PSL - A wandering Cepter (WARNING FOR VOLUME 5 SPOILERS!)

[najaran]

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

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[redeeming_loyalty]

He looks back from the waters as she and Gooligan start to banter and he just smirks gently.

"I look forward to another opportunity to speak with Mast Horowitz. If there's trouble, I only hope I can be of some assistance. I take it these Black Cepters are precisely that."

[najaran]

"They're something Najaran isn't supposed to be talking about."

She sweat beaded a little. "Well it's too late for that, so we might as well tell him, he wants to help."

"Najaran, they're Cepters...."

She winced and her shoulders slumped. She nodded. "I just... he almost feels like a Cepter. But you're right, Golligan..." she said, softly.

[redeeming_loyalty]

"If I may take a guess: Cepters use magic, with the cards somehow involved?"

[najaran]

Najaran nodded. "We summon things from the cards. But Gooligan is right. It is too dangerous to ask a non-cepter for help, no matter how much we need it. I'm sorry."

"NAJARAN!" he scolded, flying free of her hand to land point down on her head.

"I'm sorry! OW! What did I do wrong this time?" she asked, catching hold of him again.

"Think before you speak, about what you are going to say."

[redeeming_loyalty]

He watches Gooligan fly out of her hand and give her a solid smack on the head. Privately, he's glad the Staff of the Ancients doesn't take such measures.

"I also use magic. While I may be unfamiliar with how it works here, I am willing to lend my skills in whatever way is needed. The spirits that guide me have made their wishes known, when the staff rang earlier. I would not have agreed to follow you to the beach, otherwise."

[najaran]

"We thank you for the offer, but it is too dangerous, and she should not have asked in the first place," Gooligan said firmly.

[redeeming_loyalty]

"I still would like to travel with you, for a time. If trouble occurs, we can cross that bridge." The tone of his voice suddenly drops, his face severe. "I assure you, I will not be a liability if there is a fight."

[najaran]

"That will be up to Master Horowitz," Gooligan said, firmly.

NAjaran sulked a bit. "Ganz and Joquin and Alta weren't in the way, you know," she grumped. "They did more than I did in bisteam, and none of them were Cepters."

"True..." Gooligan admitted, reluctantly.

"Lots of my friends haven't been Cepters, that doesn't mean people can't help," she said, taking that as encouragement. "Everyone has their own strengths and abilities!"

Goligan winked at Anubis subtly.

[redeeming_loyalty]

Anubis goes still, realizing that the argument has been rather turned on its head. He's not quite certain what to make of it, but it sounds like his presence might be tolerated for a bit.

"Very well, I will ask Master Horowitz when he returns. Until then, let's walk as friends." He is still trying to get used to that word, but it's been so long since he had friends, it's nice to say.

[najaran]

Najaran nodded and put her hand behind her back, cards returning to their place. "Alright. As friends, then," Najaran said happily.

[redeeming_loyalty]

"Thank you." He gives something of a shy smile, glad that he'll have some time to learn from the strange duo (and eventually trio) he's come across.

[najaran]

"So... as a friend.... what is food like in your world?" she asked licking her lips.

[redeeming_loyalty]

At that, she earns a warm chuckle from Anubis as he leans slightly on his staff with a smile.

"It's very....flavorful. Unfortunately, cooking is not one of my strong suits, so I stick to simpler meals, like the rice." Perhaps for the better, he has a feeling she'd be asking him to make all kinds of meals if he did. She seemed only too happy for his rice earlier.

[najaran]

"Like what?" she asked, fascinated. What KINDS of flavours? Hungry Cepters want to know!

[redeeming_loyalty]

"Well..." He pauses, that was a very broad question and he rubs at his chin idly. "I like fish, and there are many ways to make it salty, or spicy." He offers, not really certain it's what she's looking but he is answering the best that he can.

"It's rather like asking someone to describe a favorite flower in a field the other person has never seen before."

[najaran]

She licks her lips a bit. "I still like hearing about other foods. Makes me hungry."

[redeeming_loyalty]

"Feeding small temptations can lead to greater troubles, if you're not careful."

[najaran]

"Too late." Gooligan said, not that Najaran was paying attention.

"I'm more interested in feeding my body, than my temptations," she informed him.

[redeeming_loyalty]

"Gluttony can be just as powerful as Greed." He says quietly, but he can already tell she had the insatiable appetite of Kento of Hardrock. He can only shake his head with a sigh, and look back out over the water.

"If you make yourself hungry again, my rice ball will have been pointless."

[najaran]

She gave him a bright smile. "You say that like I ever stop being hungry!" Her voice was so cheerful.

[redeeming_loyalty]

"I have a friend who thinks with his stomach as well. His name is Kento of Hardrock, and I get the feeling you two might get along should you ever meet."

[najaran]

"Sounds like fun!"

[redeeming_loyalty]

"If he should ever visit, I'll let him know to search for the sound of his own stomach." He smirks.

[najaran]

She grinned brightly, and was about to say more when an explosion from overhead rocked the sand under them, sending them flying.

"ZENITH!" NAjaran scolded dangerly as she rolled over onto her back, spitting out sand. "Not what I meant when I said I wanted a sandwi....." She stopped speaking as their attacker came into view, a hole in the sky closing behind a figure standing on the back of a huge clockwork owl.

"Cepter Najaran! Hand over your deck and give us the whereabouts of Zenith Dragon Eye, and we shall make your death swift and painless!"

"Black Cepters!" she gasped, using Goologan as a staff to get back to her feet. "Don't suppose you'd believe me if I said I don't actually know where Zenith is?" she asked, buying time. No way she was handing over her cards to a Black Cepter!

[redeeming_loyalty]

Anubis jumps as the explosion sends them flying, the staff in his hand emitting a bright light that briefly surrounds him as he lands on his feet. He glances over to see Najaran rolling upright in the sand and he quickly moves over toward her. As someone calls her out, he holds his staff out in front of him with both hands, a severe look on his expression.

"You will not harm her." He snarls as he glares defiantly back at the unwelcome arrival. He doesn't doubt she can protect herself, but he's not standing by idly with a threat before them.