Patricia
**Far from any designated path or road is a very beautiful panoramic coastline, one of the more secluded, naturally scenic areas in the Empire's boundaries that is frequented by very few. On this day, Mercy Foxton had chosen to venture that far in order to find seclusion. While she could easily find such a feat in any of the Empire's woods or forests, she chose this beach far South for the sole purpose of watching the waves, and setting up a dainty little camp.**

**Dainty was perhaps the best word to describe her wilderness abode, since it only had a small campfire and bedroll laid against one of the many shaggy spruce trees peppering the area. At last she'd found the perfect spot to set up and relax at. Sitting upright with her legs crossed, she chews on a bar of chocolate in one hand and reads from a book in her other hand, at peace.**

**The daylight was almost beginning to recede, the temperature was starting to slowly descend and the entire coast was getting a farthing dimmer.**
Steven
_Almann continued to trek through the woods some ways away from the local fishing village. They were kind enough there to take care of his horse for him and lend him a pole to fish with. It was a meagre set up, but he'd like to go fishing just a little bit before night hits, even if he doesn't catch anything. He makes his way down the road he peels off on an unbeaten path past a greyish-green rock as per the instructions of the locals. There was a good spot some 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) away from the road._

_He made his way through the dainty brush, and quickly realized he wouldn't have enough time to fish here. Almann decided he might as well get a good look at the coast anyways, it had been a while since he last saw the sea. As he approached closer to the coast, the smell of the ocean permeated the woods, as well the new dew forming as the night fell. The sounds of nocturnal creatures filled his ears as he made his ways through the thicket._

_He loved the fauna and flora of Salvainia, and could see why such a rich landscape lead to the rise of such a powerful empire of macen. He was akin to the sounds of most of the animals and even the sounds of the plants in the region around here. He could tell the different birds and owls from their calls at night, the frogs and lizards from their croaks and creaks, and the sounds of four legged creatures that hid away from their predators._

_Almann decided to take out his pipe and smoke about a kilometer (.5 miles) from his destination. He decided to take a seat under a weeping juniper tree. Occasionally, he would stop and listen just to the familiar sounds around him. It helped him keep his hearing honed. He picked out the call of a fox, the croak of a blue-dotted toad, and the... Turning of a page? Did he hear that right?_

_He remained quiet as he listened again. Yes... There it was. The turning of a page. Was someone reading in this forest? It wasn't hard to pinpoint it, even among the loud sounds that rang out among the trees. He would make his way towards the sound, not that quietly though, he didn't feel startling the person reading._
Patricia
**For the duration of her reading Mercy was quietly breathing, taking deep inhales to savor the crisp and clean air that all around, with a twinge of saltiness thanks to the sea. The delicate breathing turned into soft... Trembling shudders, then into a low hum, from Mercy beginning to cry. The book in her hand once belonged to her mother, prior to the disappearance; a tragedy which Mercy tried to forget, but simply could not.**

**It's a story book, homemade, close to being finished however lacking the final seven out of twenty pages, since her mother never got to finish it. It was a project all for the entertainment of Mercy, at her youngest point in childhood. To this day Mercy had kept the decrepit book and occasionally re-read it, for the purpose of reminiscing.**

**However the action only brought out her tears, more so as she approached the final sentences which bled seamlessly into blank parchment.** *"...For the next morning, the harmonious duo would journey to the well, hand in hand as they warmly relished in each other's familial presence..."*

**The book was done, Mercy closed it and sighed out loud deeply, wiping her eyes with her sleeve, then biting into the chocolate bar to ease her dejection. She was blissfully unaware of anything else's presence.** (
Steven
_Almann could hear crying. It sounded like a woman's sobs. As he made his way closer to the ominous sound he became weary. There were lots of ghastly creatures that would trap travelers by imitating the sounds of a victim of sorts. Beasts from the abyss and forbidden corners of the known world._

_He made his was closer to the sound, still carefully smoking his pipe until the smell of spruce nettles filled his nostrils. It was good herbal smell, and one that prompted him to smother the pipe he was smoking. As he made his way to the measly grove, he finally spotted the source of the crying: a young woman dejectedly munching on a chocolate bar. It was indeed a sorry sight for Almann, but he figured he would have a conversation instead of continuously feeling pity for the poor creature._

_He clears his throat and raises an eyebrow at the woman, with his fishing pole still in his right hand and his pipe in his left. He wanted to first see her reaction to him._
Patricia
***Keep it together Mercy, something's coming!*** **Her awareness kicked into overdrive, hearing a faint footbeat just a few feet away, and Mercy sprung up like a startled cat, dropping her chocolate as she did. Quickly, she faced the stranger that approached her wilderness site, drew her rapier and aimed it at him while making a defensive stance. She did usually meet strangers with hostility, despite her lack of confidence when it came to defending herself.**

"H-Hey stay back, don't come any closer." **She sniffed, quickly wiping her eyes with a free sleeve. It was evident that she was just crying, as her eyes were red and watery. Still, she remained as vicious as a cougar.**

