It was some time later when the new linkpearl fixture that Edda had given him did its job well; the stern woman had contacted him, inquiring as to his location so that they could meet in order to discuss the matter of arms and armour. It was convenient timing, as Kasrjin had just returned to the city from an expedition, and he was growing increasingly weary of the suspicious and hostile looks that his tribal furs and wild demeanour earned him.
Their rendezvous was almost wordless, and the Xaela had thrust himself past the armoury's double doors quite handily. An austere Elezen attendant stood behind the desk, her face raising with curiosity at the new customer. She gave a short nod to Roen, and resumed reading a leather-bound book behind the desk.
His emerald gaze glanced over the pieces with a practised, steady eye. The treated steel and coats of chain contrasted with the hardened leather gambesons and greaves that decorated the racks. Kasrjin could not help but snort at a mannequin displaying a full set of heavy plate, complete with underlying chain shirt. The armour had an absurd number of straps attached to it. "Is such heavy armament required against dragons?" he asked nonchalantly.
The stern woman nodded. "Ishgardian knights and dragoons have been fighting the dragons for centuries. I cannot call myself an expert, but it is their way." She looked from one armour to the next then gave a polite but familiar nod to the Elezen armorsmith.
A frown split across the Au Ra's face. "I do not have experience on the matter. It seems somewhat inefficient. Dragons are powerful creatures. Do they not make short work of such armor, thick as it is?" He reached out to trace the contours of a set of heavy brigandine.
She squinted, as if to eye the armor more closely. "If one is facing off against a true dragon, then nay. I do not think any amount of armor or steel will save you. But aevis and smaller dragonskin, it may save you from a gash to your chest from a tailwhip."
Roen's explanation prompted a sage nod from him. "I see. That is sound." He shifted to the other wall of the armory. "...what do you recommend, in this environment?" He glanced towards her, gesturing to the white fur lining around her breastplate. "Your own armaments appear to be heavy, given that it is winter."
She glanced up at him. "They can line chain or plate with fur or other insulating material to ward off the cold. Have you been in other forms of armor other than furs and leather?"
He turned his attention back to the armor, shaking his head. "No. Metal is a valuable resource, and it fares poorly against the cold. A single...that," he gestured to one of the full suits of armor. "That may become a hundred nails, which in turn may become a dwelling. Creating such armor is wasteful. And Khadai combat doctrine demands mobility in strategy and tactics both. To avoid a wound entirely is better than being struck and surviving."
He shifted in his own furred tunic and stepped as if demonstrating the light weight of his own garments. "The black ones in our homeland are often immobile due to heavy armor. That is a weakness we take advantage of with ease."
Roen's expression turned pensive, a small furrow to her brow. She flicked a glance at him. "The black ones?"
Kasrjin pursed his lips. "I am unsure of their name. They are encased in black armor, and wield weapons that emit flame. Firelances and fireswords. Many of their parties contain....I do not know the word."
She seems to ponder that for a moment. Her voice lowered. "Machines?"
The Au Ra pursed his lips and nodded. "It is a...thing. Made of black metal, and walks on two legs. This too emits flames." A part of him was quite dissatisfied with his explanation, but he lacked the vocabulary to describe it in any other way.
"....Magitek."
He shot her a thoughtful glance. "That is the name, then?"
She nodded, but avoided his gaze. "You mean Garleans then. Their uniform is usually black. Perhaps with accents of red."
Kasrjin nodded."Yes. That is an accurate description. Gar...leans." He rolled the name in his mouth, as if tasting it. "That is the name of our foe." To be honest, he did not think much of remembering the name, as "black ones" was a perfectly adequate label. Still, it would be helpful in conversation if the other people on this continent mentioned them.
The stern woman folded her arms. "Then that is yet another thing you share with the people of this realm. Eorzeans also consider Garleans their enemies."
His gaze became curious. "Truly? Have the black ones spread so far to the Western continent, as well?"
