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"Allow Me To Cut Through Those Words!" |
Izar entered the diner, knowing the Gwen was scheduled to work the lunch shift this day of the week. It was good to have his old friend back in his life again, even though own work and busy schedule made it so he didn't get to see her all that often and so he did his best to make the most of his visits as the two often traded stories about their travels. He wasn't surprised to not see her there, figuring she was likely in the back grabbing an order or fixing coffee. However, after sitting at his table for ten or so minutes he asked one of the waitresses if she'd called in sick that day only to be told she'd quit the day before earlier.
He tried to hide his surprise when he responded, "Oh, she hadn't told me that. Can you tell me where she lives then?" he asked, a bit of concern in his voice. The waitress shook her head in response.
"Sorry, I'm not supposed to give out information like that."
Izar nodded understandingly, standing up from his table before thanking the woman for her help and exiting the diner. While Gwen had said before that she hadn't needed to job he didn't understand why she'd quit without telling him when she knew he stopped by there to see her every once in a while. He thought back to their conversations, trying to remember if she'd ever told him where she lived. She had mentioned they'd been on the same street but there were plenty of houses and apartments she could be in. He called her only to get no response and that was when the real worry began to set in. Making his way to his street he started with apartments, knowing the names of residents were listed outside. After checking around for a bit he did find her name and apartment number, making his way up the stairs to her apartment and knocking on the door, "Gwen, it's me. A waitress at the diner said you'd quit."
Gwen hadn't finished packing her duffle, and strewn out in her sparse apartment were weapons, cash and a small amount of clothing that had previously been stashed within various points in the apartment instead of in plain sight or in her bag. She was shocked to hear a knock on her door, and the shock turned to sorrow when she heard Izar's voice. She opened the door, using the majority of her body to block her apartment from view as she peeked out at him. "I did..." She said, inhaling deeply before she revealed her intention. "I'm leaving Fiore tonight, probably going to Seven or maybe Joya." She tried to make her tone as nonchalant as possible, however, it clearly wasn't something she was thrilled about.
Izar was stunned by her answer, his mind searching for any words he could place together that sounded like the ones he thought she'd spoken in hope of being able to claim he had misheard her but found nothing but the painful words she spoke stabbing him in the chest. "I-I mean...you've got to be joking right? That's a pretty dark sense of humor you've got there. I mean, I...we just found each other again and know you're saying you're leaving? Is there a reason? Some reason you have to go? Because if there is I can help. Were you even going to tell me you were leaving?" He asked, feeling a deep pain in his chest as that was a question he felt he knew the answer to already simply by how nonchalant Gwen seemed to be about leaving everything behind.
"It's because... well. I don't want to ruin the life you have now." She looked downward. "It's obvious that Theia... well, she isn't too pleased that I am here, but I don't want to ruin what you have. It's easier this way." Gwen admitted. Her face was poorly masked, clearly showing her pain and sadness.
"Gwen..." He let out a sigh before leaning placing a hand against the door frame and leaning down so that the two were face to face. "That's not what I want, it isn't what Theia wants either, and I doubt it's really what you want. You being here isn't going to ruin anything. I talked to Theia, she apologized for overreacting. I've done this before, the leaving when things seem like they're getting complicated without telling anyone. It isn't fun and it's far from easy. We just found each other again and sure, things aren't like they were back then but that doesn't mean I don't still want you to be a part of my life. You want me to be a part of yours too, right? I mean, we were best friends for the longest time. We terrorized the streets of Tehma together like the little hellspawn we were and I don't know about you but those are some of my favorite memories, some of my only good ones." He said before taking in a deep breath. "If you have to leave, please don't let it be because of me or because you're scared of ruining my life. You could never do that and if you leave believing that, I don't know if I could live with that. Listen, the hallway of an apartment building isn't the place to have this conversation, think you could invite me in?"
Gwen let his words sink in. She still felt guilty. Hurt by the fact that he had moved on and she hadn't. Because deep down she knew a part of her would always love him. For a moment she forgot her space, opening the door wide to let him in. When she turned around her eyes widened, remembering the state of disarray her apartment was in. "Izar, I apologize for the mess... I was... well, packing."
