Go on a Foray [CLOSED]

The first thing she did was leave him a note...

"Morning Snopy! I'm gonna head towards Lothuria to find my friend! Last time I saw him he was hurt, so I wanna make sure he's okay. I will be back though! I promise! Just give me four days, okay? Well, if you wanna still travel with me, I mean. See you soon!" Yep, that should do it. He knew where she was going and how long she would be gone, so everything should be alright! Right? Nadia thought so. Her innocent and positive outlook on most of the world was admiring, and irritating. She was too naive, though she did not know it. Now, she was off on her own, leaving behind the only friend that she currently had. Was this smart? She didn't know, but she had traveled for years without someone accompanying her, so why would that change now? Now, two days since that not was written and left for Snopy, Nadia was in the middle of the Poisoned Weald. Night had gone a few hours ago and she was sleeping comfortably in a tree, like she usually did. There had been a fire going, but it was out now. She was engulfed in the blackness of the thick forest, still and peaceful. She was sleeping, tired from hours of searching for a Taerick that she had some how befriended in the past week.

Nadia had no idea she had been spotted...

Silence, darkness, and a cool breeze moving through the trees, comforting the sweet girl as she lay quietly on one of the thickest branches of the largest tree she could find. There was nothing to fear, nothing to disturb her sleep. At least that's how it usually was. Tonight was different though. Tonight Nadia was to be disturbed in an extremely frightening manner. She hadn't heard anything coming; she was a heavy sleeper. Suddenly, lights shined down through the tops of the trees, beaming through the broken patterns of leaves and onto her face. Was it day? "Mm..." Nadia awoke to look up at what woke her. "What is that?" she asked herself. A loud thunk sounded and she looked to a strange gadget of sorts that had struck the branch of the tree she was sleeping on. As it hit, Nadia immediately felt threatened and jumped to her feet. She leaped back and landed on a branch of a new tree, watching as a woman slid down a string and to the branch. She observed the woman with wide eyes and a racing heart, wondering what type of being she was.

"Y-You... know my name?" Nadia blinked a couple of times, her sweet voice shaking a little. She waited for some sort of reply and suddenly tilted her head to the side, asking in as serious as a tone as someone like Nadia could get, "Are you an alien that's here to steal my brain?"

Nadia watched the woman curiously with the innocent gaze of a young child. As the woman revealed her face, Nadia smiled even wider and clapped her hands together once. "Oh, you're beautiful! You're not an alien." Nadia leaned forward and hopped down from the branch of the tree. She landed lightly on the ground and then looked up to the woman with a sweet smile. "So what is it you need me for?" Nadia said and within moments had her questions answered, "Someth-one that only I can help you find?" Nadia blinked a couple of times and glanced off, diving into her own mind to see if she could think of anything. She couldn't and then shrugged and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I have no idea what I could know..." Her final word came with a fading tone. Something clicked in her mind and made her feel sick to her stomach. This woman reminded her of someone. She had thought of it the moment she revealed her face, but now that she was closer she could see it. The child-like innocence faded and Nadia couldn't even look at her anymore.

"I-I-I can try to help you, but I-I don't think I'll know anything... Can you hurry and ask me, I need to get back to my friend." she said in a shaky voice, full of fear and panic. "It's not her, it's not her, it's not her." she repeated in her mind over and over again. She closed her eyes, shaking her head harshly, as if trying to shake the thoughts out. She'd listen to anything the woman said, her seemingly gentle nature calming Nadia a bit, but it wasn't much. Nadia placed her bow on her right shoulder and her hands behind her back, fiddling her fingers around a bit. It was obvious that something was wrong. Her eyes were slightly widened, she was trembling, her heart was racing, and she was having trouble breathing steady.

"The person I seek..."

"Run. I need to run. I need to get out of here!" Nadia took a single step back...

"...is a young woman going by the name..."

This can't be her... Is it? Is this woman... and one more...

"Eira Selene von Zarkonheinz."