She found herself frowning even though her tone remained neutral. " Aye, they have encroached upon Eorzea as well. The Empire of Garlemald ever seeks to expand. Or as they believe... 'bring order to the primitive people.'" She sighed.
"...they do a poor job of it," he observed as he stepped forward to examine one of the gambesons.
Roen let out a long exhale, perhaps in relief. She tossed a glance instead to the Elezen armorsmith and tilted her head towards Khadai as if to indicate that he would be who she was interested in fitting today. She then approached the armor models, leaning over slightly to study them. "Did they hunt your people? Or try to assimilate you into their culture?"
"They hunt us. They are an ever constant threat. It is enough that we remain hidden from them. They are a mortal sovereignty, and so their threat shall evaporate given time."
"...this design. Is this simple to don?" The Xaela gestured towards a particularly elegant looking piece: it was a simple black coat, lined with straps to hold brass-coloured pieces of metal against the shoulders. It looked lightweight enough. The coat was long and made of a layer of resilient leather interwoven with fabrics. The design was elaborate, the plain blue gambeson beneath it appearing to be rather slim beneath the tabard.
She glanced up at the Xaela. If she questioned his statement, she did not voice it. She turned her attention to the armor instead and nodded. "There is only one way to find out."
"I wish to do so. Are there other pieces to complete it?" A frown. "It seems...incomplete. Aesthetically."
Roen nodded. "It makes sense to try something that would allow some freedom of movement and yet Ishgardian made to fit in." She glanced to the armorsmith. "Perhaps if he can try this piece? And others that may match it?"
"...what is the appropriate course of action in this circumstance?" He looked confused. "Am I to undress here?" The Elezen approached, her expression one of practiced professionalism. She scanned him up and down as if sizing him up immediately.
Roen twisted her lips then glanced about. "Ah. Perhaps up the stairs will give you a bit more privacy."
"That is not necessary." With practised ease, he began to strip the heavy furred tunic off of himself, revealing a protective black leather harness beneath. Roen's brows shot up and she immediately backed off as he undressed. She turned and watched the armorsmith walk around the corner to retrieve more pieces of armor.
Crossing her arms, Roen glanced back over her shoulder with just a briefest of looks.
He'd rapidly managed to strip himself almost completely, his garments scattering the floor beneath him, revealing the smokey gray hue of his skin and the obsidian scales that scattered themselves upon his arm and back. Roen's head turned quickly enough again when he began to shed more clothing. The sounds of rustling and clanking metal eventually became replaced with the pulling of straps and closing of buckles. Eventually, his voice rumbled from behind her. "You may turn."
The Elezen armorsmith was however not shy about equipping a customer. She stood by rather proudly.
The Xaela was adorned in the jet black coat. Brass plates covered his legs and arms. The coat was decorated with similar brass accents and straps of noble blue crossing the coat. His scattered furs and leathers had been discarded upon the armory floor, and the Xaela stretched, testing the limits of his new garments. Roen glanced over first, almost tentatively, as if to reassure herself that he was armored. This time her auburn eyebrows arched for a different reason.
Grey eyes looked over the armor and the paladin nodded. "It... looks good. How does it feel?"
"It is...light," he murmured. "I did not expect this." He swung his arms and jostled his legs. "This design is...effective. My range of movement is mostly unrestricted."
She walked around him, eyeing the joints of his armor, the as if looking for vulnerabilities as well as the mobility. There was approval in her voice. "I think this would do the job well." The corners of her lips curled upwards slightly. "Countless years fighting against dragons, and forging armor for the same reason... I think they know what they are doing."
He bent his elbows, his fingers, and his knees all at once. He reached his arms behind his head, and managed to reach remarkably far before the metal shoulder plates restricted his stretching. The mailed leggings would slow his stride somewhat, but did not feel excessively weighty. As another test, he stepped back and withdrew the blued steel of his sword. Thankfully the armory was roomy and lacked in customers, so the few test swings he did would not threaten any. Satisfied after a few basic manoeuvres, he slipped the sword back into its harness.
