She could tell now. It was clear as day and now it need to be backed up by truth. There was something wrong by the way Master Jarod acted. The man hasn't left his quarters since, not even a request for his evening tea. All she would hear, every time she'd pass, were large shuffling and inaudible chants. Maybe, just maybe he was ready for another expedition, it would make a lot of sense why he's seem so focus. She gave a nod to that thought, taking the broomstick she held in hand and pushing it from her body to finish her sweeping in the halls. The elf's ears wiggling each time she'd hear footsteps come her way.
"Junifer."
That voice was no other than Oswald, The young man stood at the far right entrance to the hall. He carried scrolls in his arms and a grimoire in the other. He didn't seem to be in a rush or going anywhere special as he moved on over to Junifer. Once again Junifer held this expression of confusing with this man. "good evening master Oswald" she addressed him, bowing her head lightly. Oswald would return the head greeting with a nod. "sweeping the halls?" He tilted his head with a smile. "Yes, it is my duty to have these halls swept daily." Everyone knew this and it was strange for Oswald to ask such an obvious question. After a silent minute, Junifer would abruptly stop her sweeping. The floors were already sparkling at this point, the only reason she was still here was due to her worries for Jarod. "is there something you need me do Master Oswald? I'll try my best to assisting you in whatever needs." Junifer usually would be told to do something by now when someone came to her. Even though Oswald was often around Jarod. She barely knew anything about him, maybe to the fact he was always sent out to do things. Junifer would catch eye of him shifting his legs back when she would stop, Along with the tensing of his shoulders. Shaking his head, he'd frown. "n-no nothing at all...I was curious of you. If you might be wondering, after all you are my master's best helping hand."
"helping hand?" Junifer would leave her mouth open to the title. "You mean a slave?" She'd began to retort, only leaving Oswald to chuckle. "yes, but he doesn't really treat you as what most slaves are treated like. Am I not wrong?" He'd raise a brow, Junifer would give yes and look to the broom in hand.
"Master Jarod does have a thing for people with great auras. Me, You, his lovely madam as well." His eyes would follow to the door leading to Jarod's Studies.
"I heard he had return early today, is he still in there?"
"yes, he hasn't left."
"is that so? He hasn't even asked for me yet. Usually I would be giving him my daily practice and fills of what's been happen outside of the country. He had also task me to refurbish these scribes about those who could see the future."
"see the future? you mean those with vision?"
"precisely!"
Junifer would perk her head to Oswald, did Jarod know somebody with such powers. The blonde elf looked to the scroll, before back up to Oswald. Even though she hasn't been outside the real world for more than longer then she wished. She knew of tales, those with vision who could tell of what will take place as time passes. Hard to come across and often in protection of certain old groups. She'd pop out of her thoughts by the chuckles of Oswald. "you must find it interesting...everyone does. I myself would like know my future. So I will assist as much as possible to learn how to harness such powers."
"you can't-...You can't just harness power like that..." Junifer would stop him, she'd frown at Jarod's words. "hmm? what do you mean by that?" Jarod would be thrown back, by the sudden change of tone. Junifer quickly placed a hand over her mouth stunned by her own actions. "I mean, My parents you to say such powers can not be harnessed so easily...or that it what I was told when I was younger. I apologize for my rudeness, Master Oswald." She felt as if she had gotten carried away. If this was anyone else, she would have earned a beating by now. "no..you're fine, anyways I must go and finish these." He'd raise the scrolls up. "Let's us continue this conversation next time we see one another" he smiled before walking off with a wave.
'He didn't scold me?' She watched as he left from her sight.
The time would only come to night fall, it was now dinner time and jarod has yet to leave his studies. Junifer now began to question what type of expedition this could be. Maybe he had to prepare head of time. Yes, that made perfect sense to the elf. Junifer paused at the entrance to the sleeping quarters. She was told that Polthor needed to speak to her. Maybe another arrangement of her training. Unlike when she was younger, she wasn't allowed to roam the halls so freely. mostly on chains or having at least two men watching her from afar. Stopping at a closed wooden door, marked with a sword. She give a light knock. "Sir Polthor, it's Junifer."
Before she could step back and wait, the door would swing open. Instead of Polthor being at the door. It was skinny and short man, that seemed to be covered up from head to two in leather.
"so this is Junifer..." His voice was muffled by the cloth like mouthpiece, junifer could only see his peering eyes that seemed to size her up. Pass the strange man was Polthor, standing at a window and peering out to the dark sky. "yes, So does she look capable" in a quick second Polthor would raise his hand for Junifer to enter the room. Which she did after bowing to the man in front of her and passing through the door way towards Polthor. 'Capable of what?' It seem she was late to the conservation. She could only guess it was about her and her fighting capabilities. "Junifer" she would turn her full attention to Polthor. "yes, sir?" She would respond, Polthor was one of the few who demanded Junifer to not call her by master. He even might be one of those who didn't ask to be apart of this dangerous band of people.