Nadia's heart skipped a beat and she felt an intense head rush. Horrifying memories flashed through her mind like some sort of presentation of her deepest fear. Her heart began to race, her body was heating up. Nadia took another step back and then another. She began to turn away, getting ready to flee for her life when she froze right as her foot touched ground behind her. This woman that decided to seek her out looked at her with an expression that she couldn't explain. A rush came over her again, but this one was different. "She's... practically begging..." Nadia said as she watched this woman drop down to a knee. Nadia had no idea what to do. She was so confused. "S-Stop it... Stand up. Don't do that. Stand up!" Nadia said in her own desperate manner, her voice trembling as she shouted slightly. "Who are you? Why do you care about her?" Nadia asked as tears of her own began showing up, "It's best just to stay away from people like her. All she does is pretend to be nice until she gets what she wants from you and then kills you when you no longer have anything to offer." Nadia began backing away again, the subject of Eira von Zarkonheinz bringing up way too many horrible memories. "L-Look, I can't stay here. I wanna go home." Nadia looked away, tempted to start running and not knowing at all what was holding her back, but something was. She reached up and grabbed on to her bow, clenching the hold tightly. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she felt that she needed to be prepared. She kept glancing off towards the East, as if she was waiting for the perfect moment to run and get away from this woman.

The woman did not listen to her on two occasions; she did not stand when practically begged to do so, nor did she explain to Nadia who she even was. It wasn't the best idea if you wanted someone's help. Usually, you'd attempt to create some sort of trust to get someone to do what you want. This was only scaring Nadia more. She took another step back, the woman's expression no longer holding her there. "Y-Your honor?" Nadia repeated in confusion. This woman didn't speak like most people did. She understood what was being said, but the formal way of speaking was making her feel like she was being interrogated. "Wh-What?" Nadia's eyes widened when this woman revealed that she knew things about her, "That woman is scary. She's like a demon. She always where's black and carries around that black sword. Her eyes are so lifeless... She's not even human! There's no way that she can be stopped... P-People have tried and tried again. She doesn't hesitate to take her down... She doesn't care about anyone's life." Nadia took another step back, her back now hitting the trunk of a tree. Swallowing air, she glanced towards the right and was finally ready to run. "I c-can't... I d-don't w-wanna talk about her anymore! I'm going home!" Nadia began shouting loudly, tears forming in her eyes. Nadia turned away, her direction east and began to run.

"I... want to save a member of my family..."

Nadia immediately slowed down. She hadn't gotten five steps out before she stopped and turned back to the woman in armor. "She... has someone you care about?" Nadia said, all of her fears seemingly dropping to zero when that one bit was explained. She hit a more personal note there. Nadia stared straight at her with wide eyes, blinking only once before she stepped back towards the woman. "If you want me to help you save someone you care about, I will. Just please stop being on the ground. I'm not a Queen or nothing, so I don't deserve that and it makes me feel weird..." Nadia said in a more normal tone. She sighed and plopped down on the ground, leaning her back against a tree and curling her knees up to her chest. "I don't understand how I am supposed to help you. I haven't seen the Woman In Black in years. And how did you find out about me? Who told you that the woman hurt me?" Nadia asked. It should have been apparently by then that Nadia could not say Eira's name. Once those questions were answered, Nadia would lower her head a bit, not looking towards the woman and ask in the calmest tone she could muster, "So, what exactly do you need to know from me?"

Nadia was getting a pretty bad headache with everything that was going on. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in her tree and go back to sleep. She probably should have taken the advice of a friend of hers and stopped acting so recklessly, but she chose against it. Now, she was sitting in the middle of the forest with a woman who refused to explain who she was, talking about the one person she feared to the point of mental breakdown. Nadia was trying to trust this woman, but how can you trust someone who looks exactly like the one woman you fear? How can you trust a person who refuses to merely tell you their name? She didn't like being so suspicious of someone, especially when that person genuinely needed her help. She was relieved to see that the woman would at least stop bowing to her. She didn't catch the thing about the woman being used to it, at least not at this moment. Her mind was elsewhere. "Luxanna told you about me?" Nadia blinked a few times in shock. If Luxanna, one of her closest friends, were telling this woman to find her, then she had to be someone trustworthy, right? Maybe this woman was lying? She could be some sort of spy going after the Noir. Even if it was a cool story flying through her mind, Nadia knew that this woman was telling the truth.

