Valentine and The Dragon

Part 2: Unfamiliar Faces and Places

  As the shine behind the gray began to fade and the clouds parted ways from the skies, for the time being, the darkened home was nearly pitch black, if not completely. The faint whistle of passing breeze wisped throughout the silent home, sneaking beneath the cracks of the doorways and reaching the slumbering occupants. Though deafening in its lack of sound, the silence was comforting but despite all the comfort this home could give, our heroine shivers in her rest, tossing about with quiet groans and distressed gasps. Finally, she jolts awake, frantically looking around the barren and quiet living room whilst pulling up that oh so soft blanket over her nude frame. Her baby blues glanced down towards her covers, then to her hands, running her fingertips over her bruises and pale skin to reassure herself that what occurred was simply a trick of the mind and nothing more. Our heroine hesitated when it came to running her fingers across her face, shifting her gaze to her right, inspecting her attire, armor, and her infamous weapon.

Ivy: "I cannot rest whilst that vile blade corrupts more worlds."

  Valentine said quietly to herself, gingerly tossing aside the covers and shifting her body to a seated position, quickly attempting to put on her clothes as well as her armor but with every simple outstretched arm, she groaned in pain. Despite her drive and sheer willpower, there was little that could she manage in this state, her wounds and more subtle injuries were baring her from going any further with her plans. The mature woman's hand balled into a tight fist as it slammed down onto the sofa's arm in rage, her indomitable will had been stumped by injury and her own actions. Ivy continued to rest there on the couch, half-clothed and disappointed in herself, though, no matter how much pain she was in or how sorry she felt for herself, there was little time to spare. She neatly tied her outfit's straps behind her neck, making sure it covered her rather overly hefty bust and any glancing notice of her folds down below were just as obscured.

  The woman hobbled to her feet, taking a moment to stand and let the shroud of weakness wash over her, only to dissipate soon after, allowing her to quietly march in her typical seductive feminine stride down the corridor towards a door, a door that she stopped before. Her hand reached for the nob, only to halt herself entirely, hesitating and taking a moment to think before she acted but she required something of her rather gracious host so, a few knocks rang out throughout the darkened home. A metallic turn of a doorknob alerted her until the door before the chiseled, over proportionate woman, swung open and revealed the figure of a shirtless young man who stood just slightly taller than her gave her fair greetings with a gentle tone and a smile painted in moonlight. 

Sarko: "Mistress Valentine, is there something you need?"

Ivy: "My apologies for waking you, but I desire a soak in a bath to ease my nerves, perhaps I can use your restroom?"

Sarko: "Of course you may. I'll fetch you a towel or two and one of my robes for when you step out."

Ivy: "Thank you, my dear. I'll be as quiet as a mouse, I do not wish to wake you."

  In her typical fashion and perhaps reflecting her other nature besides her warm, noble interior, she gently reached out and gave his chin a tender stroke of her fingers, along with a quiet sigh of amusement. The young lad, though younger than her by twenty or so years, did not mind the woman's 'advances' nor think too much on them despite him being roughly twenty-two and his guest seeming as if she was not a day over thirty-two, though the man was unaware of her acts that ceased her aging process. Nevertheless, Sarko beckoned Ivy to follow, showing her into the rather luxurious cabin bathroom, fashioned with a nice tub beside a frosted window, a shower, and other various things. While the guest took in all of these porcelain appliances amongst the cobblestone/wooden walls and tile flooring, the tub began to fill with steaming water, and with a simple gesture of his hands, every candle that sat upon the tub were given flames, as well as those across the bathroom. She marched in stride towards him with an intrigued expression, perhaps more mild curiosity though curious nonetheless as he set the floor mat neatly beside the tub wall and closely laid out his bathrobe accompanied with two gray large towels.

Sarko: "I believe that will do. The soap is on the side, and you can find whatever you seek in the cabinets though feminine products... I do not have. My sincerest apologies."

Ivy: "No need for apologies, my magics will keep my lovely looks intact. Such a good boy, it astounds me that no one has taken your hand by now."

Sarko: "I'm deeply flattered ma'am, but perhaps we can talk more of our lives tomorrow morning? I am needed by Ser Aymeric in Ishgard for a meeting, and you must be on your journey I'm sure."

Ivy: "Perhaps I will accompany you. I know little of this world or its many mysteries, therefore I require a guide."

Sarko: "If you desire then I don't mind it. Though you will certainly need warmer clothes, I believe I can take you to one of my armorers, get you situated with the proper attire."

Ivy: "My thanks, now if you'll excuse me, I must undress and unwind, a lady needs her privacy young man."

  Her joke surely took off, but her landing was a bit flat since it barely elicited a chuckle from the young Midlander. As the room began to have a tinted orange glow, along with the warmth of both fire and steaming bath water, Sarko gave her a courteous formal bow before she glanced down at him with only her eyes, a sight she was not exactly used to. Afterward, he departed, softly closing the door behind him as Ivy turned back to the water, untying her outfit from the back of her neck, letting it drop in a pile around her feet. She stretched her athletic body with a few pops and cracks of joints that were in serious need of a massage however with a comfortable sigh and a scratch of her cheek, she dipped her foot into the welcoming hot water before fully climbing within the tub, laying on her back with her jewelry set aside for the time being. 

  As time began to pass and the heroine soaked, she had a moment to think about what was transpiring around her, how generous this stranger was being towards her despite owing her nothing. What bewildered her more so was the fact that he was so young, so young yet probably more mature than any man his age, why, she did not know but one thing was for certain, she admired his commitment to servicing guests. Ivy turned to face the window, her torso half-submerged in suds and steaming water while her back, though stronger than most gladiators, was rejoicing that her enlarged breasts for once were not solely being held up by it. Her eyes glanced at a single snowflake, falling like a leaf in the breeze before it stuck against the glass, being joined by another as if the universe was trying to foreshadow coming events. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was where she was needed, and where her life would take a drastic turn, for better? or for worse? Either way presented before her, she had come to terms with her life coming to an end with the destruction of soul edge, though it was almost as if another feminine voice whispered to her from beyond the mortal perspective. 

???: "You have come for a noble cause Isabella Valentine. You seek to right the wrong of your heritage and destroy what could and will infect this world with untameable evil. Though your studies and research, from a universe I cannot see, resulted in your presence in this universe, I will guide you with whom I believe you have already taken a fondness to."