>>5953867You find a trio from Faerghus sitting off by themselves, perhaps a bit more reserved than the rest of your company. Ingrid, Eleanor, and Sebastian were certainly not the type to go off on a wild drinking spree, regardless of what everyone else around them was doing. They take measured sips from their drinks, and chat reservedly amongst each other. When you arrive to greet them, they welcome you to take a seat and join them.
>“I’m surprised you aren’t on everyone’s case tonight.” You tease Sebastian. “Usually, you seem to despise these sorts of parties.”“Even if I told them to calm down, it’s not as though they’d listen.” Sebastian chuckles. “After tonight, they’ll never have to deal with my drilling or sparring sessions ever again. I can hardly fault them for taking to the drink. Though I’ve tried to install diligence in them, it seems I’ve fallen short. I’m sure in another year, they’ll have returned to being the same sort of drunken marauders they were when I first found them.”
“To each his own, I suppose.” Eleanor chides him. The cool and collected captain of the Frosted Shrikes sat with her legs crossed, observing the party behind a full glass of red wine. “Just like you, I’ve lived both the life of a knight and a mercenary. And I must admit, I vastly prefer this.”
“Surely you jest, Dame Eleanor.” Sebastian scoffs. “You were once a noble knight of Faerghus. Don’t you ever miss the life that you left behind?”
Eleanor smiles. “Keep the stuffy vows and traditions. I wouldn’t trade this freedom for anything in the world.”
>“What about you?” You ask Ingrid, who’d been sitting silently. You hadn’t had much time to check in with her ever since Zanado. Having to fight against the shades of her old friends had been rough on her, and you were worried that she’d yet to put it behind her. “You’ve now been both a knight and a mercenary. Have you found a preference?”“I haven’t.” Ingrid blinks, thinking it over in her head. “In fact, I’ve decided…that I’m done with both of them.”
>“Huh? Really?”Ingrid nods takes a large gulp from her drink before continuing. “There is no purpose in continuing as a knight. The lord I swore my life to is gone, and I see no value in choosing another to serve. Being a mercenary was…good. It allowed me to work out some things that I needed to finish. It was as though I might make up for my failings at Gronder by staying by your side. Fighting the Empire and the Agarthans allowed me to feel something other than numbness. But that’s over too. There’s no one left to fight. No one with any meaning, in any case. So…” She sighs deeply, as if trying to find the confidence necessary. “I’m going to return to Galatea and inherit the title of Countess.”
>“Ingrid, that’s fantastic news!” 