He let out a light chuckle, "Don't worry about it. I'd rather it be all over the floor than packed in that bag." He said, motioning toward the duffle bag before he turned back to her. The small smile that had been on his face while he chuckled had disappeared and he'd become solemn again, "Look, I know you must hate for all the pain and suffering I've put you through. You waited all that time for me and I didn't and I feel like a complete asshole for it. Like, the fact that I moved on and you didn't belittles the feelings I had for you all those years ago. Like, thinking you were gone forever wasn't a good enough reason to move on from what we once had. I'm sorry I lacked the strength and conviction that you showed all this time and that sorry doesn't make up for it and that I have no right to ask you to stay when I've done nothing to earn it but I'm asking you anyway. Please stay here, it's selfish of me, probably the most selfish request I've ever made to anyone but I don't want you to go." He said, eyes glassy as he spoke on the verge of tears at the prospect of losing someone else he cared deeply for. "We can find you another job, or maybe you can join Koma? I...just please don't run away."
Gwen couldn't meet his gaze. She wasn't strong enough to look him in the eyes and still tell him that she needed to go. "But I didn't Izar. I tried to love again. But I couldn't ever forget you. I..." She trailed off. She didn't know what to say. Because she wanted to stay. She wanted to be by his side like they were when they were kids. But even when the were sitting in a coffee shop together, laughing at one of the more mild, humorous adventures they had had over the years, there was still an aching of pain. Because they would never be what they had been before. She didn't want to accept it... and if she stayed, she'd have to. Running away would make her a coward. But she'd rather be a coward than a menace or jealous ex. "Izar. If I stay, I can't guarantee what I will do." She admitted. "You mean so much to me and... I guess I don't want to accept that things are the way they are. But I care too much to hurt you. So leaving is easier."
Izar pinched the bridge of his nose as he let out a sigh. Stray tears made their way down his cheeks but he refused to acknowledge them. "You said it yourself, you don't know what you'll do. Maybe giving yourself the benefit of the doubt is something you should try. You've always been strong willed, Gwen. Running away isn't like you in the slightest. Even when things seemed hopeless, when your head was on a chopping block, I never saw the fire in your eyes waver, the ocean of strength and courage raged even in the face of death. Those deep blue eyes I saw that night you spoke words to my father I never had to courage to say. You're not a coward, Gwen, and running away doesn't suit you. You want to stay and I want you to stay, you're the only other person I know who understands what it's like to be this way, to not be able to die." Izar spoke before using his sleeve to wipe his eyes. "At least, let me show you the guild? Show you around and let you meet its master. If I can't convince you that there's a place for you here then I won't stop you from leaving. I'm just asking you for the chance to show you that this place can be your home too."
She wanted to argue. To insist that she needed to leave. But she knew that she couldn't It would leave even more cuts and she couldn't know if they could heal. His words were moving. Izar had always had a way to sway people with his words. "Alright." She relented, walking near him and raising her hand, evaporating the lingering moisture from his sleeve and face with a small gesture. "Just don't cry okay? You know I was always a sucker for your wounded puppy face." She said, attempting to make a joke.
A small smile appeared on his face at her joke, "I'll try my best." he said with a sniffle, to pull back any tears that tried to fall. "You won't regret it," Izar promised, motioning for her to follow him. The sky was overcast, the possibility of rain on the way sometime later in the day being all but a certainty. With Izar at the lead, they made their way to the guild hall, opening the doors to be met with the voices of all those inside mingling together so that it was hard to discern one conversation from another. Smelling the food on the grill mixing with that of the alcohol in the bar area gave the large room the smell one might expect from a large party. He doubted this alone would be able to convince Gwen of her place here but he hoped the happy looks on everyone's faces would help warm her up to the idea. "So, we have a few different places we could check out first, there's the library, the training grounds, or the maybe the garden out back?" he asked, wanting to let her see what she was most interested in rather than simply dragging her around the place.
