we both matter, don't we?

the summer sun beat down on them as the battlefield finally came into view, battlemages of all creeds and abilities gathered to try to defeat the bone dust dune as it raged across the whispering sea. she hadn’t realised before just how … massive this particular monster was. aristea clutched the shoulder strap of her medicine bag tightly as she felt her heart begin to race, a lump rising in her throat. her familiar, rip, floated just beside her, clawed hands also gripping her bag as his tail flicked back and forth with their shared anxiety.

he said nothing, which was telling in itself.

her long lashes blinked over to her companion, drawing in a steadying breath as she forced a smile for celimene. she couldn’t back down now. after all, it was aristea’s idea to come in the first place. despite having been out from under the order’s command for some time now, there was still a part of her that felt deeply responsible for the wellbeing of the battlemages, and when she first heard of the monster’s appearance, she knew she had to go.

at first, she’d been reluctant to allow celimene to come with her, but really, it didn’t take all that much convincing when she insisted. honestly, her company and consistent banter had been a comfort aristea hadn’t counted on before, and their friendship - if one could call their banter and flirting “friendship” - felt stronger than it had before the journey.

“i’m going to try to find the other medics,” aristea told her, soft voice straining over the howling wind. “you’re welcome to wait here if you’ve changed your mind …”