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ERIKA'S GARDEN - AFTERNOON
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Narrator: The veritably thick (if rather small) jungle has now taken over most of the neighbouring streets, growing over and through the rough, thick sand with clearly its' own ideas of proper plant placement. The overall feeling from the vegetation can only be described as 'looming', as though the elemental inside is preparing to defend itself and the garden from assault; the bushes and ferns forming a nearly impossible-to-walk-through wall by this point.
Tarbin stands at the mouth of the alley, hands folded in front of him, twin tails shifting across the cobblestones in his mild nerves. His gaze shifts along the lines of magic that seem more lively around this place, some of that influence from the creature within, though much of it is the garden itself feeding into the Flow. He'd stopped by the barracks the day before, leaving a message for Nesseth to please guide Teis to the garden today. He was sure that Akire wasn't dangerous... He still wanted Nesseth to get his evidence first-hand... And to be able to intervene if Teis were to do something rash. He wouldn't admit that last bit out loud, though.
Nesseth struggles to make his way down the lane, the overgrowth proving to be a challenge even for him as an experienced hunter. Wordless grumbling and muttering can be heard a little before he appears, his progress slow and laborious as he tries to keep the path clear for Teis to follow...
Teis is careful to shield her mana lenses during her approach through the dense brush, frowning some at trying to navigate it all, yet eyes still flashing a curious glance to follow the magic within the plants. She uses what little nature magic she'd managed to get a handle on to perhaps try and convince the plants to be slightly friendlier to her.
Tarbin hears the others as they approach through the overgrown street, turning to look their way. "Hello, miss Teis? Nesseth?" His tails come to a rest on the ground, scales shifting as he nudges the plants to allow themselves to bend out of the way for them. He feels a feedback tingle of their primary caregiver, looking back toward the alley again.
Nesseth manages to call out in affirmative as the plants seem to become at least a touch more willing to move aside for him. "Y-yeah... yeah, it's me and Teis. Is Xochi here, too?"
Xochi 's voice arises from the side of the alley, where she is coiled up with her hands folded in front of her. "I am... for what little help I am afraid I can offer, yes."
Tarbin chuckles quietly, looking toward Xochi. "Prayer and friendship are excellent help, miss Xochi." He looks toward the alley, knowing by now that the gardener might be well aware of their presence by now. "I do hope our numbers aren't alarming..."
Narrator: The vegetation near Tarbin slowly, hesitantly part enough to pass through... if with some difficulty and a feeling that getting back out might be a different problem...
Nesseth hums as he finally manages to pull clear of the vegetation and into the clearing where Xochi and Tarbin have been waiting. "Ugh... there we go... Most of us are familiar, friendly faces, and Teis is here for science purposes, nothing hostile..."
Teis, with a slightly flared tail, comes to a stop behind Nesseth. "Muffins." She mutters under her breath. Not her comfort zone! "So this is the epicentre of it all?" She questions, looking to the opening. "Well. . .It's certainly a lot more. . .Uh. . .More. Y'know. When up close and not from my balcony."
Tarbin nods toward the opening that leads to the center of the garden, with the notably massive central tree. "That is true. I told her about Teis helping me, as well." He looks toward Teis' voice, "A lot of Nature's power is focused here thanks to the being within this garden. I hope you find more of what you'd like to know here today." He turns back to the opening, starting to make his way in, opting to push a calm reassurance into the magic along the path as he goes.
Nesseth waits for a moment before setting off after Tarbin into the foliage. "So, uh... this severing thing... Do you know what it'll end up doing to 'Erika' once it's done?"
Teis nods to Tarbin's response, "Right." She affirms. She follows closely behind Nesseth.
Xochi follows last after the others, her long tail both able to easier navigate the vegetation and likely to trip up the others were she in ahead of them. "We hope... nothing, save that it will allow her to move on from this place, and find one of her own."
Tarbin reaches the edge of the inner clearing, much smaller than it was a couple weeks ago. "She has a lot of influence... I'm sure breaking her free from the Flow at that tree will let her leave this place. Then we can find her a new home."
Akire appears next to the big tree, her outward appearance still mostly looking like the okapi... if you ignore the green plant magic in abundance around her hands and shoulders, her ease of flowing around and through the vegetation, and her eyes slightly smoldering with greenish fire. The elemental is home, and she is definitely agitated. "Tarbin. I hope you bring news."
