They get to the bluffs that overlook the sea near Defiance Bay, taking a detour when Eder realized he knew of a place that matched the vision Cera got from Sagani's bear figurine - as they went into the city to find someone that knew of somewhere matching the description and failed miserably the first time. When they get there however, there's nobody to be seen.
Cera says "This is the exact place. Sagani, can I see the figurine again?"
"Sure. Seems like we've made more progress in a few days than I've made in five years."
Cera's look spaces out again, and then she blinks after a few moments and says "An arch made of adra, in the middle of some woods, does that sound familiar?"
Eder says "They've got something like that out near Twin Elms, past Stormwall Gorge. We'll have to wait for the waters to die down though, been some flooding lately."
They look up to see the sun setting, and set up camp for the night there - there's nothing for it if they can't get over to Twin Elms, they'll just have to wait and track Persoq down when they can get over there. Setting up camp takes minutes with Sagani's help, she's had plenty of practice getting fires going in ice and snow, so the forests of the Dyrwood are no challenge to her.
They roll out bedrolls and settle down for the night, but Cera suddenly realizes Aloth's standing a few feet away and looking straight at her nervously - she doesn't know what for though. When he notices she's seen him, mainly because she gets up and walks over, he starts wringing his hands. "Cera, sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you. It's just, well, you seem a little preoccupied."
Cera raises an eyebrow, and says "You seem preoccupied, Aloth."
He laughs uneasily, and says "Mad old Watchers, trying to track down a secretive cult and their even more secretive leader, what's not to worry about? I suppose I've just noticed you acting a little…unusual lately." Cera swears he's wringing each drop of sweat from his hands out from between his fingers, like he wants to rid his hands of every bit of moisture. "Remembering flashbacks of your previous life, talking to people that aren't there, I want to make sure you're doing alright."
Cera tries to lighten the mood some, asking "These symptoms sounding familiar?"
He gives a pained smile and says "You know me too well. But it does seem that our afflictions differ. Iselmyr asserts herself now and again, but that's nothing new. You though…you seem to be getting worse."
He tugs on a lock of his hair, until Cera puts a hand on his - taking him by surprise, he wasn't looking at her. "Aloth, I'm alright for now. We'll find Thaos, get some kind of answers from them. And then we can figure out what to do from there."
Aloth nods, and says "I shouldn't disturb you, looks like we've got another long day ahead of us. Aren't we heading to Stalwart tomorrow?"
"Yeah. We kinda got sidetracked with Gathbin, didn't we?"
"Speaking of which…" He pulls out a familiar scepter, all blue and with a silver band in the middle. "When exactly did my scepter get replaced with the one Chancellor Warrin gave you?"
"I thought it'd be of more use to you! I don't have any idea how to use a scepter, so…" She shrugs and adds "Besides, even I can tell its powerful. But what would I do with it? Put it in the treasury? Hang it on a wall?"
Aloth sighs, and says "You're not going to back down on this, are you?"
"No, not even a little."
"When did you even switch the two weapons out though?!"
"You were talking about your house back in the Sanitarium. Bellasage was cranking one of those knobs on the device she had, so she didn't notice. Besides, blue's kind of your color, not mine."
Aloth might not be able to sense Cera's feelings at the moment, since she cut the connection between them for the time being, but the many shades of red her face is rapidly turning tells enough of a story for him to guess at them. Aloth can't hide the slight blush creeping its way up his own face - seems it's a good thing Cera cut the connection for now - and says "Well, thank you, Cera. This will help in battles, if nothing else."
She smiles - good thing she cut the connection between them, he wouldn't know how to hide Iselmyr's prodding at him, his own feelings, and the way that smile makes his legs feel like lead - and then says "Plus you might be able to use it to fend off any of Eder and Kana's attempts at bringing somebody out. Kana wants to learn Hylspeak, Eder wants to hear more of her jokes and possible curses."
"What exactly did you tell them?"
"Not much! Only that you two got to talking for a minute or two, but we didn't get much information from Bellasage."
Aloth sighs, and says "Soothing Awakened souls, what a hoax."
Cera cracks a grin and says "I'm fairly certain she did more aggravating than any soothing, to be honest."
It takes all of Aloth's willpower to not smile and laugh - because that shouldn't be nearly as funny as it is. "Indeed. We disagree often enough without anybody's help. And Bellasage was both annoying and rather useless. Next time, you take a look at my soul and give me a diagnosis - it'll be both more accurate and less hassle."
"Mm. I'll remember that."
They head back to the camp, where most everyone's fallen asleep already.
Aloth stays awake on his own bedroll for a few hours, staring at the new scepter he found on his belt shortly after leaving Ondra's Gift. Surprising at first, but now he doesn't know what to make of it.
Given the fact that she bought Eder a cloak that's supposed to help him in battle, she hasn't just gotten him items either - and the scepter itself was given to her rather unexpectedly, so it's not like she planned this or anything.
Lad, stop worrying o'er it.
Iselmyr, I swear…
Lad, either it's a gift or its just more useful to ye than her. Either way, stop spinning yer head around in circles for a time. Ye might not want to get some rest, but I do.
Aloth puts the scepter down, and closes his eyes at last - only to open them to see Eder kneeling beside Cera and shaking her shoulders some hours later. "What's going on?"
"You think I know? I woke up ten minutes ago to find her like this! Shaking like this, saying stuff I sure don't understand, all of it! Come on, wake up, snap out of it!"
Her eyes are rolled up in the back of her head, she's shaking on her own, and mumbling stuff in a language he doesn't understand either. Seems she was bluffing last night.
Eder mutters "I swear, I'm getting ready to get a bucket of water to stop this. Think she'll be too upset if you vouch for me?"
There's no time to question, as Cera suddenly sits up with a massive gasp and looks around wildly. As Eder explains what was happening, Aloth simply looks away - she said she was doing alright, but now it seems she said that so he wouldn't worry.
He doesn't think about it - much - but she must sense his feelings anyway because she gives him a small smile. Pained and tired, but there nonetheless.
I'm alright, Aloth. Just a little shaken up is all.
You were SHAKING, Cera. Talking in what could only have been Engwithan. You said you were alright!
I am, for now. I just focus on this life, it…helps.
He isn't convinced, she must know that - she has to know that, she's psychic and can sense his feelings - but he lets the matter drop for now. Another wake-up like that however, and he might not.
Ever since she destroyed the tower on Heritage Hill, blew it up because the Acolyte most likely knew the words to work the thing so maybe all the Leaden Key does, he's seen her drawing Engwithan symbols in the dirt when they camp or she'll very occasionally wake up to a question and answer it in Engwithan. Not the most comforting of things, but Kana's been questioning her nonstop about it and she's trying to teach him. And Kana's trying to make it seem lighter than it might be - saying she could hide messages for them in broad daylight, for instance - but the thought that her new, or old perhaps, knowledge of Engwithan runes may well hasten her descent into madness bothers him incessantly.
AN: Hey, everybody! Another chapter up! And Cera's definitely getting worse, I combined two of the scenes you get when you rest sometimes - Aloth's scene and Eder's first scene. Anyway, hope you all enjoy! PS. some bad-ish news for me - I have to take summer classes! One of the requirements to get a college degree nowadays - nine credits over the summer terms! Joy. So chapters may take longer to be posted because I'll be doing lab reports and such - sorry! But enjoy anyway! More chapters coming soon! And I'm getting the Deadfire game on the summer sale - not long now!