gazed back as Claire gazed back at her, as if she understood every single word that she spoke. There had to be a reason why her future self chose this child to come unto her. Why her specifically? For she could not imagine that it would have been easy—especially for one so young.
Though, now that it had led to here, she had to ask a question that she had been desperately wanting to know since she first heard of who she was. Her, who had been forced to bear and endure so much, but still held fast her convictions and her compassion.
"You, who are our future… tell me this and tell me true," she asked her softly, turning to gaze at her fully in the face. Venat grew a little more serious as she asked her softly, "Has your journey been good? Has it been worthwhile?"
Claire did not answer right away—which was a little concerning. The two of them looked long and hard at each other as Claire seemed to need a moment to put her thoughts in order. She waited as Claire closed her eyes and seemed to be lost in memories. Finally, when she looked up at her, she opened her mouth to answer and…?
"Pray forgive my lateness!"
The voice nearly made her jump, she had forgotten the reason they were here. They looked up to see the woman, Galene she imagined, come running into view, making apologies for making them wait and that her subject was being irritable.
Venat merely waved off her apology, reassuring her that they had a pleasant conversation while waiting. That was putting it mildly in her opinion. There were so many different questions she wanted to ask… though she concluded that their job was more important for right now.
They spoke to Galene, who happily told them what she knew of Meteion and how it had been the dark of the morn when she saw it after leaving the Thalassai after some nocturnal observation. She had suddenly spied a bright light climbing high into the southeastern skies, like a shooting star, only rising rather than falling. She then followed the lights to where she spotted Hermes and Meteion—or rather the Meteia. She had spoken to Hermes about this later on, but confessed that he was still conducting further tests… though it shouldn't be long now for Hermes seems to be nearing a breakthrough.
They thanked Galene for answering their question as they set off once more. But as they left Thalassai together, Venat couldn't help but give Claire a sideways glance—wondering what she had been about to say before they were interrupted.
The two of them set off at once from the Thalassai, intending to examine this island that Hermes visits—though they weren't completely sure which it could be. They walked around for a time, looking to the southeast to the scattered islands that laid there and she began trying to put the pieces together.
"Now, if I were conducting some mystery research, where would I go…?" she mused before Claire pointed out to a lone island, hardly big enough for the single tree that stood there, but completely isolated from all the other islands.
"Ah, what about that one?" Venat agreed eagerly before asking, "Have you the means to fly? 'Tis quite a distance away."
"Normally," Claire confessed, "But I fear not right now. I need a mount to be able to make the journey."
"Hm," Venat hummed to herself. "Inconvenient, but hardly an insurmountable problem." Thankfully, she had a simple solution to such a problem as she called out, "To me, Argos!"
And her luminous companion appeared in a bright light, shaking out his golden fur as she smiled at him lovingly, running a hand over his soft fur.
"My friend, would you mind creating a double to carry Claire here over to that island?" she asked politely. Argos looked from her to Claire, before turning his head in a rather stuck up way. Of course… Venat fought a groan, though she supposed she should have seen this coming.
"Stubborn creature," she sighed exasperatedly. "There is no place on this great star we have not together traveled, and still he remains obstinate in the presence of strangers." She gazed back at Claire and explained apologetically, "Argos has rather exacting standards, I'm afraid."
But that was when she finally noticed that Claire was staring at Argos with amazement—just as she had when the two of them first met with her jaw having fallen open. Claire then closed it as she answered her, "But… I've already ridden him before?"
"What? You've ridden him before…?" Venat repeated asked in surprise, not able to imagine how until, "Ah—your 'before' meaning my 'after.' Not at all confusing, that." She actually had to take a moment to think on that. But, if that was true… then Argos would have already recognized her… why else would he have allowed her to ride him? And the only way that would have happened was if he had come to her aid when she needed him. Which means…?
She then grinned.
"But speaking of the here and now, the quick solution is for us to face off in a sparring match," she explained.