"I don't see why Luxanna would tell you that I would know her current whereabouts." Nadia said, rubbing the back of her head, "The Noir track her quite well. Last time there was an update on the woman's file, she was heading north in Cieria. How come Luxanna didn't just offer the Noir's help? She'd usually just offer her own assistance, especially since she's the one that is leading that case." Nadia paused for a moment and tried to think. She didn't know much about the current case, excluding what she was currently telling this woman now. It also bothered her that Luxanna was acting strangely; she'd have to go see her quick. "Are you sure that's why Lux told you to come get me?" Nadia blinked a few times, tilting her head to the side, "I feel like there has to be something else."

One thing Nadia has never been and will likely never be is formal or professional. She was one of the Devotes within the Noir, but that was because of her loyalty to those within it and her abilities beyond that. When Tsubine explained what Lux had actually said, she became confused. “Something's missing...” she said in a slight whisper as she tried to think what it was, “Lux is acting weird. I need to go see if she's alright...” Nadia was really thinking out loud at that moment, but her attention was caught once more. Her usual free-spirited nature was sorta gone at the moment, which was to be expected considering the current subject. “Oh, well that's silly.” Nadia said and smiled happily, giggling a little, “Everyone in the Noir is really nice. We're like a family, so you should join us if you want. All we really do is fight evil and help each other out. It's sorta like being in a super hero group! It's fun!” Nadia's' smile was quite sincere, but it dropped the moment that the subject was changed from allying with the Noir. “Well, from what I understand, she kicked someone off the case and took it herself.” Nadia explained, “I dunno what it was, but something about the case got her all serious and stuff. She wants the woman in black found fast now.”

Nadia blinked a few times. “Well it's technically not an update... She was seen there, but she moves so fast and is constantly traveling.” Nadia explained, “It's hard to keep track of her. Most of the time, we only can catch her when another village has been slaughtered, which sadly could be any time now...” Nadia's face saddened and she glanced over to the side. They could not catch this woman and anyone who fought her died. It got to the point where people feared going after Eira von Zarkonheinz. “I have a feeling I know why Lux sent you to me, but I don't understand why she'd want me to tell you that...” Nadia kept her gaze low as she glanced towards her left arm. Under her sleeve, she always kept a blue ribbon wrapped around her lower arm. This ribbon belonged to Eira. She didn't know why she kept it, but something about it made her never let it go. “I think she just wants me to explain to you how mean the black woman can be. If she has someone you care about, I am really sorry, but I think the person might be gone already... When I met her, she was hurt really badly. My... Daddy and I were living in the forest alone and she came across us... She needed help, so we helped her for a while. I tried being friends with her, but she never really talked. I only got her to talk once, which was nice, but the day after that she was all healed up... She didn't need us anymore, so she killed Daddy and tried to kill me. She doesn't let you live if you talk to her... I don't know why, but she doesn't like it.”

“Really?” Nadia said in a surprised tone, “She's probably doing it cause she likes you then!” Nadia was obviously completely unaware of the meeting that took place between this woman and Luxanna. Nadia never touched the ribbon, she only lowered her sleeve to show it and the woman dashed towards her. Instantly frightened, Nadia pushed herself back into the tree, causing herself to hit her head, but she ignored it. The sudden charge towards her frightened her more than anything. Because of it, Nadia froze. She stopped breathing and just stared straight forward as the ribbon was examined. She felt as if everything had slowed down and couldn't move. The look on her face could only be described at pure terror. At the moment though, both of them were sort of in their own devices. The woman began to cry and Nadia could hear it, but it was slightly muffled from her own shock. She was merely experiencing a horror-filled flash back of Eira von Zarkonheinz chasing her down. It's not surprising to find that when the person who looks exactly like Eira charges at her, that she'd mentally freak out. Through the muffled sounds of this woman crying, Nadia heard a single sentence that helped her understand.

