COMMISSION: Emmy In Action ch.1 (Patreon)

Author's Notes: Hey everyone! So, it's been a while since we've had an update to the Dungeons and Dickgirls story, as the format of it was a bit clunky and the pace pretty unsustainable. I am willing to continue it at some point, likely in a different format, but for the moment we have something different -- a story about Emeera, JUST Emeera, set some time after the events of the main story conclude.

Now you may ask, how can I set a story after the main story, when I don't know how the main story resolved? Excellent question, and the answer is... I'm just not really gonna address it or think about it. All we know is that it did resolve at some point, and Emmy ended up back on her own, to have a new li'l adventure where she's the star of the show!

Anyway, preamble over, let's get to the story!

[story]

_______________________________

‭‭“‬Alright,‭ ‬everyone,‭ ‬it’s time to get organized and do honorable things‭! ‬I’m so strong and noble,‭ ‬despite my harsh upbringing,‭” ‬Kydozi boomed out with a deep,‭ ‬gruff voice,‭ ‬hands on her hips.‭ ‬Mop of black hair wobbling in place,‭ ‬the half-orc continued,‭ “‬What adventures shall we undertake today,‭ ‬Awesome Squad‭?”

“I thirst only for the red haze of combat,‭ ‬for I am very much dangerously psychotic,‭” ‬Aleathira nodded along grimly.‭ “‬It is remarkable that nobody has yet to question my mental state,‭ ‬especially now that I have started to see ghosts.‭”

“I’m adorable‭!” ‬Var’veha squawked,‭ ‬her voice pitched high,‭ ‬bearing an exaggerated gargled rasp.‭ “‬Someone hug me‭! ‬I eat bugs,‭ ‬and I also have a puppy‭!”

“All of you are truly as dumb as mud,‭ ‬not like me,‭ ‬Quinn,‭ ‬who am smart.‭ ‬Am I a boy,‭ ‬or a girl‭? ‬Who can say,‭ ‬since it definitely doesn’t seem like I intend to.‭ ‬I am better than all of you.‭”

“Almost as good as me,‭ ‬resident sex-pest and increasingly murder-y gun nut‭!” ‬Nyx beamed.‭ “‬What do you think,‭ ‬Emmy‭? ‬What adventure should we go on next‭? ‬Emmy‭? ‬Emmy‭? ‬Emmy‭?”

“Emmy‭?”

“Emmy‭?”

Emeera snapped from her thoughts,‭ ‬and from the five little toys in front of her‭ ‬--‭ ‬each crudely stitched together out of sack cloth and colored with natural dyes.‭ ‬One was tall and greenish,‭ ‬one dark and sullen,‭ ‬one squat and gray,‭ ‬one slim and red,‭ ‬the final short and bearing orange hair,‭ ‬made of mop strands and dyed with tomato sauce.

‭“‬Emeera,‭ ‬are you okay‭?”

The young human glanced over her shoulder at the speaker,‭ ‬a young man named Gan she’d met only a few times before.‭ ‬He was slender and bald-headed,‭ ‬with heavy brows,‭ ‬hawkish features,‭ ‬and skin the color of young parchment,‭ ‬and he’d risen up quickly through the ranks of the Edisseion while Emmy had been away.‭ ‬Once just a kid,‭ ‬now he was an Acute‭ ‬--‭ ‬something akin to a prefect within the monastery.

‭“‬Uh,‭” ‬the young human blinked,‭ ‬then shook her head,‭ “‬yeah,‭ ‬no,‭ ‬yeah,‭ ‬I’m great‭! ‬What’s up‭?”

“I heard you talking to yourself,‭ ‬was afraid something was amiss.‭ ‬You were doing a...‭ ‬bunch of different voices.‭”

Emmy glanced back down to the hand-made dolls in front of her,‭ ‬then let her surroundings fade back in.‭ ‬She was back in Lakeheart,‭ ‬back at the Edisseion,‭ ‬back in her room‭ ‬--‭ ‬her‭ ‬old room,‭ ‬even.‭ ‬Despite having gone on what was basically a‭ “‬leave and hopefully don’t come back‭” ‬type of away mission across the country,‭ ‬she’d returned in one piece,‭ ‬to the glory of her old eight-by-eight bedroom,‭ ‬complete with bare wooden walls and beige reeds of her‭ ‬sleeping mat.

