She tries to tell him not to go easy on her account, but it is clear that she doesn't really mean it. Towards the end of the day, they reach a clearing where there they find the long-burned remains of a destroyed building. It seems that this place has been abandoned for years, probably decades, based on the proliferation of plants.
"Whoa..." Azril slows at the sight of the old ruins. "I wonder what this place used to be..."
Maicyn does not reply, and after a moment Azril glances over to see her kneeling before a large piece of cut stone about a dozen feet from the house. It is overgrown with plant life and starting to crumble but relatively untouched by the fire. A tombstone.
The inscription on it reads: Here lies Laelley Jiwovz, beloved mother and wife.
"I think . . . this is where they were born. This is where my father grew up, and . . . and my aunt."
"Whoa..." Azril slows at the sight of the old ruins. "I wonder what this place used to be..."
Maicyn does not reply, and after a moment Azril glances over to see her kneeling before a large piece of cut stone about a dozen feet from the house. It is overgrown with plant life and starting to crumble but relatively untouched by the fire. A tombstone.
The inscription on it reads: Here lies Laelley Jiwovz, beloved mother and wife.
"I think . . . this is where they were born. This is where my father grew up, and . . . and my aunt."
"This...?" His voice trails off before he speaks again, quietly. "Did you.. did you know about this place...?"
Maicyn does not reply, and after a moment Azril glances over to see her kneeling before a large piece of cut stone about a dozen feet from the house. It is overgrown with plant life and starting to crumble but relatively untouched by the fire. A tombstone.
The inscription on it reads: Here lies Laelley Jiwovz, beloved mother and wife.
"I think . . . this is where they were born. This is where my father grew up, and . . . and my aunt."
"This...?" His voice trails off before he speaks again, quietly. "Did you.. did you know about this place...?"
"No. I knew my dad was born in the mountains, but that's it. I don't think he ever visited."
"No. I knew my dad was born in the mountains, but that's it. I don't think he ever visited."
". . . What happened to them?"
Maicyn gives Azril a look. "I forgot you weren't from around here. They were attacked by a dragon called Marrzak. He smashed my grandfather and took my aunt. Later he fought my father and, well, it's a long story. Maybe we should keep moving."
Maicyn gives Azril a look. "I forgot you weren't from around here. They were attacked by a dragon called Marrzak. He smashed my grandfather and took my aunt. Later he fought my father and, well, it's a long story. Maybe we should keep moving."
Maicyn gives Azril a look. "I forgot you weren't from around here. They were attacked by a dragon called Marrzak. He smashed my grandfather and took my aunt. Later he fought my father and, well, it's a long story. Maybe we should keep moving."
"Y- you sure? You look pretty tired..."
"I'm alright. Let's just go." She stands up and begins walking back along the road.
"I'm alright. Let's just go." She stands up and begins walking back along the road.
"If you say so." He stands a joins her. Robin follows gradually, happy to sniff along.
They continue down the road. Maicyn is still slower than her typical pace, but she continues stoically. Later in the day, a side path splits off from the main road and Maicyn continues past it. Azril can see buildings in the distance down that path.
"If you say so." He stands a joins her. Robin follows gradually, happy to sniff along.
They continue down the road. Maicyn is still slower than her typical pace, but she continues stoically. Later in the day, a side path splits off from the main road and Maicyn continues past it. Azril can see buildings in the distance down that path.
"Thank goodness... a village," he mutters, walking alongside her.
They continue down the road. Maicyn is still slower than her typical pace, but she continues stoically. Later in the day, a side path splits off from the main road and Maicyn continues past it. Azril can see buildings in the distance down that path.
"Thank goodness... a village," he mutters, walking alongside her.
Maicyn is not taking the path to the village, continuing past it.