Gwen walked along side of Izar as the familiar guild came into view. She had walked past it, though she had never realized that it was a guild. The myriad of smells, sights, and sounds surrounded her as she saw a variety of people mingling around the guild. "Um," She looked around, "Wherever you want to go. There's a lot to see... isn't there."
Izar's first thought was Gwen's affinity for water, the small pool and koi pond behind the guild likely being prime landmarks she would visit if she indeed to chose to stay. With a smile on his face, he nodded, motioning for her to follow. Finding their way behind the guild to the patio out back which overlooked the meadow he noticed a break in the clouds, something he was sure Nolan would be disappointed in as he'd no doubt been hoping for the rain to water his garden. "Just out there is the garden, it's pretty nice but I wouldn't go stomping around near it without permission from Nolan, he can be protective of his plants." He said as he stepped off the patio and began to move toward the meadow with Gwen at his heels. "There's a koi pond just up here, it's a peaceful place I often see some of the more religious guild members meditating and praying at every day. I will admit that while I wouldn't consider myself a religious man, the pond does having a calming effect, watching the small ripples created by the koi as they swim can be almost melodic and even trance-inducing if you stare long enough." He said as the two made it to the edge, his eyes moving to gauge Gwen's reaction so far.
Gwen noticed him looking at the sky, then at the garden, sensing a dryness from the soul. She made note of it and continued following Izar. When they reached the koi pond she was captured immediately, bending down by the side of it and reaching the make contact with the glassy water. A shiver ran through her as she made contact with a familiar feeling, smiling gently. She looked at Izar as she stood back up, "This is a magical place, I'm not surprised people find it so calming." The pond would certainly be a perk of staying here, she knew Sinnan got lonely easily. "What's next on the tour?"
Izar's smile widened at her reaction, watching her touch the water with a shiver. "It is, I like to come here when I'm feeling stressed, being a member of the council can be quite frustrating from time to time. As for our next stop," he spoke with a grin before motioning for her to follow him once more.
They made their way down to the first sub-level of the guild, revealing a massive underground library. "It's no underground pool but the library is a great place to visit if you're looking for information on more obscure subjects or on criminals you may encounter during a job. There are record books dating back to well, before us in here. It's nowhere near as expansive as say, the Galdrabók library but it's big enough to suit our needs. The kids studying at K.I.M.A, the magic school run by one of the S-class mages, come here a lot to cram for finals so it can get kind crowded a few times a year." He said with a laugh before being shushed by the librarian. Izar lowered his laugh to a slight chuckle before letting out a pleasant sigh. Speaking of S-class, I hear there is supposed to be a trials coming up sometime in the next few months. It's open to anyone who wants to test their skills, and with your water magic I'm sure you'd be a shoo-in." He said with a wink before someone caught his eye, a young white haired man placing a book up on the shelf. Catching the young man's attention, Izar waved him over to them.
Shiro noticed Izar immediately, the vibrant lavender hair on the man's head sticking out even in a crowded room. However, the azure haired woman beside him was one in which he did not recognize. Though he was new he was confident that even if names sometimes escaped him that he'd seen everyone's face at least once around here and yet the young, blue haired woman was a mystery to him. She wasn't Theia, Shiro knew that for sure as he'd met the ivory haired woman for the first time only a little less than a month ago. Making his way over he raised his hand to greet Izar, a smile on his child-like face as he spoke in a hushed tone. "It's always good to see you, Izar. Like always you seem to be making new friends." He said before turning his attention to Gwen, "to what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you, Miss?" Shiro asked, extending his hand to her.
Gwen accepted his handshake, smiling lightly, "My name is Gwen Daelaeus, I'm one of Izar's friends." He looked to be a similar age to how she appeared. With a charismatic attitude that made her feel at ease.
He smiled with a tilt of his head, reminiscent of some kind of dog as his ears twitched slightly. It's nice to meet you miss, Daelaeus, I'm Shiro, the guild master here. I'm kinda new to the job but nothing's fallen apart just yet." He spoke with a slight chuckle before letting out a pleasant sigh, "It's always good to see new faces around here, it keeps things fresh and keeps me on my toes." He says, letting go of Gwen's hand before turning to Izar, "not that old faces aren't more than welcome as well." He said, shaking Izar's hand. "So what is it that you wanted to talk about?" He asked the man who'd called him over there.
