9:28 Firstfall/November 1st
Today was Satinalia. I was part of the guard to make sure there wasn't too much ruckus. I was always curious about mardi gras that they held in Louisiana. If it was anything like this holiday, then it was crazy. People wore masks and partied hard. There was a large festival that consisted of the whole city. People dancing in the streets, throwing confetti, stands selling food, and an overall joyful mood.
It was also during this time that Eren told me to keep an eye out. During the drunken festivities, people tended to loot homes. I was out patrolling near the homes and I've already scared of three would be thieves. I rubbed my hands to create warmth. It was extremely cold but there hasn't been any cloud in the skies, meaning no snow. It made me sad a little.
As I patrolled, random guys came up and asked me for a good time. They were wasted beyond belief if they had a chance with a woman wearing armor. I usually declined politely. Those that kept on trying got a twisted arm for their trouble. One dude kept on fighting until another guard came by and put him in cuffs. Otherwise, I had a good chuckle at all the craziness.
Oriana mentioned that the festivities continued for a good week back in Antiva. I saw a wistful look on her face. It wasn't only a holiday of getting drunk and being nominated for the fool of the day. Back at the Chantry, people were giving each other gifts and not following the insanity in the market place.
After everything calmed down in the center, I went to the castle and started preparing everything for the dinner feast. Nan had mostly everything done. I was only helping with the plating. After everything was said and done, I groaned with exhaustion. I decided to skip my bath for that day and instead immediately slept.
9:28 Firstfall/November 7th
"Halo you have to have an explanation as to how Strength and Compassion found me. Strong spirits like that don't just happen to come on by accidentally." I had my arms crossed, going through another run down city from my memory. I was pacing in front of a store that had nothing inside and a pot hole at its entrance.
'Ask and you shall receive.' Halo repeated from the last time.
"That still doesn't explain how those specific spirits came by." I mumbled. Halo wilted at that.
'Don't know…' Halo's light seemed to dim. I gave it a small smile and sat next to it on the ground.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to prod but…I just want to understand why this is happening to me. If what Ardor told me was true then you're probably the reason why I'm going in and out of the fade. So why doesn't that make me a mage then? I can't fling fire more than I can fire an arrow and why are spirits coming to me? How did I get here in the first place? How can I get out?" I groaned in exasperation and bowed my head. "I mean, try to look at it in my point of view. I'm an average woman that got sucked into this fantastical place all because you decided to save my life. I am not ungrateful though, thank you Halo." I nodded. Halo's light became shinier. "I just…I just want to go home."
"That is a desire most potent." I heard a purr. Halo immediately went on the defensive. I gulped and stood up, not realizing that my instant thought was, 'I need a weapon.' When I looked up and to the right I saw…a male desire demon. He was different from the female version. He had a beautifully sculpted body and a very thin loincloth. He had jewelry dangling from his neck and his ears while his horns twisted inside and up, looking like ox horns instead. His elongated nails from his hands and demonic looking feet had scales running up both.
"Desire spirit…" I breathed out. Halo's ball of energy crackled like lightning. It immediately came in front of me.
"So you're the one they are talking about. The irregularity." He chuckled. It sent a shiver down my spine. "Such an odd environment. I have never seen buildings like this before." It sashayed toward me, every step meant to draw my eyes toward him.
'Get away!' Halo seemed to shout. Desire chuckled.
"Do not bother me, pest. I have an inquiry to share with your host." His shining eyes lied on me. Halo was still in between us until Desire swatted him away with a sort of purple energy. He was entirely different than Ardor. Even though I was trying to keep my mind clear, he wouldn't change into a spirit. I gulped. This was a demon through and through.
"W-What do you want from me?" I asked.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Immediately with the offers. I am not like my other brethren who wishes to usurp control of your body. I am merely fascinated with the distinct architecture that you present. I have been watching you for some time but could never approach. What with these spirits seeming to be drawn to you, I could never even get a foot in." Desire chuckled. "But they have left and now I have taken the stage." Desire bowed and looked at me with eyes that made me weak in my knees.
"So…why are you here?" I asked, trying to hide my trembling. Desire smirked.