Teis: Teis' eyes behind the mana lenses light up as they set upon Akire's form, and she lets off a whisper quiet, subdued gasp. The emerald band is off the charts! It's as Tarbin said, or at the very least. . .Right. Best behaviour mode. She straightens up, relaxing her tail somewhat, though it's hard to contain her excitement.
Nesseth offers a little smile and a kind wave as 'Erika' comes into view. He remains quiet for the moment, however, as she addresses Tarbin specifically.
Tarbin nods cordially to the occupant, gesturing toward Teis after he greets her. "Good afternoon, Erika. This is the friend I'd mentioned. Miss Teis. She sparked the ideas I've come up with."
Teis: Eep! Being credited for work! Teis offers a sheepish smile and a wave to the being, staying silent.
Akire looks at the assortment of people that have entered her domain, and nods slowly: "...v-very well. Pleased to meet you, Teis." She turns to Tarbin after giving Xochi a small nod: "What ideas, then?" She doesn't look entirely convinced she wants to hear the answer, but what options does she have?
Xochi nods in return, giving the being before them all a supportive smile.
Tarbin nods, stepping toward her slowly, setting his palm against the other side of the tree as he turns his milky eyes to Akire. "Well... It's simple, honestly. You are an [avatar] of Nature. A... Spirit. You must have your own power. So we only need to sever your anchor." He looks down to where the Flow in her form connects to the garden around her.
Akire touches her palm to the opposite side of the tree and looks at Tarbin, before taking her hand off of the hard bark, considering this. "If... if I must. I p-probably do, now." She looks at the others for confirmation of that which she already knows; her options are indeed rather limited. Adapt or fight. And she must admit to herself that fighting was never really an option...
Nesseth listens quietly, still somewhat convinced that there could have been another way, but... if he had to admit, probably not one that would have given any good results fast enough for the town's liking. For the time being, he just sighs quietly to himself and hopes this doesn't cause more problems than it solves.
Teis wracks her mind quickly, trying to recall any information from her studies about this! But nothing comes to mind. Observe and learn continues to be the plan from her.
Tarbin hesitates for a moment, looking toward the others, then back to Akire. "Well... What we've been fearing is happening, the garden has overgrown well beyond the alley now." He looks toward where he thinks Nesseth may be. "I don't know how much more time the Guard are willing to allow for us to find a more... refined solution."
Akire swallows, turning to Nesseth: "I am sorry, well... not sorry, but I can not control this as I said." She sighs, looking down as she kneels down next to the tree, holding her palm upon it.
Xochi glances at Nesseth when she hears his sigh. She smiles sadly and nods to Tarbin and the being. "I cannot say it is the only way, but it is the best solution available in the time we were given... such is the way of life, and we must all make such choices at some time in our lives... I am only sorry it came upon you so quickly."
Nesseth shakes his head a bit as he meets Akire's gaze, sympathy in his eyes. "I just wish I could have figured something out faster... But even the ideas I'd had turned up empty, and I'm at a loss in matters of magic, so... whatever happens, I'm sorry I couldn't keep this particular method from happening."
Tarbin steps away from the tree toward the clearest point of the clearing, offering her his hand. "Not much point to stalling. All I need from you is to stand away from the tree, touching only my hand and the ground." His tails twitch with nerves, but he otherwise hides it fairly well.
Akire gives the tree a wistful look: "...I will miss you. Goodbye." She then takes a deep breath and gets up, taking Tarbin's hand as she does. She looks at him and nods: "...l-let's get this d-done, then."
Xochi sets a hand upon Nesseth's shoulder. "We both could have done more... we could join in prayer together, while they perform this rite?"
Teis opens her mouth to peep up, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "Tarbin. . .Are. . .You sure? Using yourself as the conduit. . ." Teis winces.
Nesseth looks over at Xochi, spends a moment thinking, then nods. "If you're willing to lead it, I'll give it a try. I don't regularly pray, so... I've no idea what to do."
Tarbin looks toward Teis' voice, giving her a quick head shake. "Remember when I pulled too hard on the Flow? That is the idea." He looks back to Akire, gently holding her hand between both of his. His tails slip beside his left leg, laying out on the ground on either side of Akire's feet, his scales shifting in color. He takes a breath, preparing.
Akire takes another deep breath and tries to keep from shaking, even though she has only the vaguest of ideas what will follow and no idea what it will actually feel like. "I... I am ready. As ready as I will ever be, at any rate."
Xochi nods, lowering her hand from Nesseth, her voice low, "Simply fold your hands, and send your thoughts out to your ancestors." She glances towards the elemental. "Perhaps it is best... not to close our eyes in this case."
