Quest Accepted:

A Journey Begins With A Single Step

The night passed rather uneventfully. Save for the repeated treatments Eleanor had to administer to Cattlya, and the fits of panic from Louise during the bloody coughing fits and seizures that served as a prelude to said treatments. They had taken up residence within Cattlya's bedroom, her animal 'friends' having long since ran off in the panic of the raid.

"Damnit, just stay down and sleep!" A frustrated Eleanor gave Cattlya a light smack on the forehead as the latter attempted to sit up.

"But, I...," Cattlya was once more interrupted by Eleanor's hand impacting her head.

"NO! Just stop! Everything is going fine without your involvement. Let everyone do their job in peace," Eleanor sighed, "besides, you walking around as you are would worry everyone more than if they knew you were here recovering."

Cattlya relaxed once more, Eleanor's preaching having been repeated many times over to only now finally seemingly to be reaching the middle child. The now permanent pout didn't help Eleanor's mood though.

"Enough of that," Eleanor pouted back, earning a light giggle from Cattlya.

Finally having a moment of silence from the middle child, Eleanor moved to the window. Looking out she seen the still able-bodied of Cattlya's fiefdom busy cleaning up the mess and slowly beginning to rebuild what was destroyed in the chaos. If it weren't for the circumstances, it'd have been a heart warming scene. The amount of cooperation and comfort was a testament to the closeness of Cattlya's subjects. The fact that Louise had actually taken part after being finally shooed away from her sister's bedside, was what surprised Eleanor the most. She wondered what had happened that caused Louise to act as such. She never would have thought the youngest of them would be willing to be involved without Cattlya's prompting. Even then she'd hesitate.

"Hmm," Eleanor smiled as she adjusted her newly replaced glasses, thankfully she kept a spare set at Cattlya's estate.

"Something interesting, sister?" Cattlya shifted to her side, the rustle of the sheets the only indicator to Eleanor.

"Oh, just thinking, I believe Louise is finally starting to grow up."

"Aww, but she'll still be my little Lou to pamper and cuddle!"

Eleanor giggled at her younger sister's little bout of whining.

"I'm sure she won't mind, you two were always the closest of the three of us," Eleanor leaned on the windowsill, resting her chin on her hand.

The rustling of sheets again caused her to raise and eyebrow, and the sudden weight and pressure on her back as Cattlya's arms wrapped around her cause her to panic.

"And you're always going to be our big sister. I know you're really just a big softy underneath all that bluster. And I know she'd love to open up to you too if you let her," Cattlya's breath tickled Eleanor's ear, causing her to blush.

"C-cattlya!"

The middle sister's tittering laughter rung in her ears as she turned to find Cattlya already sitting calmly on the edge of her bed. Quickly, Eleanor turned back to the window to hide her embarrassment. Her younger sister always could get her flustered with ease. Looking out once more she could see Louise, though now she was excitedly running around and hugging three individuals that had walked up with a small continent of armed men and women. One she recognized as the young man from before, now bandaged up and looking quite flustered himself. The others, she had no clue.

"Well, I have to go get Louise to prepare our departure. We'll be sure to notify mother about what has happened here if she doesn't already know," she said as she stood and walked by the bed.

"Do you really have to go so soon? I don't get see either of you very often...," the melancholy in Cattlya's voice was quite evident to Eleanor.

"I'm sorry," was all she could say, rubbing her neck in shame as she continued out the door, leaving the recovering middle child alone.

"Oh my god, it's so good to see you all together!" Louise chirped as she flitted between hugging each of the three Guards.

"Haha, we get it, now can you calm down a bit?" Weston could barely hold back a snicker as Jason cringed in the midst of a crushing embrace that made even the seasoned veteran guard cringe.

"I'm glad you're safe Ellie," Louise gently hugged the young woman, carefully avoiding her splinted leg.

"Thanks Louise, I owe it to Captain Weston. If he and the guards didn't show up when they did...," Ellie trailed off, not needing to continue as all those present knew the implications.

"Anyway, I hear you saved this little lost lamb and did a number on the bandits before we showed up," Weston slapped the back of Jason, hoping to bring some levity to the moment.

"That she did," a woman's voice interrupted, drawing the attention of the group.

"OH OH, Eleanor! I haven't really introduced you to everyone!"

Eleanor chuckled lightly, moving forward first to Weston.

"I believe we met already in the capital, Captain Weston, right? I apologize for my rudeness at the time," she nodded out of respect.

"Oh my, Eleanor apologized!" Louise nearly screamed in mock shock, earning an annoyed look from her sister.

"And you must be Jason if memory serves," she then turned to address the younger man.

