Aria was more shocked by Scholar’s offer than of his joke about her body. As he walked off, her wide-eyed expression slowly became a soft smile. She would never have expected to follow Phoenix and find a person like Scholar. While a part of her kept to the fact that people were never what they first seemed to be, she did regret her doubt earlier on. She was sure, both from how he spoke and from the wisdom he seemed to possess, that Scholar had to have been more long-lived than she was. Sighing, she thought about making her way back to the room she was meant to have slept in last night. But honestly, she was too excited to sleep.Eventually she would need to speak with Phoenix to find out what the plan was. Until then she searched out the way out of the tree. Once out in the forest she took a large breath and flew up to one of the higher branches. Standing lightly on the branch, she looked out at the tree tops and was breathless. It has been so long since she had been so high, she had almost forgotten the freedom.<br/><br/>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~<br/><br/>The children stared at Blazil as if shocked to have a guest. When she bowed they giggled and a few of them attempted to bow back. One little girl with her thumb in her mouth didn’t bow and didn’t giggle but only continued to stare at Blazil. As the gaggle of children made their way towards the cave, leading the way for TamLin and Blazil, the girl walked beside Blazil and continued to stare at her, avidly ignoring even where she was going in order to watch the newcomer.<br/><br/>“This is a project that Marcus, Old John, and I started. These children are orphans and slum children from the city. We take donations to give them a safe home (sometimes just a place to stay for a while, sometimes a proper home) and food.” TamLin gave Blazil a look that both demanded that she go along with the donations, and hinted at a shared, humorous, secret. “Do you enjoy stew?” She asked as they walked into the cave. She pulled aside a cover that had been placed over the opening. Along the back of the cave were wooden constructions that served as beds. A pot of stew, sat off to the side, apparently cooling after being cooked and pulled from the firepit outside. Several of the children had already fallen into playing in an open part of the cave.<br/><br/>On the opposite side of the stew pot, Old John sat on a stool. He was wrinkled and gray but obviously able bodied and fit. His keen eyes focused on his work while keeping the children in the corner at all times. Standing in front of him was Marcus. He had abandoned his cloak and stood before the man, shirtless, as John examined his burns and muttered to himself.<br/><br/>Marcus’s dark skin contrasted with his whitened hair and blue eyes. He stared at Old John, but glanced up as TamLin and Blazil entered. He held the gaze for only a moment before looking back to John, trying to respect Bazil’s discomfort. “Nevermind what caused it. The concern at hand is if you can heal it.”<br/><br/>John snorted. “You’re burned pretty bad, but not THAT bad. Of course I can heal it. Go get my kit.” With that Marcus turned and walked down a what looked like a pathway to a deeper cave. It wasn’t until then that John turned around to see TamLin and Blazil. He grinned, a pleasant look full of joy. “TamLin, your face is a god-send after hearing Marcus’s complaints. And you’ve brought a guest. Welcome.”<br/><br/>((Hahaha. That’s beautiful))