Nesseth hums quietly, nodding a bit as he takes a step back, moving up next to Xochi. After a moment, he lifts his hands and clasps them in front of him like he's seen Xochi do a few times during evening patrols. "Right... yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Let's hope this helps, in some way."
Teis steps out from behind Nesseth fully at this point, giving herself a clear sightline to the event. Well, time to observe!
Tarbin closes his eyes... Not that it makes any difference to him... Bowing his head slightly. "Anything helps. See how many friends are here, to support this? Nothing to be nervous about..." His hand scales shift color, turning their telltale orange as he starts to draw magic from the ground into Akire's form, 'stretching' the lines of Flow leading to her feet, while his tails have also shifted, influencing the magic around them from moving in to replace the shifted power.
Xochi folds her hands into prayer, bowing her head and taking a deep breath. She begins to recite the prayers to the sun and moon in a whisper as Tarbin begins.
Akire shudders as she feels her magic... herself, sort of, moving about and in ways she's not sure things are supposed to go. She stands still only by force of will, swallowing. She distracts herself by looking around her, to the people that have gathered to follow this perverse ritual. Is she really sure she isn't making a mistake?
Nesseth is a lot more quiet about his own prayers, feeling perhaps a little foolish to be saying much of anything out loud. What's said, however, is more of a general plea for anyone that might be listening to keep the process fast and as painless as possible.
Tarbin is silent, though mentally casting a plea of his own to Nature as he begins shifting his influence a bit. His tails begin lifting from the grass, the scales seeming to... No definitely shifting further in color, their bright amber shade deepening as he pulls at the Flow around Akire's feet. The grass and small flower buds shrivel from the straining influence. He opens his eyes, looking at Akire, watching her expression.
Akire winces as the odd feeling of detachment intensifies and slowly turns into a thrumming pain across her body. "I... I..." She doesn't have the words to describe the feeling, but she looks at Tarbin with a helpless expression.
Tarbin nods shortly, giving her hands a reassuring squeeze. He himself winces when he feels it, his tails rapidly shifting back to their blue hue as his efforts seem to suddenly cease. He glances down at the circle of wilted grass, swallowing with a shudder at what he's done. The Flow around Akire almost immediately rights itself, the broken lines connecting to others and continuing as normal. At least that seems to have ended favorably...
Akire lets out a final violent shudder, then almost trips over as she feels suddenly very powerless, only keeping up due to her hold of Tarbin. "A-ugh... oh wow. Woozy..." She shuffles her hooves a bit, focusing on just standing up for the second.
Tarbin steps forward to support Akire better, chuckling nervously. "But disconnected, yes?" He looks toward where the others are, smiling nervously.
Akire nods hesitantly: "I... I t-think so? How would I know?" She looks at her hooves, frowning at the dead grasses next to them: "...o-oh."
Teis, looking on, lets out a sigh of relief that this elemental isn't dead. "I uh. I can see that it worked, if that helps?" Teis peeps up.
Xochi sighs, lowering her hands from their position, as she glances at Teis, "It... worked? This is good! Yes?"
Tarbin looks toward Teis, sighing lightly with a nod. "Then we just find her a new place to take root... And I'll reverse the severance."
Akire nods with a smile at everyone present, before her smile freezes as the headiness takes over. She nearly collapses onto Tarbin's arms: "O-oh. N-not feeling so great..."
Nesseth lowers his hands a little more slowly, surprised. "Wait... it worked, just like that?" He blinks as Akire stumbles against Tarbin, "...Wait, so if she's an elemental... what happens now that she's separated from that element, even if it's just temporary?"
Teis, eyes unmoving from Akire, replies to Nesseth. "Well. . .I'd offer you to take a look for yourself. . .But I'm pretty sure you're able to put two and two together." She states, rather matter-of-fact. She shifts her attention to Tarbin. "Do. . .You have a plan of where to move her? If you're able to feel what I'm seeing. . .I'm certain. . .You realise."
Tarbin catches Akire, oofing as her weight is dropped onto him. "W-well she should have enough to keep uhm... Oh..." He would blanch if he could, watching the version of Akire he can 'see' apparently becoming thinner quickly. He's in a bit of shock, not sure what to do.
Akire 's weight feels lighter on Tarbin than he would expect: "Nnggh...!" She closes her eyes in apparent pain, her being becoming more insubstantial and slightly see-through by the second.
