The High Church of Esdar

Jun grinned. "Sure! I love reading. I was going to ask if there was a bookstore or gift shop of some kind here but a library will work too." She trotted over to Va'nei turned to bow politely at the priest. "Thank you for your information."

As they walked towards the library, Jun said "You know, you're the..." She started counting on her fingers. "Lum'Valia, Fundor, Jarkoopi, Asaph, Umbra, Gravlor, Glavilidom, that freak that attacked Stonevale... ninth, yah ninth dragon that I've met so far. It's funny. My grandmother was known for killing dragons who threatened the Expanse, and here I am making friends with them. Well... maybe not friends, only half of them are what I'd call friends but... I mean... none of us have tried to kill each other. I'd say that's pretty significant."

What am I doing? I'm acting like a fool in front of Va'nei. Ok, just calm down. She said she wanted to be friends. And besides, she's like ten thousand years old. I'm sure she's seen plenty of humans who are much stupider than I am. Wait, what if that means she's tired of stupid humans?

You're not that stupid Jun.

Yah, you're fine.

Thanks other me's. Wait who ask you guys to come? Stupid Lum'Valia's mind-split training thing. Shoo! Shoo shoo shoo!

How many times would Jun blush today? Her face turned red just as she was perusing a book of religious hymns as if it was filled with inappropriate material. "I'm sure those tales have been exaggerated. To this day I believe I am still unaware of the full extent of my celebrity."

But when Va'nei inquired about her desire to learn magic and combat, Jun unconsciously bit her lower lip. She put the book back on the shelf and folded her arms. She turned to face Va'nei and leaned her shoulder against the shelf. Her gaze fell to somewhere on Va'nei's clothing. She didn't dare make eye contact with the ancient dragon. "I... guess at this point it's a long story. And frankly it's not one I'm proud of."

Her shoulder rolled to the side so that her back was now facing the interior of the library. She looked around while trying to figure out how to articulate it all. "... It all started, as a result of feelings of inadequacy and jealousy. And sadness. I'm sure you know about the chaos mages, and how my grandmother was one of them. When you blessed the land for our sake, the magic of the earth created a lineage of powerful beings called chaos mages. Every few hundred years, a person who is in tune with both light and darkness, who has a strong sense of justice, is chosen to be one of these beings. And one of them was my grandmother."

Jun's eyes went glassy as she started to have flashbacks of Lynx' incredible power. She could still see those flames and how Lynx was able to fell entire forests and bring down dragons with crashing fist. "It's never easy, having a gifted member of the family, someone who is so incredibly beyond you that it makes you feel like an insect. I loved my grandmother. I really did. But I was the type of child who always wanted to be respected, who wanted to achieve. Call me insecure but I hate losing to people. If nothing else I wanted people to feel like I could always go toe to toe with them, not even necessarily win just, be on par, y'know? I used to study all the time because I wanted to keep up with the smartest kids. I didn't go to the Wizard's Tower because my grandmother wanted to teach me herself, but I still used to practice with those kids. And I would keep studying and practicing until I could beat them in duels. For me, my grandmother would be my final rival."

Jun sighed. "And then she died. I was 12 I think. And I was torn up inside. For some reason I thought she would always be there. I don't know why, she was fairly old. But when she died it left this big void inside me. And, I guess I thought I could fill it by always striving to be the best, even though I knew technically I would never be able to keep up with her. Chaos mages are only chosen every few hundred years. I will never, ever become one. So, I was trapped, trying to achieve an unachievable goal. I tortured myself for almost half my life because of it. You can see why I'm not the most stable person." She chuckled, not totally realizing that Va'nei was unfamiliar with her short temper, bouts of awkwardness, and mood swings.

"You know, I used to have an incredibly violent mind. I used to try to hide it. But, well let me put it to you this way. Before I became a holy mage under Lum'Valia's tutelage, I used to be able to wield demon magic. I could slice my hands and use my own blood to devastating effect. You can't imagine how much anger and hatred it takes to do that. If you look at my body, it's covered in 'battle scars'." She made air quotes when she said battle scars. After a moment Jun actually scowled and brought her eyes closer to Va'nei's, but still not quite making eye contact. "I'm not going to elaborate further on that."

Jun shrugged. "I was obsessed. I struggled with both light and dark magic, but the truth is, I leaned towards the darkness. Actually, I can still use dark magic despite becoming a holy mage, a vestige of my former self. And I think if Lum'Valia hadn't found me, I probably would have become evil."

