<i>Half.</i><br/><br/>The word was sharp and cutting, directly hitting the subject on the head and reminding him that he was in no way pure enough to be considered part of the race that Arioch was part of. For a moment, he didnâ??t say anything, but just wore a neutral expression his faceâ??bordering on curiousness for some strange reasonâ??with his lips pressed together. Brand wanted to ask if she looked down on half-breeds, but the moment passed and instead of passing judgment or questions to what she truly thought, he smiled at her.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">â??I guess thereâ??s no hiding it, yeah?â?</span>he stated, gazing around as they walked a bit further in. So lost he was looking up, that he fell behind them a bit while wandering, and didnâ??t note the random rocks along the forest ground.<br/><br/>Of course he was bound to trip on one of them, and instead of finding his footing and balance that Elves were known to have, he swayed side to side and stumbled a bit. Gracefully though, as he quickly found his balance and continued to walk on as if nothing happened. Itâ??d have been easier to pretend nothing happened if he hadnâ??t just healthily groped Altima<i>and</i>Valen in the process of flailing limbs, but all was well again, so he didnâ??t complain. The blonde just had to get used to his new height, so surely they understood. The other two knights had seen him at various stages in his adolescence, and perhaps only the Long Empire had been the ones to see his rapid growth from a little four foot something kid to the towering male he was now.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">â??Thereâ??s a bathing house here, if I remember correctly.â?</span>Brand spoke up, picking up his pace to catch up with them, since he fell behind a bit.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">â??Not that I object to a mud bath, but weâ??d need a bath right after it.â?</span>he was mainly talking to no one though, as he was merely muttering softly to himself as the two women spoke. However, at the last thing that Altima stated, he set his bluish eyes upon their companion in curiosity. Blue eyes, as his golden hue only bled into his eyes when he was using his magic.<br/><br/>Unabashed at staring, his eyes swept over the soft looking hair and down along the plains of her smooth skin. Creamy and smooth, just like most of the Elves, if not a bit tinted in shading. Her clothes suited her well, curving around supple breasts and gripping hips. At that, his eyes wandered back to peer at her breasts, completely unaware that it might have been seen as lecherous, The only thought in his mind after a good hard stare at the Elvinâ??s breasts, was that he was sure Altima had a larger set.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">â??Someoneâ??s body can brighten a day?â?</span>he asked after a notable moment.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">â??Can we bathe together then? Perhaps with Vallie?â?</span>Brand connected that if Arioch was able to do that, then why shouldnâ??t they utilize their resources? Valen seemed like he had a harder time holding his head<i>and</i>heart up again, so if a little mud bath among them together would ease the tension away, then he was willing to get a little dirty.<br/><br/>As they spoke though, they wandered further beyond the gates and into a deeper forestry area that nearly glowed orange. The little light that shone through the Eclipse was eerie, but among lands such as these, it was almost ethereal. From what he remembered, there was a small village or town up ahead that they could rest at.