Whatever Claire had been expecting her to say, it wasn't that.
"A sparring match?" Claire repeated as she took a startled step back.
"Demonstrate to him that you are capable of holding your own against me in battle, and you should convince Argos that you are worthy of his back," Venat clarified, feeling curious to how this fight will go and what tricks she could teach her. "And besides, I might even teach you a thing or two in the bargain."
Claire still looked doubtful, which caused Venat to laugh at the cute confusion on her face.
"You seem doubtful. But useful lesson or not, it will certainly be a moment to remember—a memory of the distant past to cherish!" Venat responded, having not have the pleasure of a friendly sparring match for some time anyway. "What say you, traveler out of time?"
Claire looked on and thought it over for a moment before a grin appeared and she taunted, "Choose your battlefield."
There we go, a shadow of the adventurous spirit that she had seen before was back—for she believed that everything she told her was just scratching the surface.
"I admire your confidence!" Venat commented, looking forward to this—her blood all but singing in anticipation. "Clear your mind and prepare your weapons. I will await you at the clearing over yonder."
She waved and headed off straight ahead, with Argos walking along at her side as they reached the clearing.
"Now, my friend, you are to watch and pay attention, alright?" she asked as Argos turned his nose up at her and she rolled her eyes fondly and patted his head. "Come now… I have a feeling that she will surprise you. Give her a chance."
The two of them waited there in the clearing for only a few minutes before their friend arrived, a sword and shield at the ready. The weapons certainly looked different, made of some kind of metal that she had never seen before, and she was actually wanting to ask what it was made of. But that was a discussion for another time.
"Shall we begin?" she asked. "Be warned: I'll not go easy on you!"
"Who asked you to?" Claire retorted rather smugly.
Oh, she's very cocky now. Venat's eyes still lit up though, as the memory came back when she first sparred with Azem, who had shared an identical grin to Claire.
"Let neither side hold back," she declared, her own sword and shield glittering in her hands. "My blade sings!"
And so they began. It started off simple at first, just trading a few blows with their swords, knocking back the other's attacks with their shields… but she decided to put a little magic into her attacks. She leapt to one side of their battle arena and was about to bring her sword down in a graceful arc that would hit everything in front of her. But Claire startled her by rushing in, and casting a quick spell of pure light at her from her own blade.
Ah, she knows how to play rough.
Good, then Venat won't feel bad for throwing off the kid gloves.
So Venat dashed to the center after creating several faded copies of herself to stand on the outside of the ring. Claire once more dodged their attacks, as if she could see exactly what was coming before she went charging back in straight for her, dodging another of her arcing slashes.
Alright, how about this…? Venat caused spiritual blades then to rush out of the ground and come straight towards her which she wasn't able to dodge this time. But it hardly mattered. Claire quickly cast a healing spell to heal up the pain and Venat raised her eyebrows at that. Very few could heal and attack with that kind of level.
"Impressive…" she said, "I shall have to try something different."
She would need something with a little more bite to it, and switched to blades that would be more likely to do some damage. Her sword faded and her charkams appeared, feeling light as feathers in her hands. She smirked, feeling her blood race in excitement. It's been while since she felt this much fun in a fight.
"No quarter!" she yelled, back in the battlefield as she began to dance about her, letting her blades doing their damage. But it seems that her new friend was not so easily cornered, for she moved with the same level of grace that she had seen dancers move about. The way that she expected the attacks made Venat wonder if she had used or at least fought against such weapons before. The two began to dance about each other, their attacks constantly missing each other or doing such little damage that neither of them noticed the harm.
Both of them were laughing at this point, their hearts joined together in a choirs of excitement at how much fun they were having.
"Come on," Claire taunted, "I thought that you would be trickier than that."
