☀️ Arselia and Akonia

Indeed... These people really needed help, and now everything was clear. Yes, it was clear that they could wield weapons, but for now, they could barely hold onto the strange clothes they were wearing. Carnel represented a stark contrast to the rest of the city that Erefir had seen on her way.

-- Oh, my dears, -- she said with a sigh. -- I have come to express my condolences for your former leader, as well as to announce my appointment. I am Erefir Lin'el Darvening (and I will eventually relearn where to use the letter "e" and where "ye"). And you?

Beata exhaled. The mention of the former leader made her heart ache, and her lips trembled again. Ayko! If they had only had the courage to throw that damned Mellen overboard, Ayko might still be with them! But... How would she feel about them after that? Would she approve if someone died because of her? Unlikely. Sacrificing herself was her conscious decision, and she would not have chosen otherwise. Beata herself was tormented by the thought that they had chosen to save their own skins instead of being with their leader, and Giyyon too. Sometimes, it seemed to her that he quietly hated her because of the restriction imposed on him. And even if that wasn't the case, he was still taking what happened harder than she was.
Pushing the reflections away, Beata scrutinized the stranger from head to toe. Erefir, she said? A tall, strong, knightly girl with a huge mace on her shoulder, she could easily overpower Giyyon, let alone herself. Nothing like the small, fragile intellectual that Ayko was. However...
-- Thank you for your condolences, -- Giyyon said in a subdued voice, interrupting her thoughts, -- it's nice to meet you. My name is Giyyon, and this is my friend, Beata.
Beata gathered her thoughts and shook her head.
-- You are from the High Command, aren't you? Come in, -- she stepped back, letting the guest inside.