‭“‬Yeah,‭ ‬sorry,‭ ‬I was um...‭” ‬she looked back down at the dolls,‭ ‬biting her lower lip for a moment.‭ ‬Friends.‭ ‬Not‭ ‬great friends,‭ ‬but something she’d never really had before.‭ ‬It had felt so incredible to be a part of something bigger.‭ ‬To be a hero.‭ ‬It had been four months since they’d broken apart.‭ ‬Why in Urril had she come back here‭? “‬I was lost in thought,‭ ‬my bad‭! ‬Do you need something‭?”

Gan was silent a moment,‭ ‬arching one of those bushy brows and finally relenting,‭ “‬One of the masters wants to speak with you,‭ ‬something about a mission he thinks you’d be good for.‭”

“A mission‭?!” ‬Emmy’s expression brightened,‭ ‬the blonde monk quickly rushing to her feet and standing up straight.‭ “‬What kind of mission‭? ‬Will I be leaving‭? ‬Do I get companions,‭ ‬a party of seasoned and unique adventurers to complement my unique strengths,‭ ‬while compensating for my few weaknesses‭? ‬Will there be adventure,‭ ‬treasure,‭ ‬treachery‭? ‬The path‭ ‬fraught with peril‭?!‬”

A beat.‭ “‬Maybe‭? ‬He didn’t fill me in on the details,‭ ‬but asked you to report to the gardens as soon as you’re able.‭”

“Alright‭! ‬I actually super have to pee,‭ ‬but I’ll be there right after that‭!”

“That’s...‭ ‬I didn’t need to know that,‭ ‬but very well.‭” ‬Gan shook his head,‭ ‬shrugging as he left the room,‭ ‬his staff bonking softly along the mat floor as he made his way back to...‭ ‬well,‭ ‬whatever the hell it was he did.‭ ‬Swatting students who opened their eyes during meditation,‭ ‬something like that.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

One pee break later,‭ ‬and Emmy began to make her way to the garden.‭ ‬It was a splendid place,‭ ‬somewhere students were often not allowed unless explicitly summoned‭ ‬--‭ ‬a place of sensory ecstasy where masters of the Edisseion could focus,‭ ‬meditate,‭ ‬be free of discomfort to reach the highest pinnacles of enlightenment.

Or,‭ ‬you were Emmy,‭ ‬in which case you stumbled your first step in,‭ ‬falling into one of the babbling brooks that flowed throughout the place and crawling awkwardly out onto the cobbled walkway with a lilypad draped across the side of your head‭ ‬--‭ ‬as happened today.‭ ‬Despite her grace in combat,‭ ‬it was presence of mind that seemed to lose her.‭ “‬Craaaaap,‭” ‬she huffed softly.‭ ‬Wiping water from her face and wringing out the bottoms of her‭ (‬new‭!) ‬lavender robes,‭ ‬the young monk huffed and began to make her way through the rest of the garden,‭ ‬through the massive boughs of delicate flowers,‭ ‬surrounded by the hum of gentle insects and songs of tiny birds.‭ ‬A place of true peace,‭ ‬the only danger to the equilibrium of which was the presence of Emeera herself.

As the loose stone path wound through more lean,‭ ‬pruned trees and colorful fronds of life,‭ ‬Emmy approached the heart of the gardens‭ ‬--‭ ‬a gazebo,‭ ‬all carved from willow,‭ ‬silver inscriptions detailing the birth of the monastic traditions of the Edisseion.‭ ‬Traditions of order and self-control that,‭ ‬despite extensive study and even more extensive field experience,‭ ‬Emeera had never truly embodied.‭ ‬In the center of that gazebo,‭ ‬sitting at a tiny bench in front of a larger table,‭ ‬was the wizened old gnome that had sent Emmy on her first quest,‭ ‬the one that had teamed her up with Kydozi,‭ ‬Nyx,‭ ‬Aleathira,‭ ‬Quinn,‭ ‬and Var’veha.‭ ‬Master Hacknammer,‭ ‬the eldest of the Edisseion.

