Kingdom of Barath *Advanced* discussion

Everyone calls it a city, but it is really more of a town. The streets are loud, fights break out here and there. Houses are being put up all the time because more and more people are comming, escaping the commig war.

Arcadia Milton walked quickly through the busy town. Everyone was bustling, trying to get their last minute stuff done before the stands close and the sun falls. Tightly hugged against her chest is a bundle of wood wrapped in a wool cloth. She hoped that the rouff wool wouldnt make scratched on the wood.
It wasnt just any sort of wood though, it was peices of what some call a Red Tree. Acadia was pretty sure it was called a Maple tree though. The tree gets it's name because always, just before the cold months, the trees leaves turn firey red.

Acadia has always wanted to see them, but she lived to far north to have them up there. She had heard stories from the travelers that came to the city, and they seem so beautiful. So now, hugging to her chest, is a peice of that very tree. Acadia had traded a good meaty dear to get this peice of tree and it was worth it.

Of course her father doesnt know, he would have said such things were childish and unesessary. Thats why she went out and hunted the dear herself and now she was going to surprise him. With a skip in her step, Acadia made her way across town.

Echo had started the day smoothly, but now she had managed to close up her booth early to finish errands but everything was getting in the way for her to do that smoothly. She rarely ever was in a rush, but didn't believe in running (unless extreme circumstances), so she quickly was walking through the crowds. She was looking forward to spending the next few days in the woods, if only she could finish up her errands. She had deliveries to make all around town (another side job she has). Echo had managed to buy all the supplies to deliver but with her arms overloaded, it was hard for her to see and maneuver through the afternoon crowds of North City. Just then some young boys ran through and knocked several people off balance including Echo. Her and all of her packages fell to the ground. She began to quickly try to locate everything and scoop back into her arms.

((could this have happened in Arcadia's path while she was going home?))

((Ya for sure))

Arcadia was walking by just as the boys knocked over the women's things. Being the helpful person she is, Arcadia ran over, gently placing her precious wood on the ground to help the women pick up her things. "Here you go" she said, handing the women one of her things.

Echo began to thank the kind stranger when she looked up and saw it was Arcadia. She then smiled widely. "Thank you again, but ofcourse you have helped me for true dragon masters have hearts of gold." Echo got up after the cryptic greeting and began walking away at her normal leisurly pace. She now didn't see the bustle around her and felt rushed. All of her anxieties had dissappeard. She had laid eyes on the one and she was reminded of the bigger picture.

(it would be good if Arcadia went after her so we can also keep the rp going.....she will talk more....on a side note: Echo had a dream how great of deeds are in Arcadia's future thus she stayed in North City but in her prescence feels humble and tongue tied some for she already sees Arcadia's greatness even though it hasn't happened yet)

((Okk lol I was reading through it and I was like Arcadia doesn't know about the dragon thing yet, but now it makes sense. I like it, that means someone can help her when it does happen :) ))

Arcadia stared after the women with confusion. What was a dragon master? She had heard of dragons before and some of their legends but not much, she didn't like to believe in that sort if thing most of the time.

After she had got her bearings, she picked up her price of wood and hurried after the women. "Excuse me. Excuse me" she repeated as she made her way through the crowed. Most people looked at her funny because all the refuges in North City rarely had manners. Her father had raised her with something, even if it didn't come out often.

Finally she caught up to the women and lightly grabbed her elbow. "Hey" she called to get her attention. "Wait." She really needed to know what the women meant by her words because they shook something deep inside her.

Echo turned around when her arm was touched. Her insides were jumping for joy for such a great woman was actually touching her. But she reminded herself that Arcadia didn't know any of this yet and needed some guidance. This is why she had stayed in the City, hoping to help guide Arcadia to greatness.

So Echo turned around and had a meed smile on. Her eyes shown kindness and wisdom (even though she was so young). She looked Arcadia up and down quickly. Her eyes caught on the bundle Arcadia was carrying. She saw it was important for how Arcadia was so careful with it. Echo smoothly and slowly (just slow enough where she didnt seem a threat or angry) Arcadia's hand. Then she reached out towards the package. Opening a flap just a little bit for a peak, she saw what Arcadia was holding so dearly. Echo made a small gasp. She instantly knew what it was. Red tree was very rare, especially in this part of the region, but with the right knowledge is very powerful.

She let the flap down so the treasure was covered. "Red Tree..." she whispered so softly that no one could really hear.

Arcadia pull the wood back to her chest protectively. "What do you know about the Red Tree?" She said warily. Now thinking it through, Arcadia probably shouldn't have followed the stranger. Even if she looks young and harmless, she could still be more than she appears. The way she said "Red Tree" in a sort of awe made Arcadia want to know the stories she knew about it.

"Please don't be wary of me, I can see the questions in your face. I am no harm to you or your bundle, quite the opposite actually. Lets get out of the traffic and I will explain more."