Nesseth takes a step forward, uncertain what to do, but convinced something needs to be done and fast. "Tarbin! What do you need us to do? You've got a plan, right?"
Xochi frowns deeply as the others move. "Oh... dear... However I can help, I shall, Tarbin."
Tarbin snaps out of his shock, stammering before he starts to try and stand her up straighter. "I-I-I'll fix it! I can give the Flow back!" His tails drop to either side of her feet again, beginning to shift, though he's having trouble focusing in his panic. "H-hold her up..." His grips slips through Akire's hand.
Teis: "Tarbin!" Teis snaps her fingers twice. "Focus! If you re-connect her here, there's no telling how long it'll take her to be ready for another attempt! By then, the guards might decide they've had enough!" Teis snaps out. "Take her to the estate if you have to, we've got plenty of open greenery there!"
Akire seems to fall unsconcious even as her form continues fading, leaning on Tarbin. "Nnnh..."
Tarbin looks toward Teis, stalling in his efforts. "Ah right I-Ah!" He catches Akire, scooping the oddly light form up and looking toward the path into the garden. He nods toward the others before dashing into the underbrush, heading for the street...
Nesseth is about to step forward to pick up Akire while Tarbin tries to get his panic under control, but quickly steps aside as the lizard scoops the okapi up and scrambles past. He looks at Xochi and Teis for a moment as he gestures for them to follow. "What's the plan from here, then? Get her to the manor, and then what?"
Teis' head turns following Tarbin. "Nesseth!" She calls out simultaneously, but before she can exclaim anything more, Nesseth has already done exactly what it is she would've asked. She takes off after the pair. "To the garden! We've a tree there we can anchor her to!" Teis replies, loudly but focused. "Della's gonna muffin kill me, but just do it! I'll help Tarbin get there faster!"
Xochi wrings her hands together, not a being of action in the least, and more than a little worried for everyone involved, "I... shall... pray? I am sorry, friends... I... am rather useless unless... b-but no. I am sorry." She drops her head down apologetically.
Tarbin is kneeling in the street beyond the end of the path, palms pressed to the stone, his scales covered in a pattern of orange stripes as he demands the Flow connect to... Nothing. Akire's form is nowhere to be seen anywhere near the lizard. He claws at the cobblestones with one hand, shoulders shaking before he slams that palm onto the road again. Eventually, the patterns fade back to their normal blue.
Teis comes to a stop next to Tarbin, attempting to help him up as best she can, but, well, she's literally half his size. "Come on! Get up!" Teis double-snaps her fingers again. "Focus!" She tugs at Tarbin's upper arm.
Nesseth gets kind of jammed up in the underbrush as he takes a not-very-careful route out of the garden. He ends up having to struggle to get free, more out of his own stupidity rushing through without a care than any malevolence from the garden itself. "Go, do what you two have to. I'll try to catch up when I... get myself... free... ugh, damn plants...!"
Tarbin shakes his hanging head, voice weak as he addresses Teis. "It's... It's over... The elemental vanished... Gone..." He shudders again, holding back a sob at the loss, as well as his continued streak of failure.
Teis turns herself around Tarbin, to see where the elemental should have been. Sure enough, even her mana lenses register nothing. With that, Teis suddenly stops, her own will leaving her now as well, deflated. She silently hugs Tarbin.
Tarbin sits back on his haunches, slightly surprised at Teis' hug, hesitating for a moment before resting an arm around her shoulders in a half hug. "I... Should have known. But she seemed so powerful... I thought she would be alright..."
Teis' eyes begin to water herself, her form only keeping itself up by the desire to hug Tarbin. She looks up in surprise as Tarbin's words briefly, "You should've known? I should've known! I-I Should've known! I should've known that this. . .She. . .I shouldn't have redirected you. . . I should've, I should. . ." She begins to audibly sob. She lowers her head, removing an arm from Tarbin, "Stupid. . .Stupid stupid Teis! Stupid!" She bashes herself in the head with a closed fist with every mention of the word stupid.
Tarbin watches Teis for a moment before hugging her properly, both for comfort and to stop her hands. "It's not your fault... It's... Magic. How could we know for sure? She should have been able to hold enough to leave... I did something wrong perhaps..."
Teis: Unable to take her sorrow out on herself any longer thanks to Tarbin's embrace, Teis lets her arm fall around Tarbin again and instead begins to cry. Sure, she may not have been close to Erika or the elemental, but. . .She's now involved in a death that could've been avoided had she just been smarter.