"Acceptable mobility. I suspect it will be much more difficult to move in snowbanks, however. Weight sufficient. This takes time to put on...but it is not uncomfortable."
She nodded, appraising his movements. "We oft travel on mounts that we do not need to climb snowbanks unless we are already in battle."
Kasrjin nodded. "But if your mount is disabled, it is your physical ability and the weight of your armament that will determine your speed."
Roen nodded. "Indeed. We would be much hampered. Especially in the snow."
The Xaela glanced at Roen in an expression that contained the barest hint of sheepishness. "...what amount of currency is required for this transaction?"
The paladin's eyes narrowed just slightly at the change in his tone. She glanced to the armorsmith who only answered with a placid grin. She answered her with just a nod, before turning back to Khadai. "I suspect you do not possess any gil, aye?"
His face had hardened into a neutral expression...but if one had to say, the way he his emerald eyes flickered with the barest movements would imply that he was embarrassed. "...I do not."
The Elezen armorsmith shuffled off as Roen approached the Au Ra. The paladin crossed her arms. "I am sure something can be figured out."
Kasrjin's head tilted from one to the other. "...will a transaction of services be sufficient?" His tone did not seem to think so, despite the query.
She kept her voice low as if to keep their conversation between them. The armorsmith did not need to hear it. She nodded. "Indeed. That is another thing we should figure out. I know you do not want to owe others. Edda has already offered to provide for anything you need."
He shrugged again. "...I am unsure as to what action to take in this circumstance."
She shrugged. "I am still unsure what arrangement you have with Edda. If you are comfortable in her paying for this as well, that is up to you." She glanced over her shoulder to the Elezen. "I know the armorsmith somewhat. At least, my knight captain does. If she needs credit now, I can pay for it." Her voice dipped slightly as she shrugged. "I have recently come across some funds." There was a wistfulness to her words. She nodded after some thought. "I will arrange for credit then if the armorsmith will accept. I think she would be open to it."
Kasrjin gave a thoughtful pause. "I believe Edda will wish to pay for it. Regardless of protest."
"Edda asked you to fight for her?" She flicked a glance at him. "Did she tell you any specifics?" There was a slight frown returning to her expression.
He shook his head. "She did not wish to tell me in what capacity I am to fight for her."
Roen narrowed her eyes. "Khadai. You were fortunate to have encountered her rather than anyone else. You should not be so free to offer something so blanket and encompassing as doing whatever someone else wish for you to do, for something as simple as gil and guidance. What if she asks you to kill someone?"
"Then as per the terms of our agreement, I will do so. To do anything less would be...improper. I lack material possessions or currency to barter with." A shrug. "I myself do not have a firm grasp on this concept of trading services. But it appears to be something that will suffice for a time."
Roen exhaled. "You told me I do not trust the people I identify with. There is a good reason for that. Many would take unfair advantage of such a bargain."
He frowned. "I do not understand."
A pause. "There are guides who would point out the most direct path or the safest course. You need only to pay them gil. Gil that you can obtain in trade for furs or food or other supplies. But if you agree to do whatever they ask, and if they demand such a thing as for you to kill someone...You could end up paying for that with your life in the end. They can ask you steal something. Again, that could end with you in the gaols for a long time. Or worse. There is no equity in that trade. I believe you make your offer in good faith, but not everyone else returns that favor."
Kasrjin looked at her quizzically. "....That does not make sense. If I were asked to perform theft, then to be detained would mean that the other party of the transaction would not obtain that which they requested. It is self defeating. If I were asked to slay an individual, then it is in the other party's interests to furnish me with information and resources to do so, thereby reducing the possibility of my demise."