"What do you want?" (
Steven
_Almann puts his hands up (with his palms out) and laughs. She looked more like a rabid squirrel than a serious duelist all things considered. He would take it easy in terms talking to her, it was clear she wasn't in the right mind currently. She also still had pieces of chocolate stuck to the corners of her mouth, which Almann found hilarious._

_He points at the sword and keeps his eyebrows raised._

"You're going to kill me with _that?_ At least wipe the chocolate off your face first lass." _he smirks_
Patricia
"Huh?!" **Quickly, she brought a sleeve up to her mouth and wiped the corners, then looked at the chocolate stains. Her face turned red and she growled in anger, again turning her focus onto the mysterious stranger.**

"You're one of my Uncle's men aren't you? Well you're a f-ffff..." **Hesitantly, Mercy tried to blow out a swearword, but for some reason... Didn't. It was obvious that she had the intention to however. Just how juvenile was she? She's also bold in assuming this man's origin.**

"Grr! I never want to speak to him again. HE KILLED MY DADDY! And I'll get him. I-I'll get Morticus and no-one's going to stop me, not even you, S-SO GO BACK AND TELL HIM THAT... Or f-face me."

**Mercy was sort of shaking now, from her body initiating fight or flight hormones and her mind choosing flight, but her heart choosing fight.** "Talk!" (
Steven
_Almann could take a guess at this girl's backstory. Her power hunger uncle killed her father for his land blah blah blah. He'd heard it all before. After all, he had been the cause of grief for many himself. He'd killed countless people of all ages and statures before now._

_Decides to sit down under one of the spruce trees next to him. He takes out his flask and takes a long swig out of it. It was cheap booze this time around, he had run short on gold as of late, and couldn't get any of the better stuff at the market. Not that the locals here had anything comparable to the markets and breweries of New Salvainia..._

_Almann wipes his mouth after he takes his drink, and pops his pipe back in between his teeth. He also flips the girl a copper coin, clearly not afraid of her trembling voice and green stance._

"Do I look like I'm from around here? I don't know who you are or who your uncle is. As for your father, well, welcome to the outside world. People kill, people die, people steal, and they are never brought to justice. It's how it is. However, if you tell me your story, which may be an interesting one, there will be more than just copper coming your way. I'm Almann by the way. Almann Jek."
Patricia
**Ugh. Another talker. Mercy took a hint and quickly sheathed her rapier, and backed away, back to her little spot under her tree. She had a seat and put her back against the bark, burying her face in her knees.** "You're right. My Uncle taught me that. If it wasn't for his guidance I'd probably be dead by now."

**Oh, what irony. The person she hated the most in life also granted her the wisdom enough to survive.** "Where do I begin... I used to be happy. My mother went missing and we never saw her again... Me and my dad were depressed for several months—Oh, keep in mind this is all happening when I'm... Five years old. So that happened... My father turned into a shut un, and he foolishly... FOOLISHLY trusted *Him* To fill his shoes."

**Sigh.** "I didn't know better. I was just a girl. He was my Uncle, why wouldn't I listen to him? He turned me into a... A curious... A strange... Girl. I-I didn't know he was evil until he tried to make me kill someone, and I couldn't. I-I couldn't, why? Because... My mother would have... Not been proud, neither would my father. So what does my loving Uncle do? He... He BETRAYS me?! Yes, betrays me because I didn't ffffff... GRR! Because I didn't turn out the way he had hoped? So what does he do after that?"

**Mercy went quiet for a moment, she seemed to think about her next set of words carefully.** "...Why do you care. You're just a stranger. What's done is done, right? Time for me to move on, act like an adult. I'm eighteen, I can do it. My Uncle was right about one thing, emotions are weakness. I bet if he were here right now, he would spit at my feet for that little outburst... WHAT? WHAT DO YOU WANT, *JEK?* Why are you being quiet?"

**She attacked Almann, seemingly going into another torrent of dramatic venting.** "You're just going to sit there and make me say things that make me cry? Is that what you want?" (
Steven
_Almann's eyes had glassed over. He sort of lost her at 'Where do I begin'. He decides to nonchalantly take a puff of his pipe and another hefty swing from his flask. Yeah he had all heard this before. He didn't really have anything else to say at this point. Being a merchant, you can often tell who someone really is by the articulation of their words. Their tone, attitude, vocabulary, and facial expression gave them away. This girl sounded like a lost and frustrated child, rebellious and, indeed, emotional._

_Almann crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow._

"Are you done?"
Patricia
"No I'm not done. No. I asked you a question, I said what do you want? Y-You found me out here, miles from civilization... You disturbed my camp, made me drop my food and how you're just... You won't even offer to share any of that... Thing in your mouth. That stuff." 

**Of course, she was referring to the pipe between his lips. She'd seen the likes of it before, but never once tried smoking.** "I also think I deserve a bit of compensation." (