‭“‬Ah,‭ ‬Emeera,‭” ‬the old gnome’s calm,‭ ‬reedy voice rung out as she approached the gazebo.‭ ‬Glittering emerald eyes looked up at her,‭ ‬a small smile showing crooked,‭ tea-stained ‬teeth that belied the monk’s extreme age.‭ “‬Come,‭ ‬sit with me.‭”

Nodding,‭ ‬she hurried forward,‭ ‬sitting cross-legged on the other side of the table,‭ ‬a thing of beauty as much else was in the gardens.‭ ‬Intricate scrollwork was etched along its dark,‭ ‬polished wood,‭ ‬the legs carved into the forms of four animals,‭ ‬each holding up their corner of the table‭ ‬--‭ ‬a squid,‭ ‬mandrill,‭ ‬tortoise,‭ ‬and scorpion.‭ ‬Learning animal styles was often something left to more advanced students,‭ ‬those who had already mastered the basic forms,‭ ‬but Emmy’s excursion into adventuring had left her forms decidedly unconventional.

Atop the table was a teapot and two small,‭ ‬matching cups,‭ ‬smooth rose-colored marble with veins of heather-gray.‭ ‬Hacknammer’s cup was already steaming,‭ ‬filled with a translucent green liquid,‭ ‬and the dark-skinned old gnome’s calm smile remained in place as he gestured towards it.‭ “‬Please,‭ ‬pour yourself a cup.‭”

Emeera inhaled to speak,‭ ‬but recalled her training at the last moment‭ ‬--‭ ‬life on the road had broken her habit of waiting patiently,‭ ‬leaving her attention span as short as it had ever been,‭ ‬but she was back in the Edisseion now.‭ ‬Control,‭ ‬serenity.‭ ‬Nodding,‭ ‬she took the warm pot and filled her own cup,‭ ‬raising it to her face and deeply breathing in the gentle perfume of its vapor.‭ ‬Finally,‭ ‬after a moment of hesitation,‭ ‬she took a sip,‭ ‬letting its floral earthiness flood her senses and warm her chest.‭ “‬Master,‭ ‬you wished to speak with me‭?”

“I did,‭” ‬Hacknammer nodded,‭ ‬sipping from his own small cup and setting it down in front of him.‭ “‬It’s been some months since you returned,‭ ‬yes‭?”

“It has,‭” ‬the girl nodded.

‭“‬And,‭ ‬while you’ve been fully reinstated in your training and position,‭ ‬I somehow sense something is different,‭ ‬in you.‭ ‬Unbalanced,‭ ‬as if your journey was not finished.‭”

Emmy furrowed her brow,‭ ‬swallowing hard.‭ “‬I,‭ ‬ahm...‭ ‬my journey‭ ‬was finished,‭ ‬though,‭ ‬Master.‭"

“Yet you wish it were not,‭” ‬Hacknammer tilted his head to the side,‭ ‬large ears wobbling slightly as his eyes peered into Emeera’s soul.‭ “‬You have been restless since you returned,‭ ‬unable to focus on studies.‭ ‬Undisciplined.‭ ‬And it seems your soul only lights...‭” ‬he paused,‭ ‬swirling the leaves at the bottom of his cup as he contemplated his next words,‭ “‬when you’re recounting the stories of your time away.‭”

“It was...‭ ‬a wonderful opportunity,‭ ‬Master.‭ ‬I’m just fortunate to have been given the chance to go at all.‭ ‬My apologies if I seem unfocused,‭ ‬I will be sure to redouble my efforts and--‭”

“Be calm,‭ ‬child,‭” ‬Hacknammer smiled,‭ ‬gesturing back to Emmy’s tea,‭ ‬silently encouraging her to finish.‭ “‬When did I say I was disappointed with you,‭ ‬mm‭? ‬I recall no such sentiment,‭ ‬or expressing it.‭”

“But...‭” ‬Emeera exhaled through her nostrils,‭ ‬keeping her hands on the cup but not yet lifting it.‭ “‬The Edisseion teaches discipline,‭ ‬if I am undisciplined then I am failing,‭ ‬right‭?”

“And if it the Edisseion doing the teaching,‭ ‬is it not the Edisseion that has failed‭?” ‬The gnome arched a wispy white brow,‭ ‬his eyes twinkling.

‭“‬The other students have performed far better,‭ ‬though.‭ ‬Gan became an Acute in only the time I was away,‭ ‬others are training to become Immaculates or even beginning their own monasteries.‭”

“Do you contrast all your accomplishments to those of others,‭ ‬Emeera‭? ‬Tell me‭ ‬--‭ ‬let us say a heavy log lies in the middle of a crowded road,‭ ‬preventing wagons from crossing.‭ ‬One man is strong‭; ‬he lifts the log with his bare hands,‭ ‬and moves it aside.‭ ‬Another man is clever‭; ‬he uses a strong stick to pry it up,‭ ‬and roll it away.‭ ‬Did one of them do a better job at moving the log‭?”