"You see, I've been trying to convince Gwen to join us here at Koma Inu, she's an incredibly talented water mage and I think she could use a place like Koma to call home," Izar said, placing his hand on Gwen's shoulder.
"Ah, a talented water mage. That's wonderful, not enough people seem to appreciate the classics. At least, not enough to advance in any of them. I mean, there are a lot of people who learn elemental magic but it's just rare to see someone take the time to fully master one of them, you know?" He spoke with a gleeful smile, "Anyway, Koma is always willing to extend its hands to new members. We're a guild that prides itself on the close bonds we form with our fellow guild mates. 'Be strong, but not rude. Be kind, but not weak. Be bold, but not bully. Be humble, but not timid. Be proud, but not arrogant. Let us show that everyone is welcome at our guild, but that our enemies must stay wary'. That was the motto of our guilds recently retired founder. You'll likely see her around here every now and again too, I'd greatly recommend meeting her some time." Shiro spoke of his guild with delight, getting shushed by the librarian for getting over excited.
"I hope you do consider taking Izar's advice, the more the merrier as they say. If you do decide to stay just head to my office. I like to interview new members, helps me get to know them so I'll remember them next time we talk. I'm sure Izar could point you toward my office," He said with a slight bow before moving to continue looking for whatever book he'd been searching for a moment ago.
Izar waves goodbye to Shiro, "So, Gwen, what do you think so far?"
She let out a soft sigh, knowing that Izar had won. She had to concede. Koma Inu was a lovely place, with a kind guild master and her best friend. She pretended to be cross at first, "Well Izar, what can I say, you've roped me into yet another one of your plans.... Thank you." She said smiling wide. "I guess this means I won't have to finish packing.... I should also probably furnish my apartment then." She said, biting her lip as she decided what sort of decor she wanted to bring to her empty place.
Izar's smile widens at her choice to stay, feeling a tinge of excitement at the prospect of getting to work alongside his best friend again. "That's great, I know you'll love it here Gwen. I just know you will!" He says as he pulls her into a brief but tight hug. Part of him knew that Gwen was looking for a reason to stay, no one wants to simply pack up their things and leave everything else behind. "You'll fit right in, and you'll make more friends in no time." He said, his outburst earning him an angry glare from the librarian. Lowering his voice he continues, "We'll figure out what to do with your apartment later. If you still have the same taste in decor that you did when we were kids I'm sure it'll look like a mini palace." He said with a chuckle before point up at a door visible to them in the corner of the library. "Shiro's office is just right over there, he'll be glad you chose to stay, and so am I. So go knock'em dead." He said with a pat on her back and a cheesy smile on his face.
Gwen frowned lightly, "I'd like to think my taste has grown more modest, but then again the last place I stayed for a significant amount of time had been in a temple. I did not choose the decor." She said, waving as she walked to the door, knocking softly.
Izar raised an eyebrow, wondering if his joke had offended her but ultimately shrugged as he didn't know what was wrong with what he'd said and didn't want to possibly make it worse by asking.
Meanwhile...
Shiro opened the door to his office being greeted by the sight of the azure haired woman he'd come to know as Gwen only a few minutes earlier. His smiled widened as they saw her, "Quick to decide, are we? I like that. Please, come in and take a seat. Forgive the mess, I was just about to start on paperwork." He spoke motioning toward one of the two chairs on the opposite side of his own as he made his way around his desk. "Thanks for deciding to choose Koma as your new home. I'm sure Izar played a role in your choice, he can be quite persuasive when he wants to be." Shiro spoke, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips as he did. "Alright, I'm just going to ask you a few questions. It's completely up to you whether you answer them at all so if you feel uncomfortable you don't have to talk. After that, we can sign some paperwork and you'll be all set!" he said with a bit of cheer in his voice as he picked up a paper from his drawer and looked down at it. "Alright, question one: Is there anything you feel it is important for me to know about you? Anything from ailments to just things you want to get off your chest. My ears are always open for those who need it and my lips closed securely. Anything you say stays between us."