Tarbin holds Teis a few moments longer, shaking as he silently tries not to sob. When he releases her, he sets a hand on her shoulder. "W-we will tell the others... I will watch the flow carefully. Maybe... She's returned to it, but is just weak... Or scared... If not, a prayer for the spirit." He coughs out a sob, shaking his head. A scale on his neck shifts colors... Lightening to an odd lavender.
Teis pulls enough of herself together as Tarbin releases her. Not enough that she wants to speak, but enough that she isn't going to stay in the street alone, opting to follow Tarbin when he starts to leave.
Tarbin tries to give a reassuring smile to Teis, giving her shoulder a light squeeze before he turns to cover another sob with a cough. More spots of lighter colored scales appear along his forearm and face, the lizard feeling a chill in him as he gets up. "Let's get you back to the manor, miss Teis."
Teis nods. That's probably for the best. . .Sleep and unconsciousness is the only thing that sounds good right about now. She allows Tarbin to vaguely usher her along.
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CLEARING OF ERIKA'S GARDEN - MOMENTS LATER
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Xochi has moved only slightly, slithering towards the edge of the dead grass so that she can bend over and place a hand within the circle. The plants around her have otherwise remained the same, although the sense of what others have called 'menace' or 'encroachment' seem to have faded as she was removed. Now, Xochi just lays upon the ground, struggling with her emotions over what just occured.
Nesseth makes his way back into the depths of the garden a few minutes later, his approach heralded by the sounds of someone slowly struggling their way through the undergrowth again. Quiet muttering drifts through the otherwise silent air, growing more distinct as he gets closer. "...think it'd be easier getting back in, knowing the path... ugh... pain in my tail..."
Xochi slides forward to push herself back upright as she hears the lizard approaching, "Nesseth! They are away safely?"
Nesseth makes his way into the clearing, looking like he'd gotten stuck in a bush some time since departing, with the occasional twig sticking out from spots on his clothes. He looks over at Xochi for a moment, then sighs and nods. "Yeah... I got loose quick enough to see Tarbin and Teis making their way to the manor." He pauses for a second or so, then shakes his head, "But... I didn't see 'Erika' with them."
Xochi frowns, her posture slumping. "So... it was a failure, then? Severing the link... we had hoped we could move her out away from town, give her something that would let her find herself there... I... promised her I would help her..."
Nesseth shakes his head again, looking down towards the ground a bit. "I was hoping to... I dunno, find a way to, like... move a bit of the garden with her somewhere else. She was tied to this place, and that tree over there. Erika told me there were ways, but... nothing what we'd consider 'fast'."
Xochi 's eyes water as she puts a hand to her chest. "I... know. I agreed, that this seemed the only way. Still, there must have been something else we... something else I could have done. I was so sure I could help."
Nesseth 's brow furrows a bit as he crosses his arms, seeming somewhat upset at the direction things have gone. "There must have been something we missed... But it was only a matter of time before the folks neighboring the garden tried taking things into their own hands." He sighs deeply, "It was better that we at least... tried something before that happened..."
Xochi settles back down, winding tail into a coil to rest upon. "I fear you were right, that I attempted action too soon, confronting her only made her worry, caused the growth to accelerate... had I waited, watched, as you advised, perhaps we would have had more time. I am sorry, Nesseth."
Nesseth shakes his head as he looks up at Xochi again. "It's not your fault... the ideas that were being tossed around to help her would have taken a long time, way too long for all this..." He gestures at the jungle around them, "...to not happen anyway. We might have chanced on some inspired idea, maybe, but... it'd have been a long shot."
Xochi sighs, shaking her head as if she doesn't want to believe it. "I simply wished to help... so many years unable to do anything for anyone, and at last, here I thought I could..." She takes a deep breath, "But no. Perhaps this was a lesson in that regard. At least there is solace that Erika and Cavro returned to us safely... there is yet the matter of the 'other Cavro', yes?"
Nesseth nods, though he still looks quite discomfited about 'Erika' seemingly having passed just from hasty decisions. "Yeah... there's still the matter of the one that works at the forge. He doesn't seem to be causing any troubles, or at least... no complaints from neighbors or anything. Might be easier to figure out a solution for him that doesn't..." He pauses, trailing off, before he lets out a frustrated groan, "Ugh, damn it..."
Xochi reaches her hand up to wipe away tears. "Y-yes. The gods are sometimes cruel for reasons we... cannot see."