Emmy’s brow furrowed,‭ ‬her throat suddenly going dry.‭ ‬This felt like some kind of trick,‭ ‬but not one she was picking up on.‭ ‬Inhaling slowly,‭ ‬she brought her cup to her lips and drained its contents,‭ ‬if anything else buying herself time to think.‭ ‬Finally,‭ ‬she settled on the only answer she could think of:‭ ‬the obvious one.‭ “‬What matters is that the log was moved.‭ ‬They did equally well.‭”

“And if one student reaches enlightenment through meditation,‭ ‬and another through excursion,‭ ‬which did the better job of becoming enlightened‭?”

The human girl blinked,‭ ‬running her tongue over her lips as the point sunk in.‭ “‬You think I should return to adventuring,‭ ‬Master‭?”

“I know‭ ‬you think it,‭” ‬the gnome held back a little laugh,‭ “‬and you would not be the first monk to do most of their training in the field.‭ ‬Even I did.‭”

“Wait,‭ ‬are you serious‭? ‬You used to adventure‭?”

“I did,‭” ‬Hacknammer chuckled,‭ “‬a long,‭ ‬long time ago.‭ ‬Even had a group I traveled with,‭ ‬much like yours.‭ ‬There was a powerful sorceress,‭ ‬a young cleric of Metris,‭ ‬and cunning woodsman who’d mastered bow and axe alike.‭ ‬Together it felt like we were unstoppable...‭” ‬the gnome sighed,‭ ‬his eyes growing distant for a moment before their spark of presence returned to them.‭ “‬I had never realized how far I could push myself until my limits were challenged.‭ ‬The same may well be true of you.‭”

“I never knew you used to travel,‭” ‬Emmy’s gears were turning now,‭ ‬excitement fluttering through her.‭ ‬She wondered where the others were now,‭ ‬if she should get the group together again,‭ ‬if they’d even want her back.‭ “‬You’re right‭! ‬I should go‭! ‬Out,‭ ‬I mean,‭ ‬erm,‭ ‬to adventure‭! ‬All I need is a mission‭ ‬--‭ ‬a quest‭!”

“I happen to have something you might be interested in,‭” ‬Hacknammer’s peaceful demeanor seemed resistant even to Emmy’s building excitement,‭ ‬his words remaining calm and gentle.‭ “‬We were recently approached by a strange young woman seeking asylum,‭ ‬one with much to undertake.‭ ‬It may not be an adventuring group the way you envision it,‭ ‬but it would certainly be a excursion,‭ ‬a way for you to continue testing your abilities in the field,‭ ‬to seek enlightenment in your own way.‭”

The young monk beamed.‭ “‬Where is she‭? ‬Can I talk to her‭? ‬I’ll do whatever,‭ ‬please‭!”

“Calm yourself,‭ ‬calm yourself,‭” ‬the gnome chuckled,‭ “‬she’s resting in the infirmary for now,‭ ‬and I expected you’d want to see her,‭ ‬yes.‭ ‬First,‭ ‬though,‭ ‬I have something to give you.‭”

Emmy blinked,‭ ‬watching as the old gnome stood up from his perch,‭ ‬trundling his diminutive robed figure outside the gazebo and around to its back,‭ ‬lifting something from what could only be a hidden rack built into the engraved structure.‭ ‬He took his time making his way back,‭ ‬and finally lifted the object so that it could be seen,‭ ‬setting its base on the ground in front of him‭ ‬--‭ ‬a staff.

This,‭ ‬though,‭ ‬was clearly no ordinary staff‭ ‬--‭ ‬it was short,‭ ‬clearly a fighting cudgel rather than a wizard’s staff,‭ ‬though in Hacknammer’s hands it may as well have been a vaulting pole.‭ ‬The entire thing was a supple,‭ ‬engraved wood,‭ ‬the color of mahogany though it looked more flexible.‭ ‬Ornate ivory inlays of constellations and celestial inscriptions in the wood itself marked the staff as not only impressive,‭ ‬but‭ ‬significant‭; ‬a work of art that was,‭ ‬almost without doubt,‭ ‬magical in nature.

