☀️ Arselia and Akonia

-- Thank you, -- Erefir didn't seem embarrassed that her companions had momentarily lost themselves in thought. It was understandable.

Entering inside, the Nosferatu noticed that, unlike the group, the place itself looked quite luxurious. Was it the efforts of that remarkable predecessor, or Her Highness?

-- Well, let's get acquainted. I see you were well taken care of, but the mission took its toll. What can I do to help in this situation? Do you have enough money to buy some clothes?

Actually, I wanted to resist a little and not let you in, but whatever.

 - We have the means, we just lack the sense, - Gion muttered under his breath, but Beata still heard him and gave him a basilisk-like glare.
 - Yes, we were given a good salary, just before you arrived, so don't worry about that! - she said with a radiant smile. - I don't know what Her Highness told you, but we had a mission to rescue the Zymivian queen. We fought our way to the sphere, but it couldn't lift all of us, so we had to sacrifice almost everything we had, even shedding our clothes to reduce the weight, and... - she sighed heavily, - and leave people behind. That's how we lost our leader. She ordered the rest of the squad to get on the sphere, while she stayed behind with our new friends, facing certain death... - a tear rolled down her cheek.
Gion put his arm around his companion's shoulders and nodded sadly in confirmation of her words.
 - Yes... Ayko was one of the most selfless and noble people... gnomes... we've ever met. Our entire squad mourns her; without her, "Carnelian" will never be the same. But that was the only loss the squad suffered on that mission.
Beata wiped away her tears with difficulty.
 - Nice to meet you... I don't know what Her Highness told you about us. There were nine of us... Eight, now eight. Gion is a swordsman, and I'm an archer. We also have Kilika and Merel, they are mages. Garrett is also an archer. Kalina is a doctor, a bit withdrawn, but overall a good person...
 - And also the secretary Raphael, who works part-time in the theater, and the maid Astellia, also an actress, but a former one, - Gion added.
 - That's who we are... And what is your mission from Her Highness?