"Starting from now on, you'll learning from this man. His name is Sila...I realise your not fit for my style and on top that, your a woman. That is small and silent. Your master Jarod, wanted you to be able to protect yourself and someone else, as you'll be going on little missions for him." Polthor would go on to explain more about her new mentor. She would learning how to fight like a rogue, discrete and uncatchable. Even learning how to use her abilities in the play of things. This was all and dandy to the elf, but who was she going to protect? All she was good at doing at the current moment was obeying and healing, she could barely land a scratch on Polthor. This only added more thoughts on the changes in this place. She would give them light nods here and there, after a few short introduction between the unidentifiable man, Junifer was sent off to her next nightly task.
'I wonder if Master is alright'
Junifer stood at the door's that lead back to Jarod's quarters. Curious if anything had changed inside, she'd go on to place her ear to the door. "is he even in there?" she would wonder, it was silent as ever almost too silent. Her brows would furrow. "is he...Is he crying?" she would pull her head back, placing her hand onto the door knob with worry. "um..Master Jarod. I have your dinner for tonight, may I enter?" It took a short while for a reply. "You may" And with those words she would hestintly enter. By her surprise he looked fine, only having dark bags under his eyes. He was sitting at his desk, a large amount of papers tasked in front of him. "would you like me to look through theses?" She'd place down his meal onto a table nearby. Jarod would give a smile, it was that same and always warm smile. He would slowly stand from his chair, giving a light "hm" He was giving it some thought about her words before, he'd raise his head to look at her. "hm..no it's alright dear, I've already gone through all of them...come sit with me out on the balcony. I'll eat a bit more later." He push off the idea of eating, stepping to the glass doors that led out. Two comfy old chairs and table with wine decorated the spot. Jarod would plop himself down, when he looked to Junifer, she was still just standing there. To snap her out of that though, jarod would pat the seat next to him.
She has never been out her before, she had only seen him sit out here by himself. Usually speaking to his wife through a crystal ball. Her steps stayed light, as he slowly placed herself down into the chair. It was strange or was she imagining things. His smile had change all of sudden, it didn't feel as happy as Jarod usually presented it. At the current moment jarod was faced out to the sky, his hair flowing in the wind as he rested back. "Junifer." Junifer would hear his call and respond with a "yes master?", the way Jarod spoke her name always seem true, never any hatred towards her would come from the way he spoke her name.
"do you wish to be free?"
Junifer eyes widen at his question, she'd look to her hands holding them in thought. It was a real question, no doubt about it. but it was one she couldn't just answer. Junifer would place her hands together, entwining her fingers and rubbing her thumbs. "That is a very hard question to answer, what do you mean by free?" Junifer was scared this was a test, another thing that would place her and greater risk. She waited for a response but didn't get any. "master?" Jarod would switch the topic admitly as if he was trying to figure something out. "Junifer do you know I love elves..." Jarod would turn his head to look at Junifer, his eyes gave a sense of worry. "My wife was one of the first elves to make me see them different than the stuck up tree huggers most human see them as, they are so different and a wonder to me. She even taught me things, I thought I could never do with my own powers. Even outside of her being an elf, she carries this beautiful aura. Always seeing my true feelings and willing to improve in her own craft."
"Will there be a time, where I get to meet your wife?"
Jarod body would stiffen to Junifer questions, very slowly his body would relax again. A light but sorrowful laugh would escape the Sorcerer. His head only cocked to the side giving some thought into her questions once again. Junifer became highly concerned on the way he reacted, He was doing it again. Delaying his answer and going into a deep mentation about it as if the question was something that would give a certain result.
"I would like you to meet her...It would be wonderful if you two did meet...Splendid."
Jarod leaned his body forwards to reach for the bottle of wine, when Jarod had caught eye of Junifer's frown he would plaster a smile onto his face.
"Are you worried about me?" He asked, raising the bottle up and bringing it closer to him.
Junifer would nod with a yes, standing to go and retrieve a glass. Junifer had her reason of being worried and how Jarrod's facade had shifted to slow responses and heavy thinking. It was like she seeing a new side to him, stepping back onto the balcony she'd placed down a glass. Her eyes would trace to his hands, seeing the rings that had a place on almost every finger and with one swift push he popped the cork off the wine bottle. Pouring the sweet elixir, he would nod back to Junifer with an "oho? do you mind elaborating in your concern for me?" Once Junifer had found herself a place to sit and Jarod had his glass in hand she'd go on about her concerns.
There was a lot to say, as she began with his long leave and late return, than a sudden distance between her and Oswald. She even asked if he was going to leave again and how that worried her more, but she was cut off early by a sudden sound of his glass being place down. A hand of his, on the top of her head as he patted it, once again his smile would get only softer.
"Listen Junifer dear, do not worry about me...I'm just a bit tired, currently the kingdom has become a bit of ruckus. Now keep this here, I don't need you being all sad you can't figure me out sometimes." And with that Jarod would stand and look back up to the sky. Junifer gave a nod with a 'yes master' and realised there was no use in trying to overthink it. He was just tired.
I can't pursue his issues as I wish.