"Why does it have to be her..." the woman spoke out through her tears. Nadia's head turned to look down at the woman crying in front of her. Her expression of horror had not changed. She was still scared to death, very slowly calming down. "Why is she doing this...?" the woman spoke out again. Nadia stared at her. “The woman... in black... s-she doesn't have someone you care about... d-does she?” Nadia forced out the words, obviously struggling to speak. Her body was still tense, her heart beating too fast to be healthy, and her breathing was labored, though it did not look like it. “She... is the person you care about...” Nadia said, the words slowly getting easier to say, “That's why Lux sent you to me, isn't it? You needed the truth and I was the only one who could show it to you. You're her sister... aren't you?” Nadia had gotten Eira to talk once, only once, and the entire conversation was about one woman. “Tsubine...?” Nadia blinked once, her entire demeanor finally able to calm down a bit. She could tell now that Eira was not always evil, not always cruel. Something must have happened, but what? Nadia didn't know whether it would be accepted, or whether she'd be beaten and thrown in the river for it, but she took a chance and moved towards Tsubine and attempted to hug her.

“Please... don't cry.” Nadia asked as she felt herself wanting to cry with Tsubine as well, “Y-You're wanting to stop her, right? I know you don't want to, but the Noir can help you. If Lux wants to help you, there's a reason for it. She knows something, I know it. We can find her and stop everything she is doing. Even if it's just this once... Can you put your trust in us? Maybe we can be friends.” Nadia did her best to keep a straight face and hold the tears back. She felt so bad for Tsubine now. “All we have to do is find Lux.” Nadia said with a slightly cheerful tone that was sorta forced, “She should be back at the base now... At least I think. She was heading to Zakat few weeks ago, but she should be done with that by now. Yep, yep.” Nadia was shaking pretty badly. She feared seeing Eira again. She didn't want to, but something out of her control was pushing her to help this woman, Eira's sister.

There wasn't much that Nadia could say in reply to anything that was just revealed. She was in shock, but some how not that much. Apparently everything that had gone on today was making anything else seem so minor. Nadia took in a deep breath and slowly let it out after Tsubine stopped speaking. “The Emperor of Zakat...” Nadia finally stood up and placed her hands on her hips, looking out towards the darkness of the forest, “I can see why Lux put the case on top priority then. Knowing her, she doesn't want your name damaged or something like that...” Nadia turned back towards Tsubine and pulled up a smile. She had a bit more confidence now. “You know, one thing about the Noir, we do things the way the client wants.” Nadia explained with a cheerful tone, “No one of the Noir has to stop her. We can just do our best to get you too her. From there, we don't need to be involved.”

Off in the distance, but still close by, a young blonde woman was closing on Nadia and Tsubine's position. She saw the sudden appearance of a light from a good two miles away and decided to take a chance. Luxanna was running, hoping that this was them and luckily it was. Before she reached fifty feet in, she cloaked herself and began walking to make sure that she couldn't be seen or sensed. If this wasn't the people she wanted it to be, she didn't want to disturb them, so she took precautions. As she stepped into the clearing, she noticed Nadia and the Emperor and merely watched them to see how Tsubine handled the situation. Too bad for Lux she arrived after Tsubine's guilt filled confession. Either way, she was glad to see that everything was alright. She merely took in a quiet breath and calmed herself down before she was to reveal her position. For now, she was hidden.