"Yes, ma'am. I must thank you for the help last night, I'm not sure I'd even be alive if it weren't for you and your sisters," Jason bowed as deep as he could with his injuries.

"And you are?" Eleanor turned once more to the young woman.

"Ellie, ma'am," Ellie looked to the side sheepishly.

"Oh, no need to be shy, you're all Louise's friends, and as such a friend of mine. It is a pleasure to meet you all," Eleanor nodded once again to the three, leaving a stunned Louise to listlessly sway behind her.

"Who are you and what have you done to my sister?" Louise joked.

"Oh come off it! I can be nice when I want to be!"

Eleanor's outburst at Louise caused them all to laugh at her expense as she blushed.

"A-anyway, we must get ready to leave, we head for the Valliere estate as soon as possible.

"Ah, if I may. You haven't transportation do you?" Weston help up a hand to keep Eleanor's attention.

Eleanor look about the torn up manor grounds, certain now that she'd be hard pressed to find a carriage on such short notice.

"Hmm, actually now that you mention it, no?"

"Then if you don't mind, I can easily procure a small wagon, and given recent events perhaps even an escort?" A genuine smile graced Weston's face as Louise perked up at the offer, obviously enjoying the thought of Weston or any of the guards accompanying them.

"That...would be appreciated, but wouldn't you be in trouble for being so far from the capital?" Eleanor's words caused Louise to slump in place in guilt, bringing Eleanor some of her own for even mentioning it.

"Oh, please. Any more than I already am for coming out here for these two?" Weston gripped the shoulders of his two young guards who seemed to shrink into themselves at being called out, "besides, I'm sure they'd understand if they found out it was to aid you two after your horrible experiences, don't you agree?"

Thinking about it, Eleanor nodded, glad that at least her family name could keep such a kind man employed.

"Then we'll welcome your help wholeheartedly, right Louise?" She looked briefly to her sister, finding a warm grin plastered on her face.

"Alright, I'll go find some provisions, these two will get the wagon. I'll be back in a moment," the kindly captain gave a nod to his younger companions as he left towards the manor proper.

"Well then, we'll be in your care then?" Louise chirped as she grabbed Ellie's arm while pulling her sister's to follow Jason in the opposite direction.

Cattlya couldn't remain in her bed very long. Without Eleanor to keep her there, she found herself gripped by anxiety. She worried for her sisters and she herself really didn't wish to be separated again. So she took to walking the halls of her decimated manor, the clamoring of commoner staff working hard to restore it being largely her only companion. She afforded a few weak smiles to the ones she encountered, if only to alleviate their worries for her being up and about sooner than she should.

It hadn't taken her long to find her way back to the foyer of the manor. She found herself standing before the scattered suit of armor she had pulled the axe from the previous night, the axe itself leaning against the pedestal the armor once stood. Gingerly she picked up the chain-mail coat, turning it around in her hands, feeling the cool steel links between her fingers. Shifting the bundle of chain to one hand, she fingered the bright red stone set in a necklace that hung around her neck.

'They...know something about what happened last night don't they?'

It was a thought that kept creeping into the back of her head since the night before, how they had changed so much since they last met. The strange magic Eleanor used and Louise's absurd skill she never had before. Now she found herself with her own strange impulses, an almost perverse fascination with violence and a near masochistic inclination for pain. The voices in her head had long since faded from the previous night, but never truly left completely. Even more reasons she didn't want to part with her sisters, she wanted to learned more about it all.

A cough caught her attention from behind her.

"Excuse me, but could you direct me to the kitchens? I need to gather provisions for the Valliere sisters," an older man's voice called out.

When Cattlya turned in place she found a man wearing the armored uniform of the Tristain Guard.

"Oh? And you are?" Cattlya tilted her head and smiled.

"Ah! Pardon me, it's quite dim in here. I am Captain Weston of the Tristain Town Guard, you are Cattyla? Your sister spoke well of you during her time in the city," Weston bowed deeply.

"Please, there is no need to be so formal, you are a friend of little Louise after all."

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet the final Valliere sister, you are as kind as your sister says," Weston returned Cattlya's own smile with a warm smile of his own.

"So they are preparing to leave now?"

"Indeed, I've volunteered to escort them to the Valliere Estate, so you needn't worry for them...er...ma'am I wouldn't recommend wearing that without a gambeson underneath, believe me, it'd pinch you through your current clothes," he rubbed the back of his neck, remembering his younger days when he tried to take shortcuts with his uniform.

"Oh...thank you for letting me know," Cattlya's shoulders dipped as she stopped in the middle of pulling the chain-mail over her head.

