Stepping out of the carriage, Moira takes in the vast forest, everything was covered in moss, from the smallest rock to halfway up every tree. The faint roll of water rushing onto the colorful rocks of the Matourina Lake and the constant buzz of drone bugs and bees put Moira on edge, she always envisioned the sound of bugs and leaves shaking, water flowing, but nothing was as overwhelming as the real thing. Taking in her surroundings she sees a few groups down the road strolling towards the lake as she looks towards the Great Plains, at the mountains in the distance where she sees the great Hephliheim Castle, or what's left of Hephliheim Castle, in the distance. It too was covered in moss, gray bricks lay across the plains as if the castle bits were thrown, but Moira could see what it used to look like. With previous knowledge of Hephliheim, she read of the massive lighthouse that used to be there, and several dozen accompanying Towers surrounding it with a great brick wall conjoining them all, all of it knocked down and eroded away into the earth.
Having changed into more suitable wear for the environment, where Moira was dressed by Vyvian in high Brown trousers with tall leather boots, that took a very long time to situate all the buckles, long foot-sleeves (which she quickly learned were called socks), a very soft cotton blouse hidden under a high collared, dark green coat, with fifty Emerald buttons, with her thick cotton and leather hooded cloak. Her hair was situated in a twisted braid, all pinned in a magnificent design on the back of her head.
Moira was very warm and was very comfortable as the wind brushed willfully against her face. Jalla stepped out wearing something similar to Moira, but all black and less flamboyant as her own ware. Jalla looked very handsome dressed in one color, then again Moira has always been a mono-color type. Dressed like a rainbow shat you out was not on the list, Moira thought, taking in Jalla's arm around hers as they began down the lane with Vyvian walking beside them.
The trees themselves were beyond wonderful to observe, their were hundreds of rainforests of magical creatures and hundreds much more mystical than this one, but it was the first scent of woods she has ever experienced. The earth smelled like wet leaves and rotten wood and dirt but there was no where else she would rather be.
After walking pasted about fifteen carriages, Jalla finally speaks, "I can't believe we're finally here."
Moira laughed nervously. "I know. It seems that being carted away from the only place you've known and thrusted into the sentient silverberry forest isn't as bad as you would think." She adds cynically as Jalla blew a short raspberry in reply and shot Vyvian a worried look.
"The forest isnt sentient, right?"
Vyvian cleared her voice. "Not particularly, but they do not like being approached in any way and can sense when there are people, animals and others, and will protect themselves from any threat. We like to have tight ranks so there is no way to get cut off the current trail, considering the vines will move and shift and create new trails, staying together at a high speed will keep those vines at bay."
Jalla, who looked almost afronted by this news, looks flatly at Moira and then back to Vyvian. "Basically, you pummel your way through the branches in hopes you get through without it fighting back?"
Vyvian looked back at her with just as much sass as Jalla and clears her throat again. "What a crude way to put it, but yes."
Jalla looked ahead in anger, her face flushed. Moira broke away from Jalla as Vyvian began forward on a trail left to the lake.
Moira speaks, breaking the silence. "I can't figure out what I love more, the lake with the mountains or the wonderful ancient architecture of the ruins of Hephliheim."
"Oh yes! It is wonderful in there, during the night sweep of the area, I found it intriguing, but very dangerous for you though." Vyvian added, an answer that was most unwanted to Moira, she gave a glance to Jalla who was staring hard at the ground, face still red. Vyvian's pace was nonchalant as Moira and Jalla breathed hard at points to catch up with her.
"Surely, it couldn't be that bad."
"Very much so, it is so broken, I fear it's longevity for the next year or two, while testing a beam it broke under my feet, and an entire wall almost crumpled down on top of me, we cannot risk your life-"
"With you there, I can't see why danger would be an issue. I only mean, you took note of the castles integrity, you could get me close to the more structural sound areas?" Moira interrupted, making Vyvian stop in her tracks.
Jalla looked at the lake and them back at the ruins them to Moiras face and joined in.
"And there are hundreds of lakes, we can always visit The Great Waters beside Odiovitae- I heard that there was a mountain in Odiovitae that is so large that you can see the curve of the world and over the ocean to the New Colonies of Trivinity."
Vyvian squinted her eyes at the sun and sighed. "I see, well, Jalla you are partially right, you are able to see the curve but you can't see Trivinity atop Visarath Mountain, there is over a hundred thousand leagues separating the harbor of Odiovitae to the Merchant Kingdom of Trivinity, but I understand, water is just water."
They made their way up the grown over muddy trail, curving and rounding, maze-like to the ruins, which grew closer like reaching fingers of stone. The lopsided towers of what used to be were wet from previous rain fall, calm pools of clear water in broken pits of cobble. Frequently gasping at the red ivy leaves climbing up the walls mixed with green, birds flew away as they walked closer, colorful butterflies fluttered around, the croak of distant frogs echoed through the broken corridors, rows and rows of arches of what used to be the halls and a great circle of stone bricks surrounding the tower that used to be the wall. Moira runs up the steps of what would be the entrance.
"I can almost see it!" Moira exclaims. "I would have expected that the drawings at home- er, at the Domes would be as precise but I was mistaken and happily so! The torch sconces were here and the doors must've been huge- and metal, not wood, by the looks of the rust marks in the stone..." Moira went on explaining the build to Jalla as she stared at the skeletal ruins of the entrance, as Jalla often ignored Moira and her lessons of architecture but now it seemed that Jalla hung on every word. Walking through Hephliheim was surreal, she couldn't believe that people lived here, families were born and lived, were raised and died here. Lost in thought, gazing at the luscious greenery of the place and the advanced building for the time it was built, many times Moira stepped under a unsteady brick wall and was pulled away roughly by Vyvian, but she figured that being jerked away is better than to be crushed by a ton of rock and stone.
"Thank you, again." Moira said staring helplessly at Vyvian as a stone ledge from two floors up dropped on the exact spot she was standing, crashing in the thin sheet of water, the ground vibrated a bit from the impact, it was less than a second of movement, one second she was there and then she wasn't.
"I cannot say that I did not warn you, Lady Moira." Vyvian said plainly, holding Moira close then let her go after a second of looking for more looming threats, her voice had a hint of annoyance, not at all sounding like she just ran and moved Moira before she could even realize what happened. "I still believe it is very dangerous for you here, I may be faster than falling cobblestone but there will be moments where I cannot protect you. Humans, in my experience, are very vulnerable and are easily killed."
"I will try to not get killed, I promise not venture too far." Moira added lightly, stepping back from Vyvian as Jalla quickly rounded the corner to see what the sound was, then saw the two were fine.
"Besides, she'll be with me." Jalla added clearly not knowing what was said previously, making Moira laugh aloud at her obliviousness, and for the first time, Vyvian laughed heartily with Moira.