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Description
The Peacemaker had slipped away again into the sanctuary of her predecessor, taking the moments of fleeting freedom to be alone. Constantly under the escort of guards, these seconds were rare indeed. It was likely, back at the palace, people had noticed she was missing by now. It wouldn't be long before someone would find her here practicing her control over the power of Tranquility. She was likely to be immediately returned and then scolded for causing unneeded panic.

To her surprise, however, she was not as alone as she had previous thought. The large tree that had invaded the stone structure over hundreds of years made refuge for a serpent dragon. It crawled around inquisitively, two sets of bright blue eyes staring at the shimmering stone around her neck. Nervously, her magic flared and triggered a partial transformation, her shining fae wings folding out in alarm. The dragon meant her no harm and only watched in mild amusement.

'You are the Peacemaker, without a watch?' It asked quietly. She nodded in return, unsure how else to respond to the voice that now radiated within her mind. It was strange, the noise wasn't there at all and yet it felt as if it was bouncing within her skull - echoing to a limitless extent within a realm of comprehension she didn't fully perceive. 'Why is that?' He added calmly.

"Finding time to myself is very difficult..." She whispered, her wings disappearing now that she was more relaxed.

'The previous Peacemaker said a similar thing, though this relic was not here than. She did love the forest.' He gazed around, remembering those days long past. 'You get in far more danger than she ever did young Princess...'

Irritated at his remark, Shinju sneered, "Forgive my lack of tact, and here I thought I did a remarkable job at making it appear unintentional. Obviously I enjoy the unfortunately results of my position and go out of my way to cause others distress on my behalf."

'That is a mighty claim. Why so bitter?'

"People treat me like a child, constantly watching my every move. They behave as if I am the cause for the misfortune."

'Are you, Princess?' He asked, settling on the roots of the tree to make himself more comfortable.

"I cannot help what I am. Did I do something wrong, being born into this life? It's the corrupt people of this world that are to blame...why am I punished for actions of evil?" She asked casually, leaning on the wall of the shrine.

'Is it punishment... to be cherished and protected?'

"Shinju!" Hearing her name called from within the trees behind her, she turned around to see Ethan halting his furious pace once he was close to her. "What the fuck were you thinking?!"

She didn't answer.

"Rivikin damn it, you can't run off like that. You know there are probably people right now prowling through this forest just hoping you'll get bored and sneak of?! How was this possibly a good idea? Do you want to be killed?!"

"No....I wasn't that far from the palace..."

"You've been taken while in the palace before! My job is to protect you.. how can I when you run off all the time? Shinju... Velar depends on your safety. It's your responsibility."

"I'm sorry it's just my natural reaction when things get overwhelming to...run away," she answered quietly, unsure what else to say.

The dragon behind her quietly lifted his head, revealing his location to the Peacemaker's guard. Ethan didn't budge from his stance, staring her down even in her emotional state. This wasn't a matter to leave up for discussion and the seriousness of her actions couldn't be cast aside as dismissively. It felt wrong to be so stern when she looked as depressed as she was but the fire pulling inside him wouldn't allow any other response. This was the right thing, tactically speaking.

"Promise you won't do it again and Peacemaker, I mean it."

Turning her back to him, she nodded soundly, "I promise."

The forest dragon retreated back up into his tree, continuing to watch as the pair argued a few minutes more. It wouldn't last long and both were soon headed back towards the Palace. He purred to himself in thought, his long tail swinging back and forth from the branch.

'Right and wrong are all very puzzling shades of gray. It's a shame I am colorblind or perhaps this would make more sense.'

________

...

Description
The Peacemaker had slipped away again into the sanctuary of her predecessor, taking the moments of fleeting freedom to be alone. Constantly under the escort of guards, these seconds were rare indeed. It was likely, back at the palace, people had noticed she was missing by now. It wouldn't be long before someone would find her here practicing her control over the power of Tranquility. She was likely to be immediately returned and then scolded for causing unneeded panic.

To her surprise, however, she was not as alone as she had previous thought. The large tree that had invaded the stone structure over hundreds of years made refuge for a serpent dragon. It crawled around inquisitively, two sets of bright blue eyes staring at the shimmering stone around her neck. Nervously, her magic flared and triggered a partial transformation, her shining fae wings folding out in alarm. The dragon meant her no harm and only watched in mild amusement.

'You are the Peacemaker, without a watch?' It asked quietly. She nodded in return, unsure how else to respond to the voice that now radiated within her mind. It was strange, the noise wasn't there at all and yet it felt as if it was bouncing within her skull - echoing to a limitless extent within a realm of comprehension she didn't fully perceive. 'Why is that?' He added calmly.

"Finding time to myself is very difficult..." She whispered, her wings disappearing now that she was more relaxed.

'The previous Peacemaker said a similar thing, though this relic was not here than. She did love the forest.' He gazed around, remembering those days long past. 'You get in far more danger than she ever did young Princess...'

Irritated at his remark, Shinju sneered, "Forgive my lack of tact, and here I thought I did a remarkable job at making it appear unintentional. Obviously I enjoy the unfortunately results of my position and go out of my way to cause others distress on my behalf."

'That is a mighty claim. Why so bitter?'

"People treat me like a child, constantly watching my every move. They behave as if I am the cause for the misfortune."

'Are you, Princess?' He asked, settling on the roots of the tree to make himself more comfortable.

"I cannot help what I am. Did I do something wrong, being born into this life? It's the corrupt people of this world that are to blame...why am I punished for actions of evil?" She asked casually, leaning on the wall of the shrine.

'Is it punishment... to be cherished and protected?'

"Shinju!" Hearing her name called from within the trees behind her, she turned around to see Ethan halting his furious pace once he was close to her. "What the fuck were you thinking?!"

She didn't answer.

"Rivikin damn it, you can't run off like that. You know there are probably people right now prowling through this forest just hoping you'll get bored and sneak of?! How was this possibly a good idea? Do you want to be killed?!"

"No....I wasn't that far from the palace..."

"You've been taken while in the palace before! My job is to protect you.. how can I when you run off all the time? Shinju... Velar depends on your safety. It's your responsibility."

"I'm sorry it's just my natural reaction when things get overwhelming to...run away," she answered quietly, unsure what else to say.

The dragon behind her quietly lifted his head, revealing his location to the Peacemaker's guard. Ethan didn't budge from his stance, staring her down even in her emotional state. This wasn't a matter to leave up for discussion and the seriousness of her actions couldn't be cast aside as dismissively. It felt wrong to be so stern when she looked as depressed as she was but the fire pulling inside him wouldn't allow any other response. This was the right thing, tactically speaking.

"Promise you won't do it again and Peacemaker, I mean it."

Turning her back to him, she nodded soundly, "I promise."

The forest dragon retreated back up into his tree, continuing to watch as the pair argued a few minutes more. It wouldn't last long and both were soon headed back towards the Palace. He purred to himself in thought, his long tail swinging back and forth from the branch.

'Right and wrong are all very puzzling shades of gray. It's a shame I am colorblind or perhaps this would make more sense.'

________

...