The Search Must Go On

The weather is fair as it caresses the hilltops. Amongst the flowers, there is little cover to be had, but somehow Wake manages to evade all but the most observant of eyes. She flits from shadow to shadow, her regular dress replaced for the ideal of her day: a body suit of gray-green that hugs her skin from neck to foot, paired with a matching hood. What she is doing is rather obvious. She's seeking something, looking near and far. Well, mostly far, since she is trying to use the hilltops to her advantage. While the search has not been terribly fruitful, her expression betrays none of her frustrations. Sensing a subtle shift in the wind's direction, she moves down the slope of the hill in order to better see what might be downwind from her now.

    Merek was around because it was time to search for hunting, and to acquire reagants for alchemy. The man wears the usual dark attire along with the beltcape about the waist, both hands covered with gloves while he walks along, the dark sword which has become known to more and more people when it's seen. Shadow Eclipse, the rusted blade with the hilt inset with a gem. The man seems to be picking flowers when he comes upon the place.

Well, that's not expected. Wake notices Merek's approach. She has seen him before, and in the back of her mind, she's seeking his name. Regardless, she is certain they never fought, which is something. Considering he is heading directly at her, she can either stay in hiding, which is obviously suspicious, or reveal herself. There's no doubt about what to do. She rises and reaches up to push back her hood. "Flowers?" she calls out, smiling. "They are lovely, but you shouldn't have." The smallest of curves comes to her lips as he speaks. A moment later she glides into a curtsey that manages to be elegant even in her current outfit, "I don't know if you remember my name. I am Baroness Wake."

    There's a look from Merek to Baroness Wake when she comes up from the place she was at. Perhaps he'd noted her, either way he nods a bit to the woman, "Good evening, Merek." That's an introduction, he then takes a look to the place in full, while he keeps on picking flowers, "What brings you around?" he asks. The man is pretty aloof and not at all as cheerful as the woman. That's the way he often was when dealing with people unless he actually had a reason to be otherwise.

"I'm seeking something. A mountain. With a waterfall, perhaps" says Wake. She's rarely this direct, but at this point, she's very keen to advance her search. "Merek, yes, I believe we met a few times at the Tower, once upon a time." She watches him quietly for a time, "Have you ever seen a place like that? I have a specific goal in mind, but I insist on doing it correctly. It seems like so many things have changed here. It's like the world itself also started over in some ways."

    Merek looks to the Baroness, then seems to consider the woman's words. "I don't know of any place like that, there are people that know extensive lore though, not sure where you might find any of them." Then he takes a look to the hills, while he places the flowers back into the inventory. "What's there?" he asks of the place mentioned also.

"Assuming it still exists," begins Baroness Wake, "The remains of a fortress. It has a great meaning to me. While I was infamous for many things in the past, breaking into that place and getting out again without harming the hide of a single creature or triggering a single trap was among my favorite exploits. And it's beautiful." For just a moment, her expression shifts into an actual smile. It lasts perhaps a second or two, then she takes on her usual, more neutral expression. "As for what is inside, or if it even exists now, I cannot say. As we all know, the world has changed. I do know it's not where it was, but something in me insists that it must be somewhere, waiting for me to discover its secrets once again."

    Merek seems to think about that answer, then he nods to Baroness Wake. "I suppose you have a point," he notes, then he takes a look to the whole of the flower field upon the hill. "Anyway, I'm just gathering flowers for alchemy. I don't have a lot of knowledge about places like that. While it sounds nice, all I do often is to take steps forward in the new world, to assist people."

"Helping people is no small thing," replies Wake. "There's not nearly enough of that, though I do see many are making strides." She reaches down to pluck a flower, "Since I'm finding no mountains here, nor even a hint of them, perhaps you might like some assistance? Though I will need to keep a few to bring home to my beloved. Perhaps some new thought shall come to me."

    Merek nods a bit to Wake while he takes a look to the flowers, "Of course, I'm about finished in any case," he notes. Then he takes a look to the place in full, "Yes, we are making progress!"

