These Four Walls

    The Scale Emblem Alliance holds this castle that has been a work in progress since they all realized they been stuck in this game. Xander remembers some of the work being done on it, but with so much focus on building up locations in the Tower, it feels like the castle itself gets a bit neglected.

The Salamander finds himself walking the dark, quiet halls. From time to time people pass him by, where he gives a minor wave, but yet the Holy Knight seems to keep to himself as he stares at not really anything as he continues on his way around the grounds.

Schneider is just hanging out here, at the moment, taking a break from his own projects and enjoying the evening. He's just staring off into the distance just at the moment, though he's usually involved in this and that, when he can find the time. He's spending a fair amount of time at the Grunty Ranch, for instance, though he's taking a break just now. Well, just these last few days. He's got his own projects to work on. Magic is more complicated here than he'd expected. Having to write your own spells is both clever, because he can customize them, but complicated, because he has to customize them.

    As the Salamander comes around the corner he almost walks directly into Schneider, "Oh. Hey!" He says with a raised up hand. Then he almost walks on, before his jaw slides to one side in thought.

He looks at Schneider with a tilt of his head before he asks him calmly. "Everything going alright with you?"

Schneider ehs as Xander almost walks into him, but he smiles and says, "Good evening," in what seems like it's going to be passing. But then Xander pauses, and Schneider hrms distractedly as he catches up to the conversation. "Alright? Well, I guess. I'm all tied up with things to do, technically. Well, with the little that I can do." He's only recently come up to being an advanced player with the other cool people, graduating from newbiehood only just a couple weeks ago. So there's not a lot he -can- do, he's only got so many resources to throw around.

    "Well, don't spread yourself out too much." Xander says, resting a hand on his armored hip plating. His heavy thick tail flicks ever so slightly. "Spread yourself to thin, you'll have trouble tracking things and then," He chuckles. "You won't know which way is up." The Salamander gives a little grin.

"What they got you do anyways, if you don't mind me asking." He then shifts his stance and moves his arms to cross them over his armored chest plate.

Schneider nods at the salamander's sage advice, and he admits, "I'm only really working on the grunty ranch now that the temple is done. But I'm developing my spells as well, I'm working on one project, and planning another one soon that will really boost my power, I think." He shrugs sheepishly, "I'm not sure what else I /can/ do, no one's talked to me lately about anything. I was helping to scout the fifth floor, but then that stopped, and nothing seems to have replaced it as things-to-do."

    "There is the whole undead in the North." Xander says off handedly, "Then I think there is goblins that need to be dealt with... and something about Orcs." The Salamander hrms. "You could also do a few Hunter Guild duties. They are good for coin, experience, and loot."

He then lowers his arms. "But working on your knowledge is good too, I wish you best of luck with that really." Xander says with a distant sound to his voice. "Anyways, I shouldn't really hold you up. I--- I am just walking to clear my head before I head back home. I hate this month... and for a moment I thought I would escape it." He then chuckles; But it wasn't a happy sound. "Instead it seems to found me."

Xander peers at Schneider, "But I am glad you are doing alright. If you ever want a sparring partner, feel free to hit me up, alright?"

Schneider nods about the undead and the goblins and the orcs. "I went with Baroness Wake to fight orcs before, and I fought off goblins in some town or other. It's hard to keep them all straight," he admits. But he bows his head about wishing him the best of luck. "Thanks," he says earnestly. He looks up at the mention of sparring, and says, "I can do that. I've joinned a fighting club, but I'm not very good yet, I'm afraid. I don't have my good spells yet," he explains.

Schneider hrms at hating the month, and he asks, "What makes it bad? Girls on the beach in bikinis makes it very nice for me."

    Xander grins a little. "Sometimes even the most basic of spells can be deadly. You don't have to have some epic item or some purple loot to be the best. More times than not it's what is up here," He taps the side of his head gently. "That wins a fight."

"When you depend too much on high level items to do the fighting for you, you forget the basics and those basics are what can win fights." Xander says further on the subject, as his tail flicks once more. "It is also understanding yourself and what /you/ are capable of. The body in the end is just a tool, the mind however-- well-- that is the real weapon."

    The Salamander though hrms as Schneider brings up what makes June so bad. "Oh yeah, girls in swimsuits are great..." He says softly, before he inhales deeply. "Sadly though, my problem is personal and... It's a bit attached with the Flash of Death. Given that event took place on June 7th... there are.. inner demons attached to that viral attack... and they like to remind me."

Xander shakes his head gently, "But it is nothing for you to worry over. You need to focus on your training, so when we do go back to tackling the Tower you can carry the team." He says with a playful, friendly wink.

Schneider ohs about Flash of Death. "I was little when that happened," he explains. "But it hit my friends pretty hard, a couple of them. And my dad had problems at work, but he didn't talk about them much at home." He shrugs guiltily about having dodged that bullet. "We weren't a very electronic household," he explains. "I mainly played basketball in high school. This was my first computer game." And look where it got him. "If we ever get out, I think I'm gonna stick with basketball."

He nods about focusing on training, agreeing, "I will! Thanks!"

    Xander listens to what Schneider says and chuckles. "I was in my twenties when it hit. I'm," He closes one eye and looks up, "Thirty five? Thirty six now?" He then looks back to the younger member. "But yeah, you dodged a bullet. I..." He hrms as his stance shifts. "I... lost people very close to me... and almost my own life. Lets just say, when you are the sole survivor... It plays with you. Torments you."

The Salamander's eyes look dim in that moment, before he looks away. "It is not something anyone should ever experience and I'm glad, honestly glad, you didn't get hit that hard." Xander then goes to step away. "Anyways, I should get going, but my offer stands. Feel free to hit me up whenever!" Then Xander walks on.

Schneider doesn't know about the diagnosis or psychology of survivor's guilt. He was in middle school, and far more concerned with girls and basketball to worry about computers. But he's sympathetic, at least, nodding slowly. "I'm glad you survived, at least," he says earnestly. "I mean, it's better than the alternative, right?" But he adds, "I am sorry for your loss, though, that sucks."

He nods about the nods about the challenge offer standing. "I'd like that, thanks. I'll take you up next time, maybe?" He waves as Xander departs.