beyondthedoor | we're here where the daylight begins

water on water's the way...

[Sorey expected rest.

And for a while, his sleep is restful. Oblivious, really. Sometimes he shares the dreams of a butterfly, sometimes it's a bird. Sometimes he remembers the lifetime of a farmer, or a tree, or any number of things that are real and alive and connected to the earth. He never stays long or at least not long enough to think about it, he just is. Because as much as he's the vessel for Maotelus, he's also connected to the earth. He has so many dreams like this, seconds turning into moments, living through sunrise after sunrise.

But one time, one day, he feels the sunlight dappling his face beneath a grand green oak, and he opens eyes that are his. He awakens with a start and bolts straight up. This forest-- it's not the one outside of Elysia, he can tell that already, even though the protective domain hadn't been there in so long. No, it's... it smells different, and the birdsong is different, and all of him is so damn tingly. His breath comes fast as he looks at his hands, tightens them, notes the glove he's still wearing that bears the Shepherd's symbol.

This land feels different. Not dead, but different, and he's not sure if he even woke up in Glenwood anymore.]

Mikleo? [No response, and it's not as if he can feel a connection. He gets up to his feet and cups his hands around his mouth to project his voice further. He tries someone else.] Lailah! Edna! Zaveid!

Maotelus!

[Nothing but birdsong, pausing, and then going on. Well, it's time for him to start walking, then. He takes inventory: most of his equipment is here. Sword, gloves, boots. No Celestial Record, he gave that to Mikleo. And his cloak has seen much better days. It looks like he ran through a fire with it on thanks to that last Lion's Howl, but it's nothing that he can't fix by himself.

It turns out the nearest town isn't Elysia, but a place called Iselia. Tensions here are high but it's not something obvious, just one of those things that Sorey picks up on behind the fragile smiles and sideways glances. He tells them that he's a traveler looking for work until he gets back on his feet. Seeing the way he carries himself and his weapon, not to mention his fancy glove, Frank sees an opportunity when he sees one.

And that's how the Shepherd becomes a guardian of the next Chosen of Regeneration. Now it's just a matter of... finding them (a girl, it's a girl) and introducing himself. ... Wherever she is.]

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[Colette, for her part, was out and not actually home when Sorey had arrived. She'd been busy with class at school with the others, and then hung out with Lloyd and Genis for a while before making her way home. It was just like almost any other ordinary day. Or so she tries to tell herself even as she has been counting down the time she has left with her friends and family here. And knows the rest of the town was as well. Till her birthday, when she would receive the oracle and leave on her Journey.

She might be vaguely aware of the preparations for the most part, at least in knowing that she was supposed to get at least one bodyguard and that Raine was apparently accompanying her. She just didn't expect.....well. Sorey.

His clothing, that cloak almost seems familiar somehow, so similar it is to her own Chosen outfit she wears. That's what makes her pause initially when she sees him, though of course she doesn't know he was looking for her. Probably just another traveler? Not that there were many that passed through Iselia. She's alone, having separated so let Genis and Lloyd make their way back home, unaware that anyone was searching for her.

But if she didn't hurry and get home she would likely be late for dinner. Colette shakes her head after a brief moment, trying to snap out of her distraction at the stranger. Only, of course, when she starts moving again and picks up her pace a little more, she trips. Her arms flail a bit as she starts to fall and she gives a yelp of surprise.

At least this time she isn't about to make another hole in a building?]

[Sorey is considering bringing some kind of dinner slash peace offering to the Chosen when he hears someone approaching. He's out on the path and not exactly hidden, nor does he feel like he needs to hide from whoever is using this little path. But who could it be? His green eyes settle on a white-garbed young lady who really ought to be escorted through a forest like this. Though, she kind of matches the description he was given. A white dress and cape, blonde hair--

-- clumsy...]

Whoa, hey!

[He rushes forward and somehow makes it just in time to keep her from falling, but only just barely. He sets her back upright and dusts off her shoulders. Maybe she hurt herself? He looks her up and down with a concerned eye.]