Gwen nodded, "Izar certainly is quite the charmer." She prepared herself for his questions, expecting anything and deciding to answer as honestly as possible. His first question was not what she was expecting. "Well... I am a childhood friend of Izar's, I trust you do know what I mean when I say that?" Gwen tested the waters, if he was oblivious to Izar's state, then her meaning would fly over his head, though if he was, Shiro would surely understand what that made her.
Shiro's eyebrows raised at her answer, "That's certainly an interesting thing to hear, indeed!" He said, knowing of Izar's centuries-long dilemma and coming face to face with another immortal, one who happened to be a good friend to the only other immortal he knew was a bit more than simply something he never thought would happen and became more a lapse in cosmic probability. "Well, then I certainly doubt I am the first to say you look good for your age but also I hope you haven't heard it so often that the compliment has lost its charm ." He did his best to let her know he wasn't uncomfortable with her or her immortality and in fact feeling a bit relieved that she was open enough to share something like that with him as he felt he could trust her to be honest with him with every other question he asked. "What is it you're hoping to achieve here by joining Koma?" he asked, the question being far less a simple formality now that he knew that she must be far older than himself.
Gwen nodded. She hadn't heard the compliment in a long time, but it had lost all meaning seeing as she could not age. "I'm not really sure... I don't have a particular goal in mind besides not dying again, I am here for Izar and a guild, while unsteady, is a fair source of income. I think he wants me to be here to make friends again. I haven't settled down in a while." Gwen replied honestly.
"You probably wouldn't be surprised how many times I've heard income as many people's reasons for joining a guild. Normally I talk to these people, suggesting other jobs, some take my advice and those who don't normally don't last too long. However, considering how highly Izar spoke of you as well as what is likely years of experience I don't feel I need to worry about you." he said, leaning forward to place his hands in a double fist on the desk in front of him. "Koma and Onibus town are wonderful places to settle down, especially if your goal is to make friends. Like I said before, Koma prides itself on the strong bonds we form with one another. Even with over one hundred people to take care of at any given time I still feel a connection with each and every one of them. They've become like family to me and I care deeply for them." He said with a warm smile. "I can't say I know nearly as much about Izar as Samarra does but I know this place means a lot to him and that he's formed strong friendships with many of the mages here. I'm sure you'll be able to do the same in no time. In fact, once you get settled in and what not I'd suggest talking to Nolan about his garden. It's been here for a while but it doesn't have a proper irrigation system and he has to do a lot of the watering by hand which likely becomes more difficult as the garden grows. I'm sure he'd appreciate the help of a water mage." Shiro said, just offering the possibility as a suggestion.
Clearing his throat, he moved on, "I'm aware you're a water mage but why is that you chose to advance in that mage specifically?" He asked the next question.
"It came to me," Gwen said, inhaling before she told the full story. "Like Izar, I've died before. My first death was at the hands of his father. He had my body float out to sea so that Izar couldn't bury it. When I woke up I was on an island alone. That's where I learned Water Magic. It started as my breathing in sync with the tides, and over time I realized, the longer my inhale the farther the tide receded, the longer my exhale the larger the waves crashing into the island were. I developed my talents from there and as... as crazy as it sounds, I met the ocean, well, the spirit of the ocean Thalsa. She and I are friends... sort of. It's more complicated than I can explain."
Her story interested the young man, fairy tales had always been something he enjoyed when growing up and Gwen's story wasn't far from sounding like one. However, he had no reason to not believe Gwen, not in the slightest. He was sure that if he ever doubted that story Izar could confirm it but it being true raise plenty of questions about Izar's past Shiro never asked and Samarra never told him, even if she knew herself. Izar's father was some kind of murderer? Killing his son's friend and throwing her body into the ocean? Shiro shivered at the thought and wondered how someone raised like that could turn out as well as Izar seemed to have. "It sounds like you made the best of a bad situation, sometimes that's all any of us can do. I won't pry so you don't need to worry about explaining yourself or your relationships." He said with a warm smile on his face. "You seem like a skilled and well-rounded individual. I certainly look forward to the strength you can add to this guild and the friendships you'll make!" He exclaimed with excitement in his voice as he handed her a piece of paper for her to read over and sign before pulling out the magical stamp. "Where would you like your guild mark and in what color?"