‭“‬What...‭ ‬what is that...‭?” ‬Emeera’s bright,‭ ‬sea-colored eyes widened as she took in the outstanding craftsmanship of the piece.

‭“‬Something that’s gathered dust for far too long,‭” ‬Hacknammer sighed,‭ ‬the light then returning to his gemlike eyes.‭ “‬It once belonged to the woman who trained me,‭ ‬a half-orc from overseas who herself had been trained by Van Lung.‭ ‬She kept it here when she retired from adventuring,‭ ‬a relic that endured after she died.‭ ‬I’ve watched over it for almost two centuries now,‭ ‬wishing someone had a use for it.‭” ‬He looked up at the weapon,‭ ‬his gaze thoughtful,‭ ‬and remained silent for a long moment,‭ ‬then laid both hands back upon it to offer it to Emeera.‭ “‬I’d like you to take it with you.‭ ‬I think you’ll find it...‭ ‬very helpful.‭”

Emmy was hesitant for a moment,‭ ‬swallowing hard as she rose from her cross-legged posture to stand and carefully take the staff.‭ ‬It was smooth from years,‭ ‬maybe decades of use,‭ ‬and she could feel the soft hum of magic from within it.‭ “‬It’s beautiful,‭” ‬she whispered.

‭“‬My master called it the Tranquilizer,‭ ‬said she used it to‭ ‘‬bring inner peace through forced unconsciousness,‭’” ‬Hacknammer offered a smug grin,‭ ‬before qualifying the statement,‭ “‬she was not without a sense of humor.‭”

“The Tranquilizer,‭” ‬Emmy cooed,‭ ‬taking it in both hands and letting herself fall into a fighting stance.‭ “‬Hyah‭!” ‬she cried out then,‭ ‬swiping sidelong with it,‭ ‬an‭ ‘‬attack‭’ ‬that almost hit one of the posts of the gazebo and even forced Hacknammer to awkwardly sidestep.‭ “‬Holy crap this is so cool‭!”

“Careful with that thing,‭ ‬I think I’m tranquil enough,‭” ‬the gnome chuckled,‭ ‬then gestured northwards.‭ “‬I trust you recall the direction of the infirmary‭ ‬--‭ ‬I think you’ve had the most‭ ‘‬accidents‭’ ‬of anyone in the Edisseion,‭ ‬it should be quite familiar to you by this point.‭”

“It is,‭” ‬Emmy confessed sheepishly.‭ “‬I’ll go find her now.‭ ‬Thank you,‭ ‬again‭! ‬So much‭!”

Hacknammer laughed quietly to himself as the human sprinted off,‭ ‬staff in hand,‭ ‬and returned to his seat in front of the table.‭ ‬Letting out a long,‭ ‬slow breath,‭ ‬he poured himself another cup of tea,‭ ‬placing his open palm over the steam,‭ ‬its breath easing the ache in his ancient bones.‭ ‬He let his eyes drift shut until the sound of her footsteps had faded completely,‭ ‬then whispered,‭ “‬I’m never going to see that staff again,‭ ‬am I‭?”

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Emmy’s excitement ebbed not at all as she made her way through the labyrinth that was the Edisseion,‭ ‬through training rooms,‭ ‬barracks,‭ ‬cafeterias,‭ ‬and reliquaries alike‭ ‬--‭ ‬marble,‭ ‬hanging plants,‭ ‬and bamboo wicker blurring past her,‭ ‬all so familiar after having spent her entire life here.‭ ‬There was no denying that Lakeheart and the Edisseion were her home,‭ ‬but...‭ ‬being away,‭ ‬seeing other sights,‭ ‬both majestic and horrible,‭ ‬had enriched her,‭ ‬even if it hadn’t necessarily taken the edge off of her most noteworthy idiosyncrasies.

The staff felt alive in her hand,‭ ‬like it belonged there,‭ ‬and the longer she held it the more she could feel the magic within it bonding to her,‭ ‬attuning to her.‭ ‬She didn’t know exactly what it did,‭ ‬if it‭ ‬did anything,‭ ‬but she couldn’t wait to find out.‭ ‬Couldn’t wait to get into a real fight again,‭ ‬to test her training against an enemy that didn’t hold back,‭ ‬an enemy that was willing to injure or capture her,‭ ‬ravish her against her will...‭ ‬or,‭ ‬whatever else might happen.‭ ‬She needed put those thoughts from her mind,‭ ‬for now,‭ ‬not let herself get too flustered before she met the woman who was to give her her quest.

