[12:00] <@Kotono> ----
[12:04] <@Kotono> Sleep. Nikkolai indulges in much of it, resting his burnt and exhausted body. When he awakens, the others are resting in beds, aslumber. As he wipes the sleep sands from his eyes, "Sonny boy," Granny Tam can be heard, whispering away. "Oh sonny boy, rise and shine! Granny wants to see you!"
06[12:05] * Nikkolai sits up, wincing in pain and blinking sleepily. He blearily scans the room to look for the source of the voice. "Tam?" He murmurs softly.
[12:06] <@Kotono> "Come on out, sonny boy," Granny Tam can be heard but not seen, "Come to Granny's."
[12:08] <Nikkolai> Grunting with effort, Nikkolai clambers out of bed and with many a curse and groan, dresses himself. Careful not to disturb his companions, he slips out into the dark streets of Hardsoil, making his way to Granny Tam's.
[12:10] <@Kotono> You find the path to Granny Tam's without interference. On reaching it you find her waiting there - you think. She has the wings of a bat, a female figure to stop armies in their tracks. She wears a sheer red gown and has long dark hair, sauntering forward. "Aaaah, sonny boy!" she crooks a finger forward, "Granny thinks you have some meat on your bones to survive what you did again."
06[12:13] * Nikkolai grunts sourly. "I'd much rather have been successful than proven hardy, Tam. Blowing things up is *not* my style."
[12:13] <Nikkolai> "But my thanks for the compliment." Nikk sketches a half-bow.
[12:15] <@Kotono> With a sultry voice that drips honey, "Aaaah, you're growing into a fine young magus, one catastrophic explosion at a time! If you can live up to those words, you may survive long enough to!" Granny Tam hops to a table, sitting on it and crossing her legs. "So you beat the minions your old mistress sent at you, eh, sonny boy?"
06[12:18] * Nikkolai sighs as he eases himself down into the nearest chair. "No, not me. My companions--my friends," he corrects himself, "they defeated Her lackeys for me. I'm still not as strong as I'd hoped to be. But with your and Master's teachings, I'm a far cry from what I used to be."
[12:20] <@Kotono> "Exactly." Granny Tam leans forward, her wings wrapping around her like a cloak. "Sonny boy, I think it's time you rejoined your companions permanently. You gave that lich a bloody nose and you can't hide forever, can you?"
02[12:21] * @Ayane (~eb@95.146.1.228) Quit (Quit: bedtime)
06[12:21] * Nikkolai sighs. "I suppose I've been hiding under a rock long enough, so to speak. But what if she decides to come straight for me herself? I'm not sure that even our combined might would be capble of staving her off if that were to happen..."
06[12:21] * Nikkolai trails off into fearful silence.
[12:25] <@Kotono> Granny Tam rises up, lithely slinking over to Nikkolai. She goes over and and gently thwaps the back of his head, "Sonny boy," Clearing her throat and patting his back, "You can't live your life by your fears. Let Granny tell you something about doing that. You'll do less and less, trying to avoid what you're scared to death of. But that's not what's going to get you - it'll be everything you give up because you're afraid."
[12:25] <@Kotono> everything you give up because you're afraid."
06[12:27] * Nikkolai hangs his head slightly. "I know. I *know*. It's just...so hard. I've been running for so long. It's hard to gather to courage to face her, even though I know I must."
[12:30] <@Kotono> "Aaaah." Granny Tam pats Nikkolai's back again, "Sonny boy, people like her keep going and going until someone is brave enough not to run away. As long as no one is courageous enough to stand tall against her..." Humming slightly to herself as she taps her lips, "I wonder how her new apprentice is doing? I wonder how miserable he is right now and would give everything to be free of his misery?"
06[12:31] * Nikkolai jerks his head up in surprise. "She has a new apprentice? Wha!?"
[12:32] <@Kotono> "If no one stops her, it's only a matter of time," Granny Tam says, "Sonny boy, all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
06[12:35] * Nikkolai lets out a loud breath in relief. "I wouldn't wish any child that fate." Nikkolai balls his fists in his lap. "When our business in Arborea is concluded, I think it's time I went home."
[12:36] <Nikkolai> "And if my companions wish to come with me...so much the better."
[12:38] <@Kotono> "When you feel the time is right, go," Granny Tam says, "Remember this and think about it. Arborea is the realm of freedom and righteousness. In there you will find it's wisdom, pay attention."
06[12:39] * Nikkolai nods. "I shall. I fear that I won't be able to give Master a final farewell as I had intended. Would you give him my kind regards?"
[12:41] <@Kotono> "I will," Granny Tam now stands, "Now go back to sleep before Missy thinks you're missing. Better yet," With a wicked grin, "Make the other Missy miss you, too. Sonny boy, you're a mage. Live life as best it can be lived and don't be afraid, hear me?"
06[12:44] * Nikkolai grins and stands up. "I will certainly do that." Suddenly, a blush creeps over his face and he shuffles his feet awkwardly. "I-I know you'll probably see us off tomorrow, but....you've been so nice and--well, I just think that--"
[12:44] <@Kotono> Tossing her hair back as she sits back, "What do you think, sonny boy?"
06[12:45] * Nikkolai shuffles forward and gives Granny Tam a hug. "You remind me of my mother...before she didn't like me anymore." He whispers into her ear.
[12:46] <@Kotono> "Aaaw. Granny TAm's good at that." Whispering back, "Now take good care of Missy for me, Sonny Boy. She's got some potential in her...hmmm, maybe before seeing her off she could use another prod..." Thoughtfully humming, "Watch out for the big one, he's still suffering under that curse of Ogremoch, too. Hear me?"
06[12:47] * Nikkolai steps back, still blushing. "I'll do my best. I don't know how I can look out for anyone...but I'll try."
[12:49] <@Kotono> "Now get some sleep so you're rested for tomorrow," Granny Tam points, "Arborea's tiring, you'll need your energy back up."
06[12:50] * Nikkolai nods. "Yes m'am. Hopefully, we'll be back to visit soon enough. And...please don't mention the...well, you know. I have a reputation to uphold."