Roen shook her head. "They would gain the result they were looking for, but you are the one that they would point to in committing the crime. A foreigner like yourself without any influence or family... they could deny all knowledge of working with you after the fact." She shook her head again, her expression darkening. "It is deceptive, aye. But entirely possible with some people you may come across.â€
Again, his head tilted in the other direction. "I possess no personal stake in such an act. For what reason would arbitration suspect the tool, rather than the one who wields it?"
"If the tool breaths and speaks, you are still punished for your deed." Roen unfolded and folded her arms. "Whether your accomplice is caught or not, to enter into such a bargain is dangerous for you."
Kasrjin shrugged. "My calling demands that I accept such dangers. So long as I obtain what is agreed upon, that is satisfactory enough."
She exhaled then glanced away. "As you will."
The Xaela offered his own quizzical sigh. "I wish to have clarification. For what reason are you concerned about my part in such transactions?"
She seemed to be staring at the wooden floorboards a bit longer. It was after a long pause that she answered quietly. "I do not wish to see one such as yourself taken advantage of."
Kasrjin shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Why?"
She still did not meet his gaze, but she shifted her weight slightly. "Because people who have faith in others... are often easily fooled. Deceived. Taken advantage of. It does not sit well with me."
His response was almost immediate. "...I do not understand. But I will bear your words in mind."
She finally looked back up at him, her eyes narrowed. "What do you not understand? That people of this realm can be biased? Treat you unjustly? That many do look to take advantage of others simply because they can?"
His own gaze bore into hers, though he did not seem to be able to formulate a proper response. "...I am aware. That people possess...self-interest. Even so, I do not understand why such a thing has destroyed your faith, Roen."
She broke her gaze, grey eyes flitting about the various patterns of the wooden floorboards. The twitch of her lip was the only thing that escaped her stoic mask. "This world is not kind, Khadai. And people within it, even less so." Her voice was low and quiet.
"....yet you are willing to provide such aid to one you do not know. One to whom you possess no obligations. One who has repeatedly erred in his understanding of a land in which he does not belong." Kasrjin fixed his stern stare upon the paladin. "I possess no reason to believe this world is any less kinder for it."
He paused, suddenly seeming self-aware. "...I wish to test this armor."
That statement accompanied an abrupt spin and long strides out the door into the cold.
Their rendezvous was almost wordless, and the Xaela had thrust himself past the armoury's double doors quite handily. An austere Elezen attendant stood behind the desk, her face raising with curiosity at the new customer. She gave a short nod to Roen, and resumed reading a leather-bound book behind the desk.
His emerald gaze glanced over the pieces with a practised, steady eye. The treated steel and coats of chain contrasted with the hardened leather gambesons and greaves that decorated the racks. Kasrjin could not help but snort at a mannequin displaying a full set of heavy plate, complete with underlying chain shirt. The armour had an absurd number of straps attached to it. "Is such heavy armament required against dragons?" he asked nonchalantly.
The stern woman nodded. "Ishgardian knights and dragoons have been fighting the dragons for centuries. I cannot call myself an expert, but it is their way." She looked from one armour to the next then gave a polite but familiar nod to the Elezen armorsmith.
A frown split across the Au Ra's face. "I do not have experience on the matter. It seems somewhat inefficient. Dragons are powerful creatures. Do they not make short work of such armor, thick as it is?" He reached out to trace the contours of a set of heavy brigandine.
She squinted, as if to eye the armor more closely. "If one is facing off against a true dragon, then nay. I do not think any amount of armor or steel will save you. But aevis and smaller dragonskin, it may save you from a gash to your chest from a tailwhip."
Roen's explanation prompted a sage nod from him. "I see. That is sound." He shifted to the other wall of the armory. "...what do you recommend, in this environment?" He glanced towards her, gesturing to the white fur lining around her breastplate. "Your own armaments appear to be heavy, given that it is winter."
She glanced up at him. "They can line chain or plate with fur or other insulating material to ward off the cold. Have you been in other forms of armor other than furs and leather?"