"That is a more befitting question. I merely wonder at your memories. The fade twirls and dances to give you such alluring landscapes. I simply want to ask a question: from where do you hail from?" Desire slowly circled me. When my hand twitched, I felt the knuckle daggers on my hip. I gulped and tried to keep my mind clear to not further twist the fade.
"I'm not from Ferelden." I stated. Desire clicked his tongue.
"That is not all." Desire replied. "You are keeping it from me…" I gulped in nervousness. If this wasn't the fade, I would be breaking in nervous sweat.
"I just want to know, if I give you this information will you leave me alone?" I wondered. Desire gave a low chuckle. I felt his nails go through my medium length hair.
"If it suits me. I am dying to know more about you." He nearly growled. I had to keep calm. Like Solas said, even demons can be reasoned with if you have the mental clarity. I had to swallow my fear. It wasn't helping me in this situation. Well, if I had to be brutally honest, then fine.
"I'm not from this world at all. I'm from beyond the fade. A place with no fade, magic is more about tricks and sleight of hand but no conjuring flames. Templars are something of the past and we don't fight with swords or shield but instead we used weapons which launch a high speed bullet through a gun or missiles. People have many worries and we are leagues beyond in scientific movement. I live in a modern age where, with a touch of a few buttons, you can research any sort of information on a pad the size of your hand." I explained swiftly. The Desire demon soaked up all the information before giving me a toothy grin.
"I am in awe human that such a world exists! May I…see more of it?" Desire reached a hand toward me before something big bulldozed it. I felt my body being lifted into a sort of see through cage and being flown before I finally woke up. I let out a breath in the real world, before going to my desk and hitting my head. It hurt and I was sure that I was in the real world. I wrote down everything that I could remember before slumping over and deciding to let the fear take me.
"Oh God, I just talked to a demon…and survived." I let out a shaky breath before jumping in my seat from Eren pounding on my door.
"Up and at 'em! I can't have my perfect attendance be ruined by your laziness." Eren shouted through the door. I put on my armor as fast as I could and opened my door. Eren rolled his eyes. "You have your hair down again. Did you lose all your ties?"
"S-Sorry." I said, going back and putting up my hair in a simple ponytail.
"Your face is white. Don't tell me you had a nightmare." Eren stated. I breathed the cold air as Alfred jumped around my feet.
"Oh God, you have no idea." I rubbed my face.
"Well, no time to think about it. Come! Your morning laps await." Eren led the way. Alfred barked and followed him. He already grew twice the size from when we first got him. My mind was in a haze as I thought back to the fade and about the end. Desire was about to reach out to me when he got slammed by something big. Then I was taken away but by what? Now I have more questions to the ones I already have and absolutely no answers.
It was an understatement to say I was frustrated. I let out that frustration in my laps. I let out growls and small roars of rage. The fear was slowly growing into anger. I wanted answers and Halo, even though being a spirit, had none. What Halo does in the fade for all this time was a mystery to me but couldn't it find something for me? I just wanted to go home or at least something to give me an answer I think I deserved up to this point.
Whatever, I'm too angry to write at this point. Grr.
9:28 Firstfall/November 19th
I am now officially 24. Damn I'm old, already reaching mid-twenties. Ok I'm not that old in perspective in my own world but here, I'm nearly halfway through my life. My son would be three and my daughter would be two next month. The loneliness is still there and my family is always in my prayers every night. Alfred has grown into a beast. A very rowdy beast. A very rowdy beast that really likes to sit on top of me.
My fingers drummed on the ground as Alfred tripped me earlier and is now rolling around to get my attention. I knew that as soon as I stood up again, he would trip me again. His tongue rolled out of his mouth as his back was on the ground. He stared at me with those huge dark brown eyes. I rolled my own.
"You know that Eren is going to beat my butt if I don't complete my laps right?" I glared at Alfred. He barked. I groaned and got up with Alfred jumping up and down. I bent down and grabbed a stick. "Oh look a stick Alfred! Do you want it? Do you want it!?" I cooed. Alfred barked and jumped up and down. "Alright then! Fetch!" I tossed it with all my might and ran like the devil was behind me. I saw Eren at our usual spot before hearing the heavy paws of Alfred running with a large log that I didn't toss. "Where the hell did you get that!?" I panted before coming up to Eren and panting.