"Now, if you'll excuse me."

Cattlya watched as the Captain began to seek out the kitchens before a peculiar thought occurred to her and a mischievous smile stretched across her face.

"Er...Sir Weston? If I may ask you a favor?" She called out as she held the chain-mail to her chest.

"Hmm? Of course milady, what could I do for you? I shouldn't tarry too long though, your sisters are waiting."

"Actually, it shouldn't take too long...is that a gambeson you are wearing?" She eyed the thick blue cloth he wore.

"Yes, it is...," Weston was taken back by the odd question, a feeling of dread crept over him.

"Truthfully, three favors. First, the gambeson...then," she pointed first to Weston, then with a smile to the scattered armor.

"Hmm, Weston seems to be taking a long time," Jason rubbed his chin as hitching a horse to the front of the small open topped wagon.

"Well, we shouldn't worry about him, he's very reliable. It was nice to see you again Louise, but we should get going too. We need to check in with medic Weston brought with him," Ellie gave Louise a small hug before waving to Eleanor who already placed herself in the front passenger's seat.

With a pout from Louise and an amused grin and wave from Eleanor, the two guards left them to wait for Weston's arrival.

"Oh come now Louise, I'm sure you'll have a chance to meet them again," Eleanor leaned over the side of the wagon to pat her sister's head.

"I know, but I never really had many friends, and though I haven't known them long they feel like my best friends at this point."

Louise crawled into the back of the wagon, opting to rest her chin in her arms on the edge right next to her sister.

"Captain Weston really is taking his time though," Eleanor played with Louise's hair as she tapped her foot in impatience.

A loud thump and jingle of metal caught their attention from behind them.

"Oh, Mr. Weston, we were wondering if you for...," Louise's words died in her throat as she turned around.

"Hmm, is something the matter Lou...," Eleanor nearly fell back off her seat when she turned to find out what startled Louise.

There sat Cattlya on her fiery bird-horse-thing, clad in full body black armor and axe strapped to her back. She had just dropped the pack of provisions behind Louise and was now staring at them with a wide smile.

"You didn't really think you'd leave me behind did you?" Cattlya tilted her head, adjusting her helm as she did, the red gemstone necklace pulled and tied tightly into a choker gleamed in the sunlight.

Tiffania wiped the sweat from her face with a handkerchief, the journey wasn't exactly an easy one on foot. Several times already she had to supplement her meager rations with hunting, something she wasn't too keen on, but she was less keen on going a day or so with nothing but water and foraged mushrooms and berries. It wouldn't have been nearly as bad if she had been able to find a wagon or carriage willing to carry her to her destination, but every one she encountered had been going the other direction, often giving her wary looks as they passed.

As she trudged along the dirt road she found a cart in the distance that had stopped by the side of the road. She yelled out a greeting and waved her arm in the hope that they wouldn't be startled. As she drew closer she noticed that one of the wagon wheels had broken and a man with a straw hat was in the process of replacing it. A heavily pregnant woman sat off to the side in the grass covered by the shade of the nearby trees with a young girl sleeping on her lap. The man eyed Tiffania warily, a hand hovering over a dagger wedged in his belt.

"Eh...please, I mean no harm, I'm just a traveler," she found herself sweating heavier than before as he eyed her over, first her bow and then the rest of her body.

"Hmmph, if you really alone then you wouldn't be able to do much with a bow and no arrows anyway," the man grunted as he stood, dusting off his pants, "well, what do you want?"

"Um...just wondering why everyone is heading the other way, really...," Tiffania rubbed the back of her neck, unsure really what she really wanted from these strangers.

"Bandits raided the Fontaine fiefdom last night, everyone is probably heading out to family elsewhere like us," the woman answered.

"Oh...do...you need some help?"

"Well, if you're offering...if you could hold up the front of the wagon here," the man pointed to the corner of the wagon nearest the broken wheel.

Without a word, Tiffania pulled up the corner of the wagon without much effort, causing eyebrows to raise by those around her. The man set to work, quickly replacing the wheel. As he did so, Tiffania thought about the inexplicable pull she felt from her ring. Sure that those she was looking for would be found if she followed it and that it pulled her towards the fiefdom the man mentioned, she started to formulate the right questions.

"So, were the bandits taken care of at least?" She asked as she let the wagon down, flexing her now sore hands.

"Yeh, turns out the Valliere sisters killed the leader and turned back most of them before the Tristain Guard showed up," the man answered as he pulled the pregnant woman off the ground to aid her into the passenger's seat, the young woman groggily crawled into the back.

The mention of the Valliere name made something in Tiffania click. Now surer than ever of her target destination, she smiled at the man.