He turned his attention back to the armor, shaking his head. "No. Metal is a valuable resource, and it fares poorly against the cold. A single...that," he gestured to one of the full suits of armor. "That may become a hundred nails, which in turn may become a dwelling. Creating such armor is wasteful. And Khadai combat doctrine demands mobility in strategy and tactics both. To avoid a wound entirely is better than being struck and surviving."
He shifted in his own furred tunic and stepped as if demonstrating the light weight of his own garments. "The black ones in our homeland are often immobile due to heavy armor. That is a weakness we take advantage of with ease."
Roen's expression turned pensive, a small furrow to her brow. She flicked a glance at him. "The black ones?"
Kasrjin pursed his lips. "I am unsure of their name. They are encased in black armor, and wield weapons that emit flame. Firelances and fireswords. Many of their parties contain....I do not know the word."
She seems to ponder that for a moment. Her voice lowered. "Machines?"
The Au Ra pursed his lips and nodded. "It is a...thing. Made of black metal, and walks on two legs. This too emits flames." A part of him was quite dissatisfied with his explanation, but he lacked the vocabulary to describe it in any other way.
"....Magitek."
He shot her a thoughtful glance. "That is the name, then?"
She nodded, but avoided his gaze. "You mean Garleans then. Their uniform is usually black. Perhaps with accents of red."
Kasrjin nodded."Yes. That is an accurate description. Gar...leans." He rolled the name in his mouth, as if tasting it. "That is the name of our foe." To be honest, he did not think much of remembering the name, as "black ones" was a perfectly adequate label. Still, it would be helpful in conversation if the other people on this continent mentioned them.
The stern woman folded her arms. "Then that is yet another thing you share with the people of this realm. Eorzeans also consider Garleans their enemies."
His gaze became curious. "Truly? Have the black ones spread so far to the Western continent, as well?"
She found herself frowning even though her tone remained neutral. " Aye, they have encroached upon Eorzea as well. The Empire of Garlemald ever seeks to expand. Or as they believe... 'bring order to the primitive people.'" She sighed.
"...they do a poor job of it," he observed as he stepped forward to examine one of the gambesons.
Roen let out a long exhale, perhaps in relief. She tossed a glance instead to the Elezen armorsmith and tilted her head towards Khadai as if to indicate that he would be who she was interested in fitting today. She then approached the armor models, leaning over slightly to study them. "Did they hunt your people? Or try to assimilate you into their culture?"
"They hunt us. They are an ever constant threat. It is enough that we remain hidden from them. They are a mortal sovereignty, and so their threat shall evaporate given time."
"...this design. Is this simple to don?" The Xaela gestured towards a particularly elegant looking piece: it was a simple black coat, lined with straps to hold brass-coloured pieces of metal against the shoulders. It looked lightweight enough. The coat was long and made of a layer of resilient leather interwoven with fabrics. The design was elaborate, the plain blue gambeson beneath it appearing to be rather slim beneath the tabard.
She glanced up at the Xaela. If she questioned his statement, she did not voice it. She turned her attention to the armor instead and nodded. "There is only one way to find out."
"I wish to do so. Are there other pieces to complete it?" A frown. "It seems...incomplete. Aesthetically."
Roen nodded. "It makes sense to try something that would allow some freedom of movement and yet Ishgardian made to fit in." She glanced to the armorsmith. "Perhaps if he can try this piece? And others that may match it?"
"...what is the appropriate course of action in this circumstance?" He looked confused. "Am I to undress here?" The Elezen approached, her expression one of practiced professionalism. She scanned him up and down as if sizing him up immediately.
Roen twisted her lips then glanced about. "Ah. Perhaps up the stairs will give you a bit more privacy."
"That is not necessary." With practised ease, he began to strip the heavy furred tunic off of himself, revealing a protective black leather harness beneath. Roen's brows shot up and she immediately backed off as he undressed. She turned and watched the armorsmith walk around the corner to retrieve more pieces of armor.