“There's only one tiny problem, if the Noir are heading the case without your instructions behind them, they will fight her.” Nadia explained with a worried look on her face, “I need a phone or something... I can call Lux or someone back at base and tell everyone one what is going on.” Nadia noticed something, a little flicker of light towards the ground a few feet away. She blinked a few times and looked in that direction. She didn't know what was there, but she felt like she was being watched. She reached out and waved her hand in the area, missing Luxanna completely, but she was still suspicious. “Anyways...” Nadia said and looked back towards Tsubine, “If Lux offered help, she'll give it. I doubt you've burned that bridge. You should get to know her a bit more... Her loyalty, especially to her own word, is very, very, very high. I trust her with my life, ya know.”

“The members of the Noir would come to understand the situation completely.” Luxanna decided it was time to reveal herself and dropped the cloak, “If I hold no ill will, then there is doubt that any of them would.” Nadia perked up very quickly and practically tackled Luxanna. The two shared a quick hug before Luxanna looked up to Tsubine, Nadia still clinging to her. “I have no problem with helping you with anything that comes along, even if separate from the Noir.” Luxanna explained, a single arm still wrapped around Nadia in the manner a friend would, “We discovered Eira's current destination. Coincidentally, she's heading right through Noir territory. I have Pariah watching the area and he is to stall her until we are able to arrive.” The final sentence Luxanna spoke was not without hesitation. She feared for Pariah's life, knowing what had happened to other people who had fought her before. “Is Pariah gonna be okay?” Nadia asked concerned. “He'll be fine.” Luxanna stated and then looked back to Tsubine, “How quickly can that thing move?” She was referring to the ship of sorts that was flying above their heads. They were going to need a quick way of transportation to get so far south.

“Lux, Lux, Lux! I made a new friend!” Nadia randomly brought up in a proud manner, as if it was a huge accomplishment for her. Luxanna smiled down at Nadia and kissed her forehead. “Good. I'm glad, but we can't talk about that right now.” Luxanna said in a motherly tone, “We'll get the Emperor to the woman in black first and then talk about it, okay?” Nadia smiled happily and nodded. Luxanna gave Nadia a certain look and the white haired girl nodded and skipped away happily. Luxanna chuckled at her for a moment, "That girl is too innocent for her own good..." and then stepped over to Tsubine. “I hate to bring it up, but since it's the current mission... Did you find out the truth?” Luxanna's heart was racing. She truly did not want it to be Tsubine's sister. It was obvious that it was though. She could tell Tsubine had been crying. Someone as strong as her didn't cry unless there was a important reason to do so.

“Yeah, it can be a wonderful trait, but it's almost gotten her killed a few too many times.” Lux said with a sigh, “At least things are coming together. Hopefully soon, a part of your life will return...” Luxanna looked to Tsubine when the Emperor turned to her and blinked a single time before she was thanked. Nadia, during this time, was peeking at them from behind a tree, being nosy like any child would. Luxanna knew she was there; she always was. “Thank me when we get her back.” Luxanna said quite bluntly. She didn't feel right being thanked, not in this situation. If things were to go bad, she didn't know how it was going to go. For now, she'd merely accompany them both and do what she can to assist. Luxanna straightened her back and then turned towards Nadia. Turning this way would reveal the scar that was left on the side of her face, though that was not Luxanna's intention. “Nadia. Come on. You've got all of your things, right?” Luxanna called out to her and the white haired girl came out with a smile. “Yep, yep! I've got everything!” Nadia held up her bow, since that was all she ever really carried with her. “If we can, it'd be best to get going soon.” Luxanna said towards Tsubine, “Are you ready?” Though it was a simple question, it had a deep impact. There was a chance that Tsubine was going to have to take down her own sister. Would she be ready to do something like that if the need came about? Assuming that it was time for them to go, Nadia and Tsubine would both follow Tsubine's lead. Luxanna would proceed to give Tsubine and her men the directions towards the Noir's land. Luxanna would be quiet most of the time, only speaking if she was asked a question by Nadia or Tsubine. Nadia would stare out the window or pick at anything she thought was interesting for the time being.