"What do you think people need the most help with? I mean both adventurers and the landers. Some might consider the latter less important, but I believe how we treat landers will either make us more or less human. Will we be paragons of light or will we fall into decadence?" Wake watches Merek out of the corner of her eye as she gathers flowers.

    "Better work on the trading," Merek notes, while he nods a bit to Baroness Wake, then he seems to think about it. "I don't know, they are people like me," he lifts up his shoulders like it's the simplest thing, still neutral in the way which he presents of himself. He seems to be content.

"Very well. Then what is it you seek for yourself in this place? Do you yearn for a return to the world outside, do you wish to shape what you see around you into some greater ideal, or do you just seek a peaceful life here?" The Baroness directs her full attention to Merek with this question, her eyes unblinking as she studies the man closely.

    Merek looks then to the woman, and nods a bit to Wake, "Ah, I'm not sure, I like it alright, I've met new people. I don't think that it's important either way everyone seems to have their own idea, all of them are important," he notes.

"They are all important, which is why I ask," replies Wake. "I would like to help others find and achieve their kindly dreams," she explains. "Tell me, what are these flowers going to help you create with your alchemy? And who will be benefiting from them?" The Baroness turns to pluck a few more flowers, then offers them to Merek.

    Merek looks over and lifts up his brow, "That's a lot of questions. I plan to sell to anyone that wishes to shop, it's not up to me what they use it all for," he would note.

Wake looks at Merek, pausing an almost awkward length of time before drilling a little deeper. "Earning money is a worthy thing. It begs the question, though, of what then? I apologize if this seems troublesome. I seek understanding. If not for me, certainly for you. If you aren't certain, I encourage you to consider it. If you sold this flower and found yourself with a kingdom's wealth, what would you then do with it? Are you surviving, or living in pursuit of a dream?"

    Merek looks to the woman and just seems to watch for a little bit. "I do it because it's to make a living and to assist the people of the city, I don't need a noble reason to do all of that. These fantasy words may mean an important thing to you, I'm normally into philosophy although this seems to make little actual point. It's a shop, I like to make things."

Wake brings her hands together in a sudden, loud clap. "Exactly! Very good. What you do does matter, Merek. Perhaps you do not see the nobility in it, but nonetheless, noble it is. As for this world, well, is it a fantasy for us now? We have been in here some time. Now perhaps we will get out, but I would suggest that we should not take lightly our actions in this world." She looks to the horizon and adds more quietly, "And making things is perhaps the most noble of all pursuits."

    "Well, I apologize," Merek notes, then nods a bit to the Baroness, while he watches the place. "Anyway, I just work on what I'm doing. I like it when it rains."

"There's no need to apologize," replies Wake. The mention of rain sends her left eyebrow flicking up in a brief arch. Clearly she's not entirely certain what that is a reference to. "In any case, if I am delaying you, you need not stay simply to be polite. I hope my questioning does not seem too personal, as well."

"Well, it's alright. I don't think that I have a lot to say I admit," he notes, while he takes a moment to adjust the bag with the herbal supplies, then he takes a look to the hill, "I am building the shop in Carmina Gadelica."

"If you need help, do not hesitate to call," says Baroness Wake. "We who are builders should aid each other. You have found your place, while I still seek for mine." She casts her gaze around her for a time, paying careful attention to the sound of wind. Whatever it was she heard, it appears to cause her no worry, as her focus is swiftly back to the conversation at hand.

    "Alright, I will keep that in mind, if I can assist you, just ask. And if I find what you're looking for, I will tell you," Merek then notes, while he offers a little wave and walks back on along the way of the hill.

The Baroness waves in reply, nodding her head. "I appreciate that." For a time, Wake simply stands there, watching Merek depart. After he is out of sight, she looks down at a single flower, following the curves of each petal with her eyes and letting her mind grow quiet. It is then that a thought occurs to her, and she looks up once more. Pulling her hood back up over her head, she whispers, "We are not done yet... there is one more place to look."