The infirmary,‭ ‬as Hacknammer had suggested,‭ ‬was easy enough to find,‭ ‬the mat floors of much of the Edisseion’s interior replaced by easier-to-clean green tile.‭ ‬Emeera made her way inside,‭ ‬raising one hand to wave at the High Mercy,‭ ‬a slim,‭ ‬brightly-plumed lizardfolk by the name of Hen.‭ “‬High Mercy‭!” ‬she called out,‭ ‬offering a warm smile,‭ “‬I’m looking for someone,‭ ‬can you help me find her‭? ‬Master Hacknammer said she’d be here.‭”

“Ahhhh,‭ ‬yesss,‭ ‬the nasally-challenged,‭” ‬Hen trilled pleasantly,‭ ‬her lanky figure making its way towards Emeera and gently taking her shoulder.‭ ‬Despite how cool and dry her scaly hand was,‭ ‬Hen exuded a sort of spiritual warmth,‭ ‬one of the few things that had ever managed to calm Emmy down.‭ “‬She’s thisss way...‭ ‬not too talkative,‭ ‬a bit dark,‭ ‬but pleasssant enough...‭ ‬lovely hair.‭”

Emmy quietly admired the vibrant blue,‭ ‬purple,‭ ‬and yellow feathers that cascaded from Hen’s scalp down her scaly neck as she was led towards the back of the infirmary,‭ ‬giving the illusion of a head of hair despite the High Mercy’s explicitly reptilian nature.‭ ‬The two moved past more urgent cases‭ ‬--‭ ‬mostly those with illnesses,‭ ‬though a few training injuries were also being treated,‭ ‬along with those unable to afford proper care in Lakeheart.‭ ‬The back rooms were glorified guest rooms,‭ ‬more for those who needed rest than for those who needed medical attention,‭ ‬and that was where Emmy finally saw the woman she’d been searching for.‭ ‬Not...‭ ‬exactly what she’d been expecting,‭ ‬perhaps,‭ ‬but what‭ ‬had she been expecting‭?

“Thisss is Vath-Raya,‭” ‬Hen chirped,‭ ‬the corners of her mouth and eyes tightening in what Emeera had‭ (‬after considerable trial and error‭) ‬learned was a smile.‭ “‬Young lady,‭ ‬here is the monk Hacknammer sssent for,‭ ‬I believe.‭”

In the guest room,‭ ‬sitting at the edge of a standard Edisseion cot,‭ ‬was a tall,‭ ‬lithe woman with features Emeera was entirely unfamiliar with.‭ ‬The lean figure and pointed ears were evocative of elves,‭ ‬but this was either a distant offshoot or something else entirely.‭ ‬Vath-Raya had aureolin skin,‭ ‬mottled with flecks of flaxish brown around the temples and neck,‭ ‬onyx-black hair in a sleek,‭ ‬silky ponytail that she wore high,‭ ‬but nonetheless reached halfway down her back.‭ ‬Dark violet eyes were deep-set into angular features,‭ ‬and her nose was decisively shallow to the point of being debateably existent,‭ ‬not dissimilar from the half-orcs who took more from their human side‭ ‬--‭ ‬must’ve been what Hen meant by‭ ‘‬nasally challenged.‭’ ‬All together,‭ ‬though,‭ ‬her strange features gave her an exotic appearance which,‭ ‬while difficult to take in all at once,‭ ‬was undeniably pretty in a...‭ ‬strange way.

On top of her physical appearance,‭ ‬though,‭ ‬her equipment raised more questions.‭ ‬A steel-bound grimoire sat unopened on the small drawer she’d been provided,‭ ‬suggesting a background in the arcane,‭ ‬but a long,‭ ‬single-edged sword with an engraved metal scabbard rested against the opposite wall,‭ ‬suggesting a martial education as well.‭ ‬She appeared to be halfway through donning a set of lightweight armor,‭ ‬heavier than the leather Nyx had sported but nowhere near the bulk of Kydozi’s platemail‭ ‬--‭ ‬these were thin,‭ ‬fitted segments of a bronze-like color,‭ ‬with a suit of supple,‭ ‬unhardened burgundy leather beneath.