Gwen's signature was that of a practiced lady's- large swooping strokes as she signed fluidly, glancing over the text as she wrote. "Thank you, I will do my best to embody the creed of this guild." She smiled softly, before taking a moment to consider his question. Gwen slid her hand underneath the right side of her shirt, tugging at a sheath tucked underneath her bra, removing her weapon from her body. The knife was a short, thin, savage thing, flat and double-edged. A piercing weapon that slid perfectly between one's ribs, and the only weapon of Gwen's she herself had purchased. She put it on the table in front of her, tugging the hem of her shirt up to show the right side of her ribcage. "Here. If possible, in light blue."
"I'm sure you'll do fine," he spoke as he pressed the stamp down on the magical ink pad which began to glow a light blue color. Moving around the desk he gently places the stamp on the right side of her ribcage. He found the spot to be an interesting choice, especially for a woman as proving her alliance to others would mean lifting her shirt. However, he would be lying if he claimed it was the weirdest spot he'd ever been asked to place a guild mark. After letting the stamp stay for a few brief moments be pulled it away to reveal the bright blue mark. Shiro smiled at the sight, feeling his bond with the new guildmate already growing stronger with the presence of the mark. Shiro sat the stamp back on the ink pad and back on the desk before pulling up his sleeve to show his own guild mark. "This mark is worn by all the members of Koma Inu, it's the bond we all share and it brings us closer together. The Komainu is a guardian spirit, known for protecting shrines. I'd like to believe it was chosen not only as the guild's name but for the emblem because in some way we are all Komainu, spirits, souls, bravely guarding the things that matter to us. Friends, family, loved ones, ourselves, everyone has something they wish to guard and protect." He said, his face soft as he stared down at his own mark with a look of pride before he turned back to Gwen. "and thanks to this guild, we don't have to guard those things alone." He spoke softly with a smile before letting out a pleasant sigh. "I wish you the best of luck during your time here. I'm always here if you want to chat but I personally suggest finding other friends among your new Guild mates." Shiro explained before finding his way back to his chair. " 'Vivo cum virtus, scientia et fortitudo. Beatus ille quem vivere in locus amoenus et carpe diem,' as my former master always says which translates into, 'Live with virtue, knowledge, and courage. Blessed is the one who lives in a pleasant place and seizes the day.' " He chuckled slightly. "Now, I've got to get working on planning the S-class trials but I hope we can talk again soon."
Gwen smiled, nodding politely. She stood, the chair scraping lightly against the floor, first reaching across to shake his hand. "It was a pleasure Shiro, I hope to see you soon again, but right now, I suppose I'm going to drag Izar off to get tea or some other activity." Koma Inu would be the start of something new for her. Something she hadn't experienced in a long time. A true home. After they shook hands, she grabbed her steel off the table, holding it as she left his study. Gwen found Izar sitting in a chair outside, his gaze instantly meeting her's as she walked out.
Izar stood from the chair, "Welcome to the guild....I'm really glad you chose to stay." He spoke, his voice one of sincere joy, " I promise you won't regret it." He continued, his tone a bit more solemn, the man never taking his promises lightly. Reaching his hand behind his head his smile returned, " So why don't we celebrate? Coffee? Tea? drinks on me so take your pick." He said with a thumbs up. "It's not every day my best friend joins the same guild as me after all."
"Why don't we go to a coffee house? You can get coffee and they've probably got good tea too." Gwen replied, "I think there's one a few blocks from here, but honestly, I haven't explored all of Onibus. Only our street and the way to the train..." Her cheeks were slightly flushed, embarrassed of her lack of knowledge.
