"<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffd700">The travel has been long, Damen, but we're not far from the meeting grounds. After some business there, you will be free to choose your own path.</span>" The blond swordsman spoke, riding on the back of his large, yellow bird that was a companion, as well as a mount, the chocobo, Boco. He was referring to the half-daydreaming blond that was following him on a chocobo mount of his own, to which Damen would snap out of his thoughts, and gave a bit of a sound of assurance. "<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffd700">Mayhaps something be on your mind? I am quite aware this is far from what you considered home, but your household and family is well secured within the walls of the castle of Eagrose. Mayhaps... it may be of your father?</span>" The white knight that was Wiegraf Folles continued the conversation, and Damen thought of how to word that.<br/><br/>"No, no... that's not the reason why my head's in the clouds, m'lord. I-I mean..." Damen just realized he admitted he was daydreaming right there, though the knight he served under didn't even look towards him, though he knew that he was probably going to receive a bit of a scolding. "Well, I have never traveled this far; the lands are far different than I ever could have thought. At my youthful age, to see more of our land that is Ivalice is just... an eye-opening experiencing, Ser Wiegraf." Damen hoped that recovery would peak to the knight's curiosity, but... not a word was spoken. The words were truthful, Damen was aware of that much; being this far away from the kingdom of Gallione did bring up a bit of homesickness, yes, but even then, he was seeing things that few have in apprenticeship under the wing of a benevolent knight and commander.<br/><br/>Even though Damen's graduation at the Gariland academy was performed early, as did those of fellow apprentices, he had some idea of training under his belt. His sword may not have held the wound and blood of an Ordallian upon it quite yet, there was no doubt that the Red Squire might see that day, sooner or later. Though, as soon as Wiegraf gave a small whistle, Boco stopped, with Damen pulling the reins of his own chocobo, halting in place. "<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffd700">Hold. That fortress over the next hill, Damen... That is where apprentice squads shall be assigned. Where you will be placed with other noteworthy apprentices such as yourself; though your father's training remained firm on you during our own sessions, you at least know how to get things done, to defend yourself when the time comes. He may no longer be of the land of the living, though rest assured... Ser Alexander very well would have been proud to have you, his son, to protect his family, and defend our land of Ivalice.</span>" Wiegraf's words were definitely stern, but Damen got the feeling that he may be expressing his own proud feelings, rough around the edges as they were.<br/><br/>Soon, Boco and his rider would begin to rush forward, and Damen delayed briefly as he urged his own mount forward at running speed as well, in an effort to keep up. The wind felt really nice as it blew upon him from the movement, as the sun hung high in the afternoon sky as they would approach the Fortress of Besselat. The forest they were once in thinning out, the risk of danger reducing significantly, though of course, it wasn't just Damen and the white knight traveling this far out; many others, apprentices, skilled knights, talented mages, were brought out also to gather at the fort; it was here that with the major generals of the Orders, they may be able to mount a counter-offensive against Ordallia, using squads to spread out the forces, and reduce the numbers effectively. Though all was assured to the civilian population... the truth to the soldiers was that rations were reducing by the day, lives were being lost in the thousands... and locations were gradually being overtaken by the threat. Ivalice was struggling in this war... Damen knew he himself couldn't tip the scales, but he hoped the squad he would be assigned to may make a difference of its own, even if it is only small.