Gando frowned. They were right near the exit of the courtyard, or entrance depending on your perspective, when he paused. He grasped her shoulders with both of his hands, looking. "If there is one thing I have learned in all of my years of living in this world is that beauty does not just disappear as one ages. It grows refined and subtle requiring a certain kind of mind to appreciate it." He reached up and stroked her cheek softly. "You are very beautiful, Sage. And even when your smooth skin has wrinkled and lined, I'll still believe you to be so. Because beauty is not simply skin deep. Beauty thrives in the heart and your heart is obviously equally beautiful for you to endure the situations fate has placed before you."<br/><br/>Gando dropped his hand somewhat awkwardly. She reminded him so much of her grandmother that it was absolutely astounding. He was starting to wondier if this was a good idea or not. He shook himself and made his way out of the courtyard gates. A small cobblestone pathway connected the castle to the village. It would be something of a fifteen minute walk before they actually arrived.<br/><br/>The court magician looked about intently as he walked along. The tree branches danced as the gentle breeze caressed them. Birds twittered away happily as they went about their daily business. Everything in nature seemed so peaceful, so unperturbed by the troubles of humanity. Gando had often dreamed of slipping into the wilderness and living with nature. But he couldn't. Not now. He felt Daishoga was going to need his help before this war was over, and this envoy certainly made him nervous. But of course Daishoga would insist that there was nothing to worry about. His youthful ignorance would get him in a lot of trouble one day, but that's why he was here.<br/><br/>As they continued walking along, Gando's eyes slowly found their way back to Sage's face. He could tell that she was greatly enjoying the freedom of being able to walk about as she so pleased. She was so much younger than he was, so new to the world. There were so many things she had yet to experience, and yet her opinions of the world had already been skewed by the harshness of reality. The inequalities that were prevalent in most nations of the time was something that had always disturbed him. Of course his own opinions were skewed simply because he had been there to see kingdoms where equality had actually reigned supreme. And those places had experienced productivity like no other nation since. Of course they had fallen. Empires were built upon shaky foundations that succumbed to the all too human emotions of greed and anger.<br/><br/>The village was getting closer and closer. The village was quite rowdy on a day like this. Even from their distance, Gando could make out easily hundreds of people running back and forth. But the village was merely the outskirts of the march larger capital city of ShindCom. It held the distinction of being one of the largest cities in the world. It was the centre of commerce throughout the empire and many merchants passed through several times a year. The village gave way to much larger buildings the further one went in.<br/><br/>It was truly a remarkable sight from affiair, especially on the Tiber Mountains. He still remembered when this city had been but a newborn and tiny. How it had grown in the last 200 years. Then again, the empire as a whole was prospering. One day this would likely be considered a golden age.