Izar took a moment to think. his mind searching for which shop she might be talking about. "Ah, you're talking about Kaldi's. Yeah, that place is pretty nice, it's family owned so it's one of a kind. I stop there every now and again." He said with a smile and a nod as he and Gwen walked beside one another out of the library, making their way out of the guild and back to the streets of Onibus. As they walk, Izar checks his phone to make sure he didn't have any missed calls from Theia, knowing she was nearing the later stages of pregnancy but with her less than a five minute run away he knew just keeping his phone on would be enough to ease his mind. As the two enter the shop, they order their coffee from the counter before finding themselves a seat in the corner of the small shop. "So, what was the interview like? It's been a while since I did mine and back then Samarra was guild master." He asked, curious about how Gwen felt about all the questions as well as how well Shiro was doing as the new master.
Gwen nursed her tea, holding it in her hands like a precious artifact. She bit her lip gently, thinking for a moment. "He's not fully... human, is he? He moved... bouncier and there was something about him. The questions he asked were fine. He asked about my past, I told him the pieces of it that he wanted to hear and left the rest for a rainy day if he asks polite enough. He seems like a good kid, just... a little young. Probably naive, though I don't know him well enough to make judgments." She said.
Izar nodded at her observations, "I see you've got quite the keen eye. Shiro is part demon according to Samarra." Izar said before taking a light sip of his black coffee. He let the cup move from his lips back down to the table. "He's a good kid, certainly a bit naive but he's gotten a lot better since Samarra took him under her wing. I don't think he was raised around humans so a lot of this is a learning experience for him right now. I'm sure he'll get better with time" Izar spoke softly in their calm conversation. "The age thing was certainly a concern I had as well, but then again, Samarra started the guild when she was only seventeen so I'm willing to give her apprentice the benefit of the doubt." He said, giving a slight shrug before looking back up to Gwen. "Where'd you get your guild mark by the way? I got mine right here." He asked as he reached up to place his hand on the left side of his chest.
Gwen put her hand to her side, "Right here. I used to keep my knife here. My mentor told me to always keep steel at your side to protect you. Well, I thought... If I am in a guild, and with you again, then I will have friends to protect me." A weak smile sprung to her lips as she glanced at her lap, pulling the knife where it sat on her lap, meticulously obscured from vision through their entire journey with the sleight of her hand, into view. "Cheesy, isn't it?"
Izar's smile widened as she explained her reasoning in placing her guild mark on her ribcage. He shrugged slightly at her question, "Maybe a little but cheesy doesn't necessarily mean bad. Some people find it endearing. I think it's a lovely sentiment and I'm glad you feel the way you do about it. The people here are could people and I'll always do my best to be there when you need me." He said before taking another sip of his coffee. "Well, now that you're a part of the guild, what plans do you have? Taking on some solo jobs? Finding a team, participating in any guild events? As strong as you are, I'm sure you'll be able to find a team in no time. Might even be able to hang with the S-class." He said with a soft chuckle.
Gwen sighed softly, not in despair but as she thought about his question. "I don't know. Money is important... So jobs are in order. I'm not sure about a team. I suppose I'll let things settle into place as they will." She pursed her lips, "I haven't used my magic for combat in... over... well, I don't know actually. It'll take a while getting used to using it again." She pondered more and before Izar could say another word her eyes widened, and she gripped her skirt tight in excitement, "Izar, do you think you would fight me?"
Izar tilted his head a bit as if confused by her sudden request but he quickly straightened it, coming to understand the nature of her question rather quickly. "Ah, you mean a friendly spar to knock off some of the rust? Hm, that'd certainly be a good way to quickly see how far we've come in the time we were separated from one another and I haven't had a good spar since in a bit. Yeah, I think it would be a lot of fun." He said with a smile, " I promise to go easy on you, I mean, I did just win Koma the grand magic games. It would be wrong of me to go all out on a such a young woman." He spoke with a playful tone before laughing, "I'm only joking. I'd like to check on Theia once we're done here so let's meet later today around 5pm, in the field behind the guild hall." He said before finishing his coffee, "call me if you change your mind and remind me to show you around Onibus one of these days. There're plenty of other great places around here." He said with a playful wink before standing up from his seat and heading out of the shop.