Beata sighed. The mention of their former leader made her heart ache, and her lips trembled again. Ayko! If they had only had the courage to throw that damn Mellen overboard, Ayko could still be with them! But... how would she have looked at them after that? Would she have approved if someone had died because of her? Unlikely. Sacrificing herself was her conscious decision, and she wouldn't have chosen otherwise. Beata herself was tormented by the thought that they had chosen to save their own skins rather than be with their leader, and Giyyon too. Sometimes it seemed to her that he secretly hated her because of the ban he had imposed. And even if that wasn't the case, he was still suffering more than she was.
Pushing the reflection away, Beata scrutinized the stranger from head to toe. Erephir, she said? A tall, strong female knight with a huge mace on her back, 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 collected herself and shook her head.
- You're from the High Command, right? Come in, - she stepped back, letting the guest in.
- Thank you, - Erephir didn't seem at all embarrassed that her companions had been lost in thought for a moment. It was understandable.
Once inside, the Nozenro noticed that, unlike the group, the place itself looked quite luxurious. Was it the efforts of that amazing predecessor, or Her Highness?
- Well, let's get acquainted. I see you've been taken care of, but the mission has taken its toll. What can I do for you? Do you have enough money to buy some clothes?