Nesseth flexes his jaw a bit as he spends several seconds just gathering his thoughts again, his face angled towards the ground, though his eyes are shut. "We'll just... figure things out as we go forward and deal with Cavro's double. Hopefully we can arrive at a better conclusion with him than the 'Erika' that was here in this garden..."
Xochi: "I... I hope so, Nesseth. This will weigh heavily upon my heart. She, this 'Erika', or whomever she was, was a unique soul, even if she first took the form of our friend, and every bit deserving of our respect. And our pity."
Nesseth nods quietly. "Mmh... at first, I was worried because... well... doppelgangers usually replace folks for evil reasons, but she wasn't a doppelganger, and neither is the one at the forge right now. She was just... scared."
Xochi nods slowly. "We still do not know what caused this, hm? Who or what sent Erika and Cavro so far into the wilderness, and created these beings in their place? I cannot believe it was a malicious act... so then what? Random magic?"
Nesseth shrugs. "I wish I could say I knew. Magic is so far out of my realm of knowledge, I can't say what even is and isn't possible with it."
Xochi: "All I can manage is a bit of illusion magic. Nothing with the kind of power I have seen in others, and in understanding, I have little. In that, we approach this mystery with the same foreknowledge, I fear."
Nesseth tilts his head curiously. "You know illusion magic? Heh... well, that's far more than anything I can do." He nods, "But yeah... with anything to do with magic, we have to rely on Tarbin and Teis."
Xochi chuckles quietly, "I am old, Nesseth. I had a great deal of time to teach myself, though I'm afraid that even there I have little talent in it. I imagine that Tarbin will not forgive himself easily for this... I hope his friend will be able to console him."
Nesseth looks over his shoulder towards the path leading into the garden, then nods. "I hope so... I can't imagine he'd have an easy time at all, considering this was something they'd come up with." He pauses, then adds, "If anything... we should go and see how they're doing soon, once they've had a chance to hopefully calm down."
Xochi slides upward from her seat, rising to slither closer to the path, looking outward. The foliage is thick, but no longer seems to be actively barring their way. "Yes... yes we should. And Erika as well. I suppose she will... no, actually, I doubt she will be 'relieved' to hear the resolution to this. She may take it quite hard as well, though she only spoke with this being once."
Nesseth hums quietly and nods as he turns to hold the foliage open for Xochi. "Then... maybe we should go and find them soon. I get the feeling the quicker we talk to them, the better they'll handle it. Or at least... I hope."
Xochi takes a deep breath, unsure how well she's handling it, but she nods at last and begins to make her way out through the trail towards the alleyway. "Perhaps so, yes. I... thank you, Nesseth. You... give me some hope and strength amidst tragedy... such tragedy..."
Nesseth offers Xochi a small, warm smile, though a close look would show he's likewise not entirely sure how well he's handling things, too. He's just better at bundling it away. "Sometimes, when things like this happen... it's easier to carry on with a bit of hope."
Xochi sighs, managing another sorrowful laugh, "Carrying on with a bit of hope describes much of my life. I shall perservere... as best as I am able, yes."
Nesseth nods as he follows Xochi through the (much more readily navigable) path to the street bordering the garden. "But here, you don't have to do so alone. You, me, Tarbin, Teis, we're all working on this thing as a team, and teammates support each other."
Xochi smiles as she reaches the street, twisting to bow to Nesseth slightly. "I have never had a 'team' before, no. That at least is a very pleasant change."
Nesseth dips into a little bow as well as he steps into the street just behind Xochi. "I'm glad it's been a nice experience for you in that regard." He looks down the lane towards the direction Tarbin and Teis went, "Anyway... you've never been to Teis' manor before, right? I can show you the way."
Xochi shakes her head, "I have not, no. I am... unsure I fully understand the meaning of the word, I am afraid. I've been to the home which Lady Elizabeth calls her manor, though she seems to hold it in low regard."
Nesseth hums thoughtfully, but nods as he starts to lead the way down the street. "Huh... odd. Manors are usually really large and made to look great... Oh well... I guess everyone's got different tastes, right?"
Xochi tilts her head, "Oh? This was my understanding of the word as well, yet Elizabeth's home is quite modest, no larger than my own."
Nesseth seems a bit confused. "And... she was sure it's a manor? Your place is about the same size as mine, but neither of our places are really 'manor'-like."
Xochi hisses out a chuckle, doing her best to hold up some small talk with Nesseth as they make their way away from Erika's garden to show the way to the Bouquet Manor, each leaning on the other just a little to lighten the mood and keep them moving forward, as Nesseth said, with a little hope yet remaining.