Jun smiled. Her visage and even the air around her changed completely. "You know, I just realized, I've been talking for a really, really long time." Jun waved her hands. "Kun kuz buld." Just behind Va'nei appeared a glimmering, crystalline object. It was a chair, and a rather comfortable looking one at that, made of holy energy. She invited her to sit, but she remained leaning against the bookcase.

"The things she showed me are a tale unto themselves. But basically I got to say goodbye to my grandmother one last time, and I realized that deep down inside, all that anger and hatred, all that jealousy, it wasn't really me. I realized that all my angst and suffering would go away if I committed to being my own person, doing my own thing, and finding my own path. I realized that I could re-appropriate my hunger for power into a desire to protect those I care about. I realized I didn't have to be the person that I was. I could choose something better. What I really am, deep down inside, is a naive, determine, heroic bookworm."

Jun raised one of her hands up to her face. A small flame appeared in it, which she stared at with pride. "Funny thing is, now that I've been cleansed of my inner demons, so to speak, I'm enjoying learning new magic now more than ever! I feel like I'm doing it for myself and for the people I care about, rather than for some stupid unobtainable goal. I can still seek power and be competitive, but in a healthy, fulfilling way, rather than the metaphorical fairy-dust addict I was before."

She closed her palm and extinguished the flame. "I feel like I've grown a lot over the last few years, and I want to continue to grow, both in my abilities and as an individual." It was at this point finally that Jun made eye contact with Va'nei. But then suddenly her face contorted into a perplexed look and she started to blink rapidly.

"Wait a second, what was the question again?" She asked, embarrassed.

Jun's eyes grew wide. "Are... are you serious?" There was a rush of emotion through her face. She practically wanted to bow down and slam the floor with her bare forehead. But of course she restrained herself, more to avoid humiliating herself than the rather pertinent difference in durability between the floor and her skull.

"I'd, I'd be honored! Sure! When can we start? I mean, when you're not busy, at your convenience, whenever you'd like, no rush... Can I hug you?"

Why did you ask if you could hug her?!

I don't knooooow!

Each of the heroes still present would find a priest or priestess poking their head into the room they were currently occupying - the ones greeting Va'nei and Jun looked a bit sheepish at interrupting what appeared to be a personal moment, and the ones looking in on Leiron and Asadobres seemed both fearful and suspicious of the dragon's wings. Urist was eyed curiously, given their lack of familiarity with Dwarves. Regardless of who they spoke to or the situation they intruded upon, all said the same thing.

"Apologies for the interruption, Hero, but dinner is ready. If you would like to follow me to the dining hall?"

Asadobres however did, "Leiron." She smiled softly at visitor and folded up her wings, "Hello."

Jun was still red-faced, but it seemed like once again she managed to befriend a dragon. The kiss was unexpected but not unwelcome. The sudden flow of power was very welcome. Before she could say anything the priest came.

"Yes, of course." She held Va'nei's hand and the pair would follow them. As they left, the light construct chair would disappear.

At some point in between the library and the dining hall, Jun would ask, "So, I'm thinking of dyeing my hair, or maybe putting in some highlights. What do you think?" Jun was of course blatantly staring at Va'nei's emerald green locks.

The priest who had entered Leiron and Asadobres' room stepped forward a bit and bowed deeply to the pair.

"Lord and Lady Hero, do you require any assistance with your healing? We are honored to provide anything you need. I can have dinner brought to your room if you would prefer to stay here - or I'm happy to wait and escort you when you're ready to descend. Please, let me know your pleasure."

The priest walking with Urist kept glancing at the dwarf, puzzled by the short, bearded, gruff human (as he perceived it).

"We only apologize that we weren't ready to provide food earlier, Lord Hero. Your coming was somewhat unexpected, and Her Grace the Winged Crown only alerted us to your arrival shortly before you were escorted here. We hope you'll enjoy what we have to offer."

He led the dwarf into a large room which the priest leading Jun and Va'nei was now also guiding them into, filled with multiple tables and benches, the tables laden with food of all sorts. Roast creatures both winged and non, vegetables and fruits in various states of preparation, breads and pies and sauces and ales, wines, juices, and waters. Priests and priestesses were milling about, talking amongst themselves and shooting curious glances toward the three heroes who had just entered.

Asadobres started purring as Leiron stroked her wing. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation.

The Dwarf grinned, taking off his helmet, and fixing his pony-tail a little. He would rather plainly get about five bottles of wine and drink from them all at once, downing their contents in seconds in but a few seconds. Feeling refreshed, he would rip off a leg of one of the beast, stick it in his mouth, and pull it out leaving nothing but bone. Afterwards he would calmly do the same routine but with more and more wine, but using ribs instead. He would shout out after finishing a bottle.