Crossing her arms, Roen glanced back over her shoulder with just a briefest of looks.
He'd rapidly managed to strip himself almost completely, his garments scattering the floor beneath him, revealing the smokey gray hue of his skin and the obsidian scales that scattered themselves upon his arm and back. Roen's head turned quickly enough again when he began to shed more clothing. The sounds of rustling and clanking metal eventually became replaced with the pulling of straps and closing of buckles. Eventually, his voice rumbled from behind her. "You may turn."
The Elezen armorsmith was however not shy about equipping a customer. She stood by rather proudly.
The Xaela was adorned in the jet black coat. Brass plates covered his legs and arms. The coat was decorated with similar brass accents and straps of noble blue crossing the coat. His scattered furs and leathers had been discarded upon the armory floor, and the Xaela stretched, testing the limits of his new garments. Roen glanced over first, almost tentatively, as if to reassure herself that he was armored. This time her auburn eyebrows arched for a different reason.
Grey eyes looked over the armor and the paladin nodded. "It... looks good. How does it feel?"
"It is...light," he murmured. "I did not expect this." He swung his arms and jostled his legs. "This design is...effective. My range of movement is mostly unrestricted."
She walked around him, eyeing the joints of his armor, the as if looking for vulnerabilities as well as the mobility. There was approval in her voice. "I think this would do the job well." The corners of her lips curled upwards slightly. "Countless years fighting against dragons, and forging armor for the same reason... I think they know what they are doing."
He bent his elbows, his fingers, and his knees all at once. He reached his arms behind his head, and managed to reach remarkably far before the metal shoulder plates restricted his stretching. The mailed leggings would slow his stride somewhat, but did not feel excessively weighty. As another test, he stepped back and withdrew the blued steel of his sword. Thankfully the armory was roomy and lacked in customers, so the few test swings he did would not threaten any. Satisfied after a few basic manoeuvres, he slipped the sword back into its harness.
"Acceptable mobility. I suspect it will be much more difficult to move in snowbanks, however. Weight sufficient. This takes time to put on...but it is not uncomfortable."
She nodded, appraising his movements. "We oft travel on mounts that we do not need to climb snowbanks unless we are already in battle."
Kasrjin nodded. "But if your mount is disabled, it is your physical ability and the weight of your armament that will determine your speed."
Roen nodded. "Indeed. We would be much hampered. Especially in the snow."
The Xaela glanced at Roen in an expression that contained the barest hint of sheepishness. "...what amount of currency is required for this transaction?"
The paladin's eyes narrowed just slightly at the change in his tone. She glanced to the armorsmith who only answered with a placid grin. She answered her with just a nod, before turning back to Khadai. "I suspect you do not possess any gil, aye?"
His face had hardened into a neutral expression...but if one had to say, the way he his emerald eyes flickered with the barest movements would imply that he was embarrassed. "...I do not."
The Elezen armorsmith shuffled off as Roen approached the Au Ra. The paladin crossed her arms. "I am sure something can be figured out."
Kasrjin's head tilted from one to the other. "...will a transaction of services be sufficient?" His tone did not seem to think so, despite the query.
She kept her voice low as if to keep their conversation between them. The armorsmith did not need to hear it. She nodded. "Indeed. That is another thing we should figure out. I know you do not want to owe others. Edda has already offered to provide for anything you need."
He shrugged again. "...I am unsure as to what action to take in this circumstance."
She shrugged. "I am still unsure what arrangement you have with Edda. If you are comfortable in her paying for this as well, that is up to you." She glanced over her shoulder to the Elezen. "I know the armorsmith somewhat. At least, my knight captain does. If she needs credit now, I can pay for it." Her voice dipped slightly as she shrugged. "I have recently come across some funds." There was a wistfulness to her words. She nodded after some thought. "I will arrange for credit then if the armorsmith will accept. I think she would be open to it."
Kasrjin gave a thoughtful pause. "I believe Edda will wish to pay for it. Regardless of protest."