"Are they still there by chance?"

"Oh no, last I heard, at least two of 'em were headed off to the Valliere Estate proper. What? If you have business with them you'd better make haste, you could make it by days end if you hurry," the man rehitched the horse to the wagon and hopped up into the driver's seat, "thanks for the help by the way, good luck."

Tiffania nodded and waved as she took off into a jog down the road, it wouldn't be long now that she'd meet others like herself.

It had only been a short few hours since they left Cattlya's manor. Eleanor idly toyed with the wire choker Cattlya had set her pale green stone into, she cursed herself for being unable to convince the middle child to remain behind to rest. That was all in the past though, she accepted the fact that Cattlya forced herself into their little travel party with her bird happily strolling alongside the wagon.

"Aaand, there, done!" Cattyla held up the copper wire choker with Louise's sky blue stone affixed in it's center.

"Oh, this is pretty...how are you so good at this?" Louise chirped in excitement at Cattlya's handiwork.

Cattyla dumbly shrugged at the question, she wasn't all that sure really. The shrug went unnoticed by Louise as she set aside her hair, now in a ponytail, to put on the choker.

'Probably another mystery of these...stones...,' Eleanor massaged the bridge of her nose.

It hadn't taken much time for her to start putting the pieces together. The stones they all had acquired seemed to be key to the changes they all experienced. The voices they all had heard at least once before had begun when they came into contact with them and a stressor influenced them. She couldn't quite place just what was happening, and the voices from before didn't seem to want to chime in, having now completely fallen silent for all three.

Eleanor flicked the reins of the horse to keep it on the road, her distraction causing her passengers to give her worried looks. The Valliere Estate was visible on the horizon, only a few minutes away at a brisk pace. Both the older sisters could feel the pensive air around the youngest of them, and with good reason.

As they neared the gate to the estate, a guard approached.

"Halt...oh, I apologize, we expected you much earlier. Lady Valliere is waiting in the manor proper, I'll have someone notify her of your arrival," Louise gulped at the guard's statement.

Cattlya ignored the odd looks she received from appearing in full plate armor, instead opting to put a comforting hand on Louise's shoulder.

"I'm sure things will turn out fine, Louise," Eleanor offered, but felt the words fell flat to the younger sister.

Cattlya allowed Boko to wander off into the nearby wood line, insisting that he'd be fine. Together the three sisters made the somber walk to the manor of the Valliere Estate. Servants opened the main doors for them as they approached.

"The Lady and Duke are awaiting you in the dining room," a maid curtsied before wandering off to who knows where.

Eleanor's hand joined Cattlya's on the opposite shoulder as Louise looked up to both in worry. They could only give weak smiles in reassurance. Making their way up the staircase of the foyer to the dining room, they paused a moment, allowing Louise to take a deep breath before pushing open the doors.

Within was a long dining table lined with plush chairs. At the table's head sat Karin and to her right the Duke Valliere. Karin stared coldly ahead while their father sat back with a resigned look of disappointment.

"Take a seat...," Karin's tone was flat but carried with it a coldness that froze Louise in place.

Seeing that their sister wouldn't move of her own accord, the two older sisters remained standing by her sides in support. Eyeing them all with keen observation, Karin slowly blinked before heaving a sigh.

'Here it is...it's all over isn't it!' Louise did all she could to keep her panic in check.

"I'll keep this brief. I'm disappointed in you, Louise. It'll take a lot to make up for this, you're to remain here until we figure out what to do with you," Karin's eyes narrowed in on her youngest child.

'There it is...I've no more freedom...,' Louise held back her tears, oblivious to the worried looks her sisters gave her.

"That is all, you're all dismissed," their mother waved them away, pushing her chair back to stand.

'That was all? No word to Cattlya about her lands? Nothing?'

"M-mother!" Louise managed to choke out the single word.

"What is it?"

"What about Cattlya? Her land w-was...raised by bandits!"

At that Karin looked briefly to Cattlya before fixing her eyes back on Louise.

"I know. It was taken care of, though it was a serious oversight on her part. Managing that land is her responsibility, Why is she wearing armor anyway?"

Tears flowed freely now, but they were of anger instead of grief.

"That's it!?" Louise slammed a hand on the table, startling her sisters and earning a perturbed glare from her mother, "That's all you have to say? You're not worried? Do you even care!?"

"Of course I-"

Louise slammed her hand down again, this time in a fist. Her other hand grasped at her forehead as the voices returned. Now they screamed at her, they spoke of the injustice at having her freedom stripped away, at how unreasonable and unfeeling her mother was. She couldn't help but agree.