Are you all right? You should be careful out here, there's tree roots all over the place.

Ah -- ! T-thank you. I'm okay! I really should know this area better by now to not trip on the way home like this.....

[After all these years. One would think she would have the route memorized. Still, she gives a grateful smile, a little sheepish as he helps her back to her feet and she waves her hands a little in reassurance. Because she really was fine. This wasn't nearly the worst trip she had managed, let alone that she had been caught in time before actually falling to hit the ground.]

Oh, I'm Colette!

[Because...introductions. Right! She offers a hand then, tentatively.]

[He breaks into an easy smile. She's nice and sweet and considerate, which is kind of what he expected from the glowing way the villagers spoke about her. Though, there was a sort of unspoken uneasiness too... It felt too familiar. Oh well, nothing he can do about it right now. His job, he's pretty sure, is to escort this young lady where she needs to go in order to complete her mission. The name just confirms it.

And he's going to do that, in hopes he'll be able to find some answers for himself.]

So you're the one I've been hearing about. I'm Sorey. It's nice to meet you!

[He takes her hand and gives it a nice firm grip that's warm but not overwhelming. After a moment, he lets go. He can't pretend he doesn't know more than he's being told, so he places his hands on his hips.]

It's pretty fortunate we ran into each other. As it turns out, your grandmother hired me to accompany you on your pilgrimage. I don't know much about what this journey will entail, but I promise I'll hit the monsters as hard as I can!

You hear -- oh! Alright.

[That did make sense. The more people that went with her, the better her chances of making it. Of completing her Journey, in saving Iselia and the rest of Sylvarant. It's brief, the moment her smile might falter, her gaze more downward to her feet, before she gestures once he releases her hand.]

I live back this way. Which I guess is where you came from if you met my family already....

[So. Cue being sheepish again for talking about the obvious.]

[He doesn't miss that faltering smile. She must be nervous about leaving her village... Maybe she's never left it before? If she's to be assigned bodyguards, then there's a chance she's essentially royalty-- but no one has volunteered anything beyond her title and that her journey is important, and he hasn't asked. The one time he did, he got a very strange look.]

Right. [His smile is soft, tolerant.] We can talk on the way.

[He's curious about a lot of things here, like the history of the place-- are there ruins?-- and if there are any major cities nearby, if they've seen any seraphim lately, if Colette really has to go in a couple days. But he holds his tongue, since he sees someone who needs his help right now.]

Could you tell me a little about your village? I'm not from here, so I don't know much about the area.

Sure, of course we can. But um. Well, what did you want to know about Iselia?

[She has no idea how similar the name itself might seem, in comparison to his own Elysia back home. Colette was nervous, increasingly so, even as she tried to make the most of each moment she could, with Genis and Lloyd in particular. Given she didn't expect to see anyone again once she left the village. Aside from her knowing that Raine was coming with them, for example.

And apparently, Sorey. Who she isn't surprised isn't from here given she doesn't recognize him. Colette tries to focus on his question though, before she starts asking about him. It was only polite, as she leads the way.]

[He walks close by, keeping up easily. He wants to be within arm's reach in case something jumps out at them or... more likely, she trips again. He can sense her nervousness in the same way he can sense his own, though he's trying his best to put on a brave face. He doesn't have time to wallow or to waste on uncertainty. He needs to discern the situation and make the best of it.]

Hmm, where to start... Does Iselia get a lot of visitors? The forest here is really beautiful. I'm surprised there aren't more people wandering around.

[Colette seems to somewhat relax a little more with focusing on the questions. Simple, curious about her home. It gives her something else to focus on at least, aside from her impending Journey and leaving. Her sacrifice.]

Hm. Not a lot. I mean, some came here from other places, like Professor Raine, and Genis. But we don't usually get a lot of people coming through here. Probably because of the Ranch....

[The Desians kind of intimidated most people, after all.]

But you're right. I don't mind the walk home. It's...nice.

we're here where the daylight begins

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