"Edda asked you to fight for her?" She flicked a glance at him. "Did she tell you any specifics?" There was a slight frown returning to her expression.
He shook his head. "She did not wish to tell me in what capacity I am to fight for her."
Roen narrowed her eyes. "Khadai. You were fortunate to have encountered her rather than anyone else. You should not be so free to offer something so blanket and encompassing as doing whatever someone else wish for you to do, for something as simple as gil and guidance. What if she asks you to kill someone?"
"Then as per the terms of our agreement, I will do so. To do anything less would be...improper. I lack material possessions or currency to barter with." A shrug. "I myself do not have a firm grasp on this concept of trading services. But it appears to be something that will suffice for a time."
Roen exhaled. "You told me I do not trust the people I identify with. There is a good reason for that. Many would take unfair advantage of such a bargain."
He frowned. "I do not understand."
A pause. "There are guides who would point out the most direct path or the safest course. You need only to pay them gil. Gil that you can obtain in trade for furs or food or other supplies. But if you agree to do whatever they ask, and if they demand such a thing as for you to kill someone...You could end up paying for that with your life in the end. They can ask you steal something. Again, that could end with you in the gaols for a long time. Or worse. There is no equity in that trade. I believe you make your offer in good faith, but not everyone else returns that favor."
Kasrjin looked at her quizzically. "....That does not make sense. If I were asked to perform theft, then to be detained would mean that the other party of the transaction would not obtain that which they requested. It is self defeating. If I were asked to slay an individual, then it is in the other party's interests to furnish me with information and resources to do so, thereby reducing the possibility of my demise."
Roen shook her head. "They would gain the result they were looking for, but you are the one that they would point to in committing the crime. A foreigner like yourself without any influence or family... they could deny all knowledge of working with you after the fact." She shook her head again, her expression darkening. "It is deceptive, aye. But entirely possible with some people you may come across.â€
Again, his head tilted in the other direction. "I possess no personal stake in such an act. For what reason would arbitration suspect the tool, rather than the one who wields it?"
"If the tool breaths and speaks, you are still punished for your deed." Roen unfolded and folded her arms. "Whether your accomplice is caught or not, to enter into such a bargain is dangerous for you."
Kasrjin shrugged. "My calling demands that I accept such dangers. So long as I obtain what is agreed upon, that is satisfactory enough."
She exhaled then glanced away. "As you will."
The Xaela offered his own quizzical sigh. "I wish to have clarification. For what reason are you concerned about my part in such transactions?"
She seemed to be staring at the wooden floorboards a bit longer. It was after a long pause that she answered quietly. "I do not wish to see one such as yourself taken advantage of."
Kasrjin shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Why?"
She still did not meet his gaze, but she shifted her weight slightly. "Because people who have faith in others... are often easily fooled. Deceived. Taken advantage of. It does not sit well with me."
His response was almost immediate. "...I do not understand. But I will bear your words in mind."
She finally looked back up at him, her eyes narrowed. "What do you not understand? That people of this realm can be biased? Treat you unjustly? That many do look to take advantage of others simply because they can?"
His own gaze bore into hers, though he did not seem to be able to formulate a proper response. "...I am aware. That people possess...self-interest. Even so, I do not understand why such a thing has destroyed your faith, Roen."
She broke her gaze, grey eyes flitting about the various patterns of the wooden floorboards. The twitch of her lip was the only thing that escaped her stoic mask. "This world is not kind, Khadai. And people within it, even less so." Her voice was low and quiet.
"....yet you are willing to provide such aid to one you do not know. One to whom you possess no obligations. One who has repeatedly erred in his understanding of a land in which he does not belong." Kasrjin fixed his stern stare upon the paladin. "I possess no reason to believe this world is any less kinder for it."
He paused, suddenly seeming self-aware. "...I wish to test this armor."
That statement accompanied an abrupt spin and long strides out the door into the cold.
