Felipa
"Mhm, with the war looming from the background many mercenaries and raiders have been trying to bid their time in the moon looting and pillaging villages in the region—moreover the reports of crimes have been intensifying since then, crime barons, petty warlords and whoever decided this is their sweet time to exploit other's suffering. I'm sure you wouldn't do that right? You're a good man, even as a sword-for-hire," He would nod solemnly, savouring the taste of his wine before turning his gaze to the night sky again.

—I suppose even if you did, you don't have any choice do you? Hypothetically of course, I wouldn't even put anything against you if you did, that what some people need to get by, I can't say i was much different in my younger years,"

He furrowed his eyebrows and refilled the now empty cup with the bottle given to him, quite absent mindedly, before taking a shot and putting it away.

"The difference between me and them was that i was glorified while they were seen as nothing more but thieves."
Barbara
*His fingers would individually tap along the surface of the table, listening to the man speak about the opportunistic mercenaries looking to pillage and make a quick buck out of the war with it taking over a good potion of the countries. Times like this Terrel found himself to be more glad that he was wearing a mask. It kept other Elves from reading into his expressions too much in guessing what he was thinking. Maybe he was the kind of person to go out and run off with the loot of a dying country, perhaps he was less caring of whatever they may have.*

"Let me tell you something Ryza as I'm sure at some point in my adventures I was seen as a 'bad' person. Working as a sellsword, I've started to notice a pattern and that's from conflict. If I had to name every time I've been hired to kill a man, it would be enough to just consider myself an assassin by now, but you know what, it doesn't phase me in the slightest. People will always want to get others killed for whatever selfish reasons they may have and I'll just be there to reap the reward of it despite any association with the other group."

*He'd take another drink of the Cider, placing the glass back down soon after.*"This war is hardly any different in my eyes. And if I saw any real reward in participating, I probably would have, but I've come to notice that doing my own thing is a lot more beneficial until I inevitably get whisked in by everyone else trying to collect loot when they can. Stuff like that's just pocket change to me, however. Most people looking to make good money would pillage the higher ups rather than any other village around the area."

*His words carried a tone of indifference, mainly in him seeing why these people were called thieves.*"Thieves are probably the right title."*He'd say.*"Thieves are those that steal from those that couldn't put up much of a fight. If one deserved any better title they would commit to something that's an actual challenge in most peoples' eyes.*
Felipa
"Say, if you will, two decades from now on, or even ten years from now, if my age has caught up to me one way or another, what would you be doing? Settle on a mansion somewhere as a potato farmer secluded from others with Floof by your side, continue on working as a mercenary and reap the benefits and reputation of being a prolific warrior or even finally meet someone worth your time and live with them for the rest of your life?"

He motioned for another bottle of wine to the bartender while drinking the last of it from his cup, looking under the table for the sleeping wolf half-heartedly.

"Your reputation precedes you, i know what you have been doing since we met, not the details of course I'm not omniscient but i know what deeds you have done," He gave the masked Terrel a stern look, devoid of the warmth he usually gives off.

"I have read reports of a 'boar-masked warrior' in my office more time than i could count, the world is watching you intently, young man, with malicious or benevolent motive i'm not sure but i know you know yourself what those motives are." He gave Terrel a key, made from a good quality metal but nothing too ornate, it looks like a duplicate.

"That's a spare key to my estate, you are welcome whenever you wish to come, even tonight if you so desire."

He gave a wary smile to the Fricharii, before standing up from the chair and straightening his robe.

"Your indifference is a double edged weapon, it can kill you or keep you safe, use it wisely and sparingly, but try to be vulnerable to the right people, you can't always be strong, your sword has it's sheath and likewise you have too, you just have to use it. What is the worth of a warrior if he has nothing to lose?"

"Open that mask to someone, maybe not now, not in a year, or in five, but find something else to lose that isn't gold, glory or strength. I know you probably hald difficulties finding companions in your kind of field but i know you can, you just never find the reason to."
Barbara
*So he really has become famous over this past year? Terrel would have ignored the rest of what he said and simply laughed at that fact alone if not for the lack of humor coming from the Lathian. Ah yes of course, leave it to the Lathians to make matters seem more serious than need be. Though the nice touch of the boar-masked warrior wasn't such a bad title. Over time the blatant smile would gradually fade from his face the more Ryza spoke, persistent questions about what he planned to do in the future, several years from now. 

He'd open his mouth to say something, soon shutting it once again in having to think that much over. His ambitions typically went in short spurts, surpassed over time and soon replaced with a new one. He had obtained richness and some sort of news headline as well it seemed, but even now he found himself feeling like he hadn't done much. What would a man such as him do at time like this? Something stupid most likely to be able to have word spread of him so easily, but Ryza did have a point. He had mostly been doing simple job, occasionally participating in bigger ploys to help out a partner or friend of sorts. There was always something to be done in the constant conflict. So what will he be doing years from now? Settle down? Continue fighting in this same constant cycle?