"What in Andraste's flaming knickers took you so long?" Eren crossed his arms and glared at me.
"Don't blame me, blame your dog. He keeps tripping me so I can play with him." I caught my breath and got my water skin from behind Eren. He sighed and snapped his fingers. Alfred let go of the log.
"You know you're only there to make sure she keeps her pace and completes her training. No interruptions or you're not going to get those expensive dog treats that Oriana brought back from Orlais." Eren reprimanded. Alfred whined with his ears down. I counted down until Eren broke down and cuddled Alfred. "I can never be mad at you my little Alfred."
"Not so little anymore." I mumbled.
"What did you say?" Eren glared.
"Nothing." I shrugged. Eren scoffed.
"Come." Eren demanded and I followed him like usual but instead of going toward the city, we went back to the castle. Eren stood in front of my room. "Go back and change out of your armor."
"Uh why?" I wondered. Eren rubbed his face.
"Just do it." He rolled his eyes. I went back into my room and closed the door. I put away my armor on the stand and got my usual main clothes that I wore back when I was in service of Oriana. I put on my dark maroon shirt and beige skirt. I left out the apron. I put on my boots and went out. Eren made a disgusted face. "Is that really all you have?" He wondered.
"What do you expect? I don't go out shopping to get new clothes. All I have are my old ones that Oriana gave me." I explained. Eren sighed loudly before motioning me to follow him. I did while Alfred licked my hands. I followed him back to the city and we came to the marketplace.
"Hold out your hand." Eren said. I did and he gave me a pouch that had some weight to it. I looked up in confusion. "Open it." I did and it was a bag filled with gold coins. I quickly held it to my chest.
"What the hell is this?" I sharply whispered.
"Have you really forgotten?" Eren shook his head. I raised my eyebrow.
"Forgotten what?" I asked.
"You've been in the employ of my family for a year now. You can say that this is a bonus that you've received after all the work you put into. Oriana and I gave you the money you carry and you are free to spend it on anything you wish. Of course I'm here just to look pretty." Eren smirked. I gaped at him and the money. I never had spending money, not even back in my own world. It was always something for the kids or I needed the money to pay bills.
"So I can buy whatever I want…" I breathed out.
"Within reason." Eren flicked me on the forehead. "Now come and choose, we're burning daylight." Eren crossed his arms and continued. The first thing on the list was clothes. I bought deep greens, blues, a few black shirts along with matching pants. I found a few earrings that I thought were very nice and bought them as well. I made sure to take things that I would use later on. I got myself a sharpening block for my daggers and a cute cat carved from onyx.
Ok but getting the useful things, I bought myself a sturdy pack, gloves that were meant for winter weather, and ordered a pair of very nice boots. All in all, I still had a very good amount of gold coins left, about 7 with a mix of silvers and coins. I put them in my chest for safe keeping and Eren looked confused at that.
"What? It's the only safe place I can think of." I countered.
"You are so strange." Eren shook his head. It was midday when we left the marketplace. Eren gave me the day off and went to train Alfred. I went back to my own room and filled my pack with a few of the clothes I bought as well as making a list of essentials in case Duncan didn't come during the Howe attack. Sure I might have been preparing too early but I still had a whole year to plan. There's nothing like being too prepared.
As I put my cut onyx cat away, I was going to put a few of my other clothes in my drawer when I saw my phone. I had nearly forgotten about it after all this time. I picked it up and ran my hands on the screen. I tested the power button again but, sure enough, it didn't turn on. I sat on my bed looking at the only reminder of my old life. Inside held all the photos of my family, of my home, of memories that I'm already struggling to remember.
There was nothing I could do with it. Unless I somehow found the person who figured out to use electricity in a manner like my own, this thing is going to remain powerless. I put it away. I never knew when I was going to need it again. If I needed it again…Well, happy birthday to me.
Beta'd by the marvelous FearaNightmare.
Hee more fade adventures! I love this.
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