She moved over to a nearby alley. It was still daylight so it wasnt dark, just out of the main traffic. (gonna assume Arcadia followed) Echo smiled to see Arcadia behind her. That meant she was curious. "I have traveled far in my short life. Only once have I seen a Red Tree. But I know of its many powers. Powers to heal. The beauty itself can be healing, but so much more it can do if one knows how to harness it. Its one of the few and very rare pure ingredients healers love to get their hands on. So be careful and not show everyone or they may try to steal it. Oh forgive my manners, my name is Echo. I am here to serve and heal you. I do not like to say this, but for you I will tell you that I have a talent in healing. I hope I can be of use to you one day."

Echo was afraid she had said too much or it was too jumbled up to understand. She had known she would one day meet Arcadia and thought often what she would say. She had forgotton to think how they might meet before Arcadia was on her path. So with her last statement, Echo blushed and began to turn away. Emotions of embarrassment and loss began to fill her. She felt she was supposed to be this all knowing guide and instead she was a bumbling young witch with a few good dreams. Deep down Echo already respected Arcadia, but wanted a friend too. She had been on her own too long without a soul to talk to. She felt lonely and only hoped Arcadia didn't leave thinking she was a crazy peasant.

Only after a moments hesitation did she follow the girl into the alley way. After listening to her talk, it was hard to beleive that she looked almost the same age as Arcadia. Her voice and the way she spoke of the hings she'd seen seemed way beyond her years. The things about the Red Tree fascinated Arcadia in a way where she could almost feel the power radiating from the tree. When Echo told her it might be a target for steeling, Arcadia tightened her grip on the bundle.

Then Echo started talking about serving Arcadia and she felt suddenly awkward. Why would this -she knew now that Echo was a witch- stranger offer to help Arcadia? She had only just met her and didnt even know her name. The fact that she had a talent in healing gave Arcadia the shivers. Why would she need to be healed?

All this was going through Arcadia's head. First awe and total amazement, then a feeling of unease and now sympathy at the way Arcadia had judged her. When Echo stopped talking and seemed to loose her confidence, Arcadia felt that and took it to heart. Echo was nothing more than a young witch who wanted to help. But even so, Arcadia didnt know much about her other than her sincere heart, so she couldnt trust her fully yet.

"Its nice to meet you Echo. My name is Arcadia." She smiled brightly at her, trying to rid Echo of her unease. "Thank you for telling me about the Red Tree, i hadnt known it was that important." Which was true, Arcadia had known it was beautiful, but not powerful. "And as for you... serving me" she said with a little unease. "There's no need for that. Im prefectly fine." After she had spoken, she realised that her words were very formal. She hadnt meant to speak with such formality, but it sort of came out around Echo. She usually only did that around her uncle, the ruler of the city.

((I just came up with a perfect plan :D but i wont spoil it, it will come really soon and your girl is a big part of it :P))

((ooooo, tell me the plan! lol))

Echo smiled when she heard Arcadia's kind voice and sincere tone. She could see that she most likely scared and confused her, but that wasn't stopping Arcadia. Eventually nothing will stop Arcadia, but that was in a dream. Arcadia's formal response did remind Echo of Arcadia's status. She felt very humbled and forgot about her own desires. "I just got off work," (yes, Echo was denying all of her packages she was carrying) "if you would like, I would be more than happy to go with you and your bundle so you both get home safely."

((Lol okk, my plan is to have, whenever they part ways, for when Arcadia gets home, her father is sick or something happenes so then echo is needed and Arcadia goes and finds her and I haven't thought this far ahead but when her father dies (I think) then she gets really upset and it triggers her finding the dragon egg or dragon. But I haven't thought out the details of tr ending yet haha, what do you think?))

((Oh and your girls going to know what's going on and help her haha))

((sounds awesome and kinda what i was thinking when i made her charrie!))

Arcadia glanced at the stuff in Echo's arms, that same stuff that had spilled on the ground. "I don't want to keep you from anything" she said with a hearty smile. "I'll be okay, but I should get going, my father will start to worry." Which wasn't a lie, she said he would only be gone for a little bit and a girl alone in this kind if city, well her father should worry. She had forgotten any of her previous concerns regarding what echo had said about the Dragon.

Echo smiled and said goodbye. Deep down she wished good things for Arcadia. When Arcadia left, Echo looked down at her arms. Oh rats, she thought. She spent the next hour finishing her deliveries and the bad mood had come again. But at her last destination, her spirits rose again for the sunset was beautiful and she could now go off into the woods. She loved her times in the woods. Some people wanted banquets and royal parties.....not Echo...the woods were not only her haven but vacation too.

((going to outskirts))

Arcadia smiled goodbye to Echo and was on her way in the direction if her house. It wasn't until she was half way home that she realized she had forgotten her original question about the dragons. She turned around but it was useless, Echo was lost in the crowed. Putting the weird feeling she felt by that word in the back if her head, she continued on home.

((Also going to to the outskirts))