His focus would shift back towards Ryza in being handed the key to his estate, giving him some sound advice for something he figured would hardly pertain to him. Criticizing his indifference and nudging him towards the idea of finding something in leaving him vulnerable.*

*That much was true, in every story a warrior did have some sort of weakness. Though that weakness brought about their downfall more than anything. The Elf didn't like the idea too much. Sure he had his few companions that he hung out with every now and then, but none that really stuck around long enough for such. People come and go. That's how it's always been, and as much as others like to think otherwise, he may as well be staying in that mansion secluded from most.

He'd move his hand forward, grabbing the key.*"You're right. It is hard finding companions with similar motives. Everyone has their own thing that they want to do and to my own guess I'll probably see them once and never again after. Most of the time it's just doing business with them, if I can even get my work done without being pressed about the morals behind the job."*It was rare the Elf found anyone who could do a task without concerning about those getting hurt by it. Terrel had stopped caring years ago and perhaps that was part of the reason why. Though nowadays he preferred getting his work done on his own, it was a lot more efficient that way.*

"Easier said than done. Probably more of an inconvenience if anything..."*He'd look back over to him.*"I don't plan on giving up the warrior life for a while though, so who knows? Maybe the predictable won't always happen."*The last sentence carried some words of doubt. Even with Ryza's anaology of him being like a double edged sword, one who should one day find someone to be vulnerable around. He'd give a light shake of his head, soon shifting back to a more casualness to it.*"Perhaps in the coming years I'll make myself remembered."*Terrel would say with a chuckle.*"Still got a lot of years ahead of me and I don't plan on that changing anytime soon."
Felipa
He smiled, the warmth returning to his face once again.

"I'm not forcing you to do anything, it's but a food for thought, now then! We're in a tavern so why dont we enjoy the night for a little while?" H gave a quick grin to Terrel and turned his gaze to the bartenders and other patrons.

He would make a quick ruckus by making a rhythmical percussions in one of the empty table before climbing up and shouts in a commanding yet soothing tone.

**"I want to make a small announcement everyone, tonight, the foods and drinks are on me!"**

A roar came alive from the bewildered crowd as they began to cheer, the bartenders giving small nods to Ryza who was seen with a huge and smug grin on his face.

"Today we celebrate my good friend Terrel and his success! And for me for feeling quite charitable tonight, haha."

Ryza picked up a lute given to him by one of the bartender that he would string before playing with an vigour, strumming it with intensity that turned into a melody that resembles a mix between Runran and Salvanian styled rhythm.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

The Lathian would began humming a tune not to dissimilar from the one he did when he entered the tavern.

Ryza's music was unique, a nameless genre made from eccentric inspirations all around the continent, weaving it into his own, like a weaver's thread, a harmony of melancholy and joy, old and new sounds from years ago and new tune.

The music quickly gradually became faster, with his hands moving like a serpent's hand.

*I was all alone, we were young, you were like wine
Heady as the fog rolling in o'er the hillside
Lovely as the song in the air as the wind blows
Opiate as the cold of the frost on the windows
Lo, the rose is gone from my eyes, so deceiving
So, my little dove, I'm afraid I am leaving
Now, I am not the fool I was when I was younger
Crocodile eyes, I have seen how you hunger
Fluttering your lashes, like ashes and embers
Warm and bright as fire devouring timber
No, I cannot trust what you say when you're grieving
So, my love, I'm sorry, but still, I am leaving
Even when you hunt me with ire, relentless
Batter down my door when you find me defenseless
I will not abide all your raging and reaving
I have set my mind and my will, I am leaving*
Barbara
"I suppose so, but what did you have in min-"*The Elf started to question what he planned on them doing here to enjoy the night, only to find himself being cut off as Ryza would suddenly make an announcement to everyone else in the tavern. Oh god he was actually making a scene. Terrel would slowly bring a hand to his face, holding back a laugh of the ridiculousness of it as the music would start up playing.

He was never one to make his presence known in places like this especially. Now it seemed this mask was both a blessing and a curse with everyone around to listen. While Ryza would go off in song and dance, Terrel would remain in his seat, deciding to watch from afar with the scene going on before him. He really wasn't joking around was he? Who would have thought that after months apart, this was how there encounter would go. A tea-loving artist to musician in one night.

Terrel would decide to pocket the key for the time being, deciding that he would head over to the estate whenever he had the time to while also leaving a silent reminder to not lose the key prior to then. For now, he could try to enjoy himself. The whole world was watching him, huh? This tavern was hardly a portion of it, but even now the underlying sense of pressure existed just beyond his own conscious knowledge of it.*