The 3rd of November 303 AC
The hysteria and the screams of the few survivors burning up within the inferno was carried with the breeze, and to the west. Atop a steep hill, the breeze blew through a small encampment, flickering the embers of the fireplace just slightly; All within the encampment seemed to be fast asleep, with the exception of two.
In the tent to the far left, furthest away from the firepit, a rather peculiar couple lay awake. One, a tall and scarred Isldar male. His snow-white and well kept hair contrasted his scarred and harsh torso. His arms were draped around an equally peculiar lady, a Qadir. The Qadir woman bore a short but curly pixie-cut, similar scars, and what seemed like a sincere grin on her visage. Her right shoulder was left in gauze wrappings, yet she didn't seem bothered by it; she was entranced by her lover. The pair lay in eachothers arms, speaking to one-another softly. The Isldar said;
"The others must be fast asleep by now, yet here we are; keeping each other up.~"
"Mm, I don't see you complaining much about it, Mister.~"
"I'm not, love. Plus, I used to sneak out at times like this all the time back in Regalia, it almost reminds me of home."
"Tell me about it."
"What?"
"Regalia."
The woman gently pecked her lover's cheek, as her playful grin eased down. He was a fool at times, but he was her fool. The Isldars gaze fell upon hers, as he'd let out a gentle sigh.
"I remember the time when I first arrived, me, my mother and my sister had traveled by ship for months, we had almost lost all hope, all faith. There it was, shining like a thousand stars we saw it from miles away, even at night, the lights, the smell and the sound; I knew that this was a place I'd like to call home."
"Sounds like the place to be. We should visit there when we're done here."
The Qadir snuggled herself against her lover, letting the rhythmic beating of his heart serve to calm her own.
"Judging by my mother's past behaviour, she wouldn't be too happy with our courtship.."
"Oo, courting now are we? Well, don't I feel so special, a chance at locking you down with that track record of yours.~"
"Shush… I thought we were not to discuss /that/ topic."
Giggling sounded through the camp, it would have woken the others up, had it not been for the Isldars lips enclosing the Qadirs in a gentle and loving kiss. It certainly caught the woman off guard, her cheeks flushed pink for a moment, and with that, the Isldar had control.
"Now if we're done poking fun at my.. past flings, I'd like to hear what your home was like. You hadn't even see snow until a few years ago love, it has to be quite the place."
"Oh, it's been more than a few years and you know that. But, yes, it was the desert. I was raised in a Hadritya, a great center of scholars, them holding vast libraries and the like. Though outside, you wouldn't believe how hot the sun could get, in fact, I doubt you would even last a day out there.~"
"Is that a challenge?~"
"Ha! Only if you're prepared to lose. You already complain in the bearable heat here.~"
The two eased back in their straw bedroll, sighing in unison as their gaze met. They lingered like this for a moment, before the Qadir leaned forth to place a final sweet kiss upon her lover's forehead, pulling back with a content smile. And with that final little kiss, she shut her eyes completely. In the safe embrace of her beloved, she drifted off to sleep quickly, though that embrace wasn't as permanent as she'd thought.
Once she was fast asleep, the Isldar sat up. With a heavy heart, and tear-filled eyes, he suited up and left the encampment in the night. It would take years for him to see his beloved Raja again, and even so, Darius doubted she'd ever love him again. With a broken heart, he made his way home, back to his family.