"I see you won't be easily overcome… but neither will I," Venat warned, already feeling tired. Her charkams disappeared and instead she called upon her staff and the power of the elements. Claire looked taken aback for the first time, but she still came rushing in as Venat called upon the winds. At last, she seemed to be doing some damage when she commanded the earth to fly at her while she dodged the wind. But the hurts were quickly healed by the same healing spell as before as she then bashed the stones aside with the shield, barely denting it. Venat did manage to trip her up though and knocked her back into the winds, which cut her, but Claire kept moving straight on in, taking the damage head on with her shield the only thing protecting her.
"We've only just begun," Venat teased, "Come at me with your all!"
It seemed only fair to end this with her own sword and so she called it and her shield back to her while they really began going at it now, their fight becoming harder as she felt herself being pushed back. It seemed that rather than her teaching her, Claire was the one teaching her some new tricks instead. Well, that will soon change.
"Very well, let us move to the final trial," she declared and moved to the center once more.
'Lets see how you hold up against this?' she thought gleefully.
Venat then began to draw in aether from around her. Claire realized what was happening and immediately began rushing at them to try and dispel the balls of aether she was calling to her before she was fully charged with them. But Venat was able to finish casting while still siphoning off a reasonable amount of aether… ready to unleash her strongest attack. She created a chain of aether and entrapped Claire, pulling her forward right into the center of their battlefield and then leapt back as her powers began to flow in through a magical seal at her feet.
"Break your chains, shed your burdens—and show me your strength of will!" she called. Bending the aether to her will, her weapons began to appear and charge straight at her opponent. For one moment, she feared that she had allowed herself to become carried away and that she would actually hurt her. But Claire took the full blunt of her attack, and she took it as a sign that she could take it just fine. And so, Venat caused her real sword to appear in her hands and leapt forward, bring her full strength against her in a vast attack of aether.
Claire got hit hard, but she remained on her feet, sure she was panting hard, but she was still up and looked ready to keep on going.
"You still stand," Venat whispered, already tired, having drained herself of quite a bit from that last blow. Even some of her fiercest foes weren't able to stand after an onslaught like that. "The people of your time are more resilient than I had dared hope."
Despite Claire's thin soul and aether, there was a passion that burned there that Venat had rarely seen before—at least, from this time.
"I have seen enough," she decided with a nod as she caused her blade to vanish, startling Claire.
"Twas my intent to finish it, but clearly I underestimated you," she stated as Claire smiled and sheathed the sword at her side.
"One would think I never learn," Venat stated with a shake of her head. "I made the same mistake with Azem when we first sparred. Despite being less than half my age, her strength was astounding. As is yours." She looked away for a moment before finishing, "Tis plain you have weathered considerable hardship. Far more even, than your tales would suggest. It seems we have both learned much on our journeys."
"Maybe…" Claire answered, as if she had never thought of it before.
At that, there was some sort of understanding that seemed to wash over them… something that… Venat couldn't truly describe. But it was as if there was some kind of invisible connection between them. She didn't know if it had something to do with their experiences or passions for adventure… but whatever it was, something drew them together like the very finest of threads.
They smiled at each other before a golden light caught their attention. Argos was panting a short distance away, his tail wagging excitedly and his eyes alight as he came running forward, leapt into the air and split into two. One of the two halves came faithfully to her side, but the other went on ahead to Claire, running about her happily and nuzzling her hand in an affection way.
"Well now, I daresay he has warmed to you," Venat panted. Not surprising, after a fight like that. Argos barked in agreement as Venat went on to informed her, "A boon to be sure. He never forgets his favorites, and is ever eager to come to their aid."
Claire's eyes lit up like a child being given a priceless gift as she whispered to him, "Nice to meet you again, Argos."
(Awwww, I love the bonding times between them. It's so nice to see them getting to know each other and opening up. Because I do feel that the two of them have so much in common and they're really starting to see that. And I can't help but put I the motherly scenes Venat is with Claire, especially since Claire doesn't have a motherly figure. She has a father-like figure in Edmont, but a mother is something she doesn't have until now and I think that it's just a sugary sweet scene!)