"That's it! I give up! You don't really care about us do you!? Just your Rule of Steel and the Valliere name right?"

Karin was about to speak when she caught glimpse of steel being pulled from Louise's hip.

'Since when did she carry blades?'

"I've had it with this!" Louise screamed at her sisters backed away in panic when she raised the guard issued dagger.

In a single swift motion, Louise sliced through her hair then knotting the former ponytail.

"I'm not your daughter anymore! I don't care what you planned for me, I'm not going to be following a tyrant for a mother!" She screamed as she slammed the knot on the table, nailing it in place by the dagger.

"Now see here! Louise-" Karin started in anger only for her daughter to turn and sprint out, slamming open the doors, ignoring the startled servants midst their work.

The remaining sisters stared at each other a moment in confusion as the scene that played before them caught up to them.

"Ugh, what will I do with her...," Karin sat back down into her seat, massaging her temples, "Cattlya, go talk some sense into her, she'll listen to you."

An awkward silence ensued, causing Karin to look up to her daughters.

"No...I won't. Because I'm going with her," Cattlya spoke with a shaking quiet voice as she placed down her signet ring afforded to her with her inherited fiefdom, the clink of the metal echoed within the dining hall.

Her mouth now agape in shock, Karin looked to her eldest daughter as Cattlya walked off slowly, her armored steps leaving a faint clicking as she made her way to the stairs just outside. A sorrowful sigh left Eleanor's lips as she massaged her forehead.

"Honestly...those two don't think things through do they," Eleanor mumbled.

"At least one of you has your head on straight, would you go get them-" the Duke had begun to rub his wife's shoulders but his words were cut off by Eleanor pulling the dagger out of the wood of the table with some struggle.

"Hmm, deeper than I thought," she looked over the now blunt dagger, "Louise would kick herself for leaving someone so sentimental behind."

Without another word, the eldest sister turned in place.

"Eleanor?" Her father called out.

"Oh...right...it wouldn't have hurt to be a bit more understanding wouldn't it mother? I'll be leaving my resignation notice at the Institute soon enough, I'll keep those two out of trouble," she waved as she wedged the dagger into her belt, closing the doors behind her.

"Wh-what just happened...," Karin's own voice betrayed her shock as she began to shiver in frustration.

"I...don't really know, dear..."

Louise ran, ignoring the startled cries of servants as she burst through door after door. Her heart beat heavily in her chest as she crossed the courtyard, nearly bowling over the guards at the gate. As she hit the dirt road just out of sight of the gate, her legs finally gave out as she crumpled to her knees. The tears didn't stop, she hiccuped as she drew her knees to her chin, leaning back against a tree by the road. The angry voices cried out at the injustice of her life. They wouldn't allow her to accept the lose of her freedom, and the disregard for her sister were but the final straw that sent her psyche careening out of control.

"My my...why are you crying?" A voice outside her head called to her.

Looking up she was greeted by a woman whose figure rivaled Cattyla's. Golden blonde hair like Eleanor's framed her face that was scant inches away from her own. The kneeling woman smelled of sweat and summer flowers and her voice chimed like a musicians lute. The woman's eyes narrowed as she inched closer.

"There there, you don't have to talk," the woman pulled Louise into a hug that she had no strength to resist, "the voices will pass soon enough too."

Those final words caused Louise's eyes to go wide in surprise.

A/N: Well, finally got that one out. I think I'm finally hitting my stride again.

Louise

LVL16 Rogue (power leveling much?)

Hyur Midlander (Miqote Seeker of the Sun)

Likes sharp things, both her sisters, head pats, and murderous red birds that protect Cattlya.

Dislikes her mother, any restrictions on her freedom, and anything that would threaten her sisters.

Eleanor

LVL17 Arcanist

Hyur Midlander (Roegadyn Sea Wolf)

Still hasn't summoned a Carbuncle

Likes long walks on the beach, her sisters, weird creatures that aren't trying to eat her.

Dislikes anything that upsets her sisters.

Cattlya

LVL6 Marauder (LVL 38 under effects of the ECHO)

LVL10 Goldsmith (only really knows how to make copper chokers at the moment)

Hyur Midlander (Lalafell Plainsfolk)

Likes her sisters, animals (especially giant red birds), head pats (giving and receiving), and offering BLOOD TO THE BLOOD GOD!

Dislikes anything that upsets her sisters.

Tiffania

LVL30 Bard (Soulstone belonging to her mother)

Hyur-Elezen half-breed (constantly channeling her mommy to a small degree)

Loves children, music, and shipping Gil x Mathilda

Dislikes anything that would make children cry.