Svarik and the company I :)

[Mirach]

Svarik already retreated further from the water in case Erdel would get any other ideas. "So we can say we bathed in the sea..." he said dryly. "We will save thr the revenge for when he least expects it, right, Xia?"

[VisAnastasis]

Xia tilted the head curiously at his tone, not understanding what was asked from her. As Erdel was in the water, and Svarik was looking at her questioningly, she seemed to have felt rather smart - when she concluded king must have asked her to join Erdel. She squealed confidently, as if glad to figure out some new rule of their social engaging, and then, with one elegant leap, she jumped into a water beside Erdel with a big splash that anew sent water all over the place.

[Mirach]

Svarik was already further from the shore, so it did not splash him whole this time. He chuckled and shook his head. "You don't expect me to join you, do you? It's winter, you silly creatures, I'm not going in that water..."

[VisAnastasis]

Fox woofed with excitement, seeming to be delighted to experience something so new and strange, as this was her first time being surrounded with water, and closest to the bath she has had. As king didn't jump in, she, carried by the sudden feelings, just jumped up toward him playfully, and in mid air, she turned into a dog - and she managed to roll Svarik to the ground with her stance, and she remained standing up on his chest and kept woofing and licking his face, as if to share her joy with him.

[Mirach]

When Svarik saw her excitement, he laughed and rolled with her, putting off worries about cold and finding a place to dry for later.

[VisAnastasis]

Xis was glowing - for the first time, she seemed to have been fully free with Svarik, immersed in the moment, joyous about this new experience that was so new, but also personal and relaxing. After playing with him for a while restlessly, she turned into a soft fluffy fox child, and she embraced Svarik heartily, wagging her tail with sincere delight at just being with him and being close to him.

[Mirach]

Despite being wet and cold, Svarik almost forgot about that when he saw her joy. He embraced her back. "This is the sea," he told her, explaining her the new word. "You like it, don't you?"

[VisAnastasis]

Xia nodded, to mark she understands this new phenomenon as sea, and she sighed back fast, signing words for "Love", " joy" " pleasant". She nestled close to Svarik, and started purring loudly, enjoying the moment. As they were lying, Sunshine and Yiska came out from the bag that fell on the ground before, and joined in too, licking him face and snuggling with meadow king.

[Mirach]

Svarik resigned, and lying in the sand that was sticking to his wet clothes and hair, he played with them and listened to the sea.

[VisAnastasis]

In meantime, Erdel got out of the water, and he observed them for a moment from aside fondly, with a little smile, as if glad to be able to steal the little precious moment of seeing Svarik playful, as something like that was worth a little scolding in his eyes.

He then passed through the layers couple of times - and it seemed to dry him up, as if lingering and passing between the layers dried up the fabric of his soul from the water that belonged to the first layer.
Demon then, with his steps as soft as if he was trying not to wake up someone, focused on his surrounding and inconspicuously glided around, within couple of minutes gathering already quite a bit of wood for the fire.

[Mirach]

"Don't bother with that," Svarik told him when he saw what he is doing. "Rather check the map for the closest inn where we can get a hot meal. But I would like to stay here for a while longer, so look away now." He opened the baggage to find dry clothes, then undressed quickly and made a few steps into the sea so he could wash the sand away. He then dried and warmed himself with the warmth spell he learnt from Liron, although only as much as to not feel uncomfortable, since using magic still felt much harder than before the solstice for some reason. He dressed in the dry clothes and jumped a few times to get more warm then, to not waste more magic. "And no more splashing around, alright?" he asked then.

[VisAnastasis]

" It were Falcon's orders. " Vampire said innocently and ambiguously, chuckling a little, on way that it was uncertain whether they really were the orders received from underground lord or not. " And I checked the map while you were dressing - this is a bit of uninhabited area. Apparently, water here is filled with sharks or something. But around half an hour of flight, I'd estimate, there's a bigger more suitable for visit city beside the cost, where there's an inn marked - and couple of minutes from there, is a mark from ser Falcon for *possible host*, if you'd prefer that. Sir. "

[Mirach]

"Falcon's orders?" Svarik raised his eyebrows. "You mean splashing around? Interesting orders, I must say  But I would rather try that possible host. If Falcon marked him, you can bet it's someone interesting and worth meeting. Let's stay here just for a little while longer then, so we don't arrive there in a too late hour."

[VisAnastasis]

" It's nice here, so it'd be nice to stay here a little longer, but I'd not like you to get ill from all those water you got yourself into, sire. " vampire said innocently. " Please, relax, sir, and I'll go find recommendation letter Falcon wrote us for this person while you rest. "

[Mirach]

"Nah, relaxing here is exactly how you get cold," Svarik smiled. "Come here, Xia!" he opened his arms, inviting her for another round of play in the sand.

[VisAnastasis]

Critter grew all fluffy, marveling with the attention king was giving her, and her aura was shining brightly, with golden rays, and even her fur seemed to grow more vibrant color, and glow lightly in the dark, under the joy she felt of king engaging with her so openly and freely, playing with him restlessly.

[Mirach]

When Svarik saw that Erdel found the letter, he stopped the play for a moment to ask: "So who is this person Falcon recommends us to?"

[VisAnastasis]

" There is an address here, and his name is listed as... Sage. Just Sage,sire. "

[Mirach]

"That sounds interesting..." Svarik murmured. "I would like to know how he knows  Conrad. How is the letter signed?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Sending you some friends over from the country. Might stay for a day or few. They are very dear to me, so behave your best. Best regards, The Man In Black."

[Mirach]

"So not him nobleman alias? Now that sounds intriguing..." Svarik smiled. "It's getting dark already, so I think we should go and meet this Sage..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I agree, sire. I am now curious as well. " Erdel said, and he handed letter to king, to have it near him. Xia understood the cue for having to go further, and she transformed into a winged form again, lowering docily so Svarik could climb up and they could fly.

[Mirach]

"Alright, but before we go, we should decide about some things. First, let's find a place where we can land unseen on the map. Then, we probably are not going to tell our host that you two are demons... So, what about you not eating? It may raise a few questions, I fear..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I ate before we came? I am instructed not to eat before you as your body guard and therefore eat separately in my brake times? " vampire offered, unconvinced himself. " Tricky to pass as normal, but  I am honestly much more worried about what he says when he noticed we are like... Obviously not tired or able to fall asleep. "

[Mirach]

Svarik shook his head. "First would be believable, even if a bit impolite, for the first meal there. But not if we stay there longer, even just for breakfast. The other would make me look rather bad as your employer... I would need some reason at least why I would insist on that."