[BlueInTheShell]

"They say the hardest quest in the world is confessing love when your heart is screaming, and your brain is still trying to process every feeling that swarms when you look at someone you like. I...If I can somehow be a bit more blunt when it comes to saying I like her," Christoval began, rubbing the back of his head and flicking eyes towards Kastivi and then towards the Halfling, "Then I'd persue right here and now. For the moment, I'd be happy just sitting next to her and laughing. At least until I have a banner and a title of my own, so she's not just being romanced by some peasant." Christoval had seen it all the time in the villages and the smaller cities he had visited. Younger fellows pursuing women they loved with all their heart, only to be spurred and laughed at when the man in question's only virtue was hammering steel into shape. Or being able to tar a roof so it didn't leak when the rains came. Any man could take a beating and beratement from others. But when it came to watching a man's spirit break when it came to seeing his beloved laugh and toss his affections aside for someone more resplendent? Christoval wasn't going to take that chance himself. Not at least until he could call himself 'Ser Christoval' instead of Christoval, the Farmer from Aleside. Swallowing at Waltz's sudden acceptance of his challenge, Christoval sighed and took pride in that fact he wasn't gonna be the sole apprentice casualty. "At least I'll just be getting clocked in the head, Arabella. Kastivi has to endure a session of Dark Magic with Wisp."

Wisp grinned and snickered to herself; bringing up hands to hide the smile that oozed with malevolence, before she nodded and waved her emotions back to a dull, tired state. "If you do wish, however, I would be happy to offer you a small token of peace. At least peace until we in civilization once more and I can torment you, Arabella. It would protect you and your little daughter-to-be from the clutches of the things in the dark." Wisp puffed her cheeks and looked while Arabella swooned over the muscled barbarian, before swishing over to the Halfling to bring a hand and whispered words to her ear. "Waltz cares not about gender when it comes to love. You blush like Christoval swooning over Kastivi."

"Ah know a few who are mad enough to sit and linger in the Southern Nations mahself." Waltz hummed, bringing up a finger to her lips in thought when she was done showing off her musculature in her arms and furrowing her brow. "Mostly because they like the fact yah skin is call chocolate-looking and such. Northerners like things that look not like things from the North." Deadwaltz threw her hands up into the air at the snow comment, eyes wide and grin stretching a mile a minute. "Ah know! Snow is the best thing in the world and ah will fight everyone who says otherwise.

"Well, I mean, this thing is gonna send a bullet through steel. I try and save it for something big and nasty, or heavily armored. It's also loud and can scare away things like goblins." Christoval explained matter-of-factly, slinging it back on his person before chuckling. "Probably would be the best if you didn't hand onto it. A wayward spark, and we might end up hurting someone, or the gun could just ignite. And I don't wanna have to lose hands."

"The dead don't give gold, but their words can lead to riches if you appease them properly. You would be surprised just how nosy the spirits in this world are when it comes to sniffing out your wealth. Christoval hides his gold in his britches. Left side. That was something I learned today." Wisp grunted towards the healer, mouthing the count in her head and then just grinning when she said ten; a hand outstretched while she muttered a few verbal components. Her outstretched hand lowered and it looked as if the woman was gripping onto something in the thin air before the earth in front of her burst open; flickers of flame and magma churning and bleching out a skinless hound the size of a large warhound; cataracted eyes scanning the living in front of it while it came to with frothing, bloody dewlaps - finally letting out a howl that seemed to show the beast in near constant agony, before it trotted over to the dark mage and nuzzled her side; leaving a trail of saliva and foam that ran down her legs.

Reaching down to pat the hound a few times; the monster wincing with each stroke, Wisp cocked her head over towards Percival. "About 2 minutes before exhaustion sets in. This thing is tireless. Though before when I first started doing this, he didn't make it longer than 20 seconds. He's improved." Towards the two Daughters of Ash, Wisp shrugged a shoulder. "...If you wanna see how fast your apprentice moves, I can have this one fetch her too."

Almost sensing another task, the hellhound locked its gaze on Kastivi, bracing itself to pounce on the woman, before Wisp snapped her fingers, and looked towards him.

"You. Fetch my apprentice. Alive. Intact. So much as a missing finger, and your master will be sure to know your failure, hound." Letting out a hellish bray, the beast sniffed towards the ground and catching the knight's scent, lunged in his direction; whooping and bellowing the entirety of the way. The beast was free, and Wisp looked over to the two bags and took one in each arm, grunting and immediately breaking into sweats as she hefted them.

"Percival, would you be a beloved dear, and assist me too?" Wisp swooned, batting her lashes and him and feigning exhaustion.