‭“‬Uhhh,‭ ‬hi‭!” ‬Emmy said awkwardly,‭ ‬flashing a big,‭ ‬toothy smile and waving.‭ “‬I’m Emmy‭! ‬Erm,‭ ‬Emeera.‭ ‬Emeera of the Edisseion‭ ‬--‭ ‬which,‭ ‬I mean I guess is obvious,‭ ‬since we’re‭ ‬in the Edisseion right now.‭”

“Indeed we are,‭” ‬the woman said,‭ ‬reaching slowly for her sword and strapping it into place across her back.‭ ‬Her voice was as strange as her appearance‭ ‬--‭ ‬lower-pitched than expected and kept much at the back of her throat,‭ ‬with long vowels and blunted Ts,‭ ‬it was an accent Emmy found entirely implacable.‭ “‬I greet you,‭ ‬then,‭ ‬Emeera of the Edisseion,‭ ‬from the Black Sea...‭ ‬I am Vath-Raya,‭ ‬though your companion has already done me the great offense of robbing me of my own introduction.‭” ‬She shot a violet-eyed glare towards Hen,‭ ‬who withered under the severity of the woman’s gaze.

‭“‬Oh,‭ ‬I--‭ ‬I apologize,‭ ‬I meant no offenssse,‭” ‬Hen blanched,‭ ‬clawed fingers fidgeting behind her back.

‭“‬Forgiveness shall be under consideration,‭” ‬Vath-Raya grumbled,‭ ‬looking away from the lizardfolk and back to Emeera,‭ ‬looking the human over.‭ “‬Can you fight,‭ ‬Emeera of the Edisseion‭?”

“Fight‭? ‬Oh,‭ ‬oh-ho,‭ ‬you bet I can fight.‭ ‬I used to be part of this adventuring group,‭ ‬yeah‭?” ‬Emmy brightened.‭ “‬We fought all sorts of stuff.‭ ‬I punched ghosts once‭! ‬Did you know you can punch ghosts‭? ‬You just gotta like...‭” ‬she looked down at her own hand,‭ ‬causing it to ripple and blur like a mirage as she infused it with her internal energy,‭ “‬you gotta like,‭ ‬BWAH,‭ ‬and it totally wrecks their whole,‭ ‬like,‭ ‬thing.‭ ‬Their ghost thing.‭”

“Impressive.‭”

“Oh and there was this ogre that kept tracking us,‭ ‬but me and the girls easily brought it down,‭ ‬I kept getting in the way and being like‭ ‘‬yo doofus,‭ ‬over here‭!’ ‬and every time he’d attack me I’d sidestep and then‭ ‬pow,‭ ‬pow,‭ ‬in with the hands,‭” ‬the human held both hands out,‭ ‬fingers outstretched,‭ ‬expression as smug as ever.‭ “‬These hands‭? ‬Lethal weapons.‭”

“Hrm.‭” ‬The woman exhaled,‭ ‬eyes closed for a moment as she came to terms with the fact that the monks had seen fit to give her their most absurd member for what Vath-Raya considered a critical task.‭ ‬All she could do was hope that this girl’s accomplishments in combat were as significant as she claimed,‭ ‬and that she may be able to provide a strong arm in battle.‭ “‬I suppose I shall have to trust you,‭ ‬then.‭ ‬The road ahead of me is heavy‭ ‬with woe,‭ ‬and while I make no demands that it be walked with me,‭ ‬I appreciate your service.‭”

“Who doesn’t like a little woe once in a while,‭ ‬right‭?” ‬Emmy smiled,‭ ‬and despite her bizarre enthusiasm,‭ ‬the genuine warmth and openness of that smile put Vath-Raya somewhat at ease.‭ ‬Purity of heart may not have been the virtue she valued most greatly,‭ ‬but there was indeed value in it.‭ “‬So what’s the quest‭? ‬Err,‭ ‬mission‭? ‬Job‭? ‬Thing‭?”

The woman on the cot pursed thin lips together,‭ ‬furrowing her brow as she reached for her grimoire,‭ ‬clasping it tightly to her belt.‭ ‬Finally standing,‭ ‬she donned a long,‭ ‬hooded cloak of dark purple,‭ ‬not quite matching the hue of her eyes.‭ “‬Tell me,‭ ‬Emeera of the Edisseion‭ ‬--‭ ‬how much do you know of the Gith‭?”