she's the kind of girl you can never please
Sincerity is not uncommon given the blunt, forthright nature of most Halovians, but as a creature of smoke and mirrors it has never grown any easier for Hotaru to accept it. "Thank you," she makes herself say all the same, because she does mean it. "The Wardens are working with Stormbreak to try and encourage the removal of their anti-Abandoned protections, but progress is slow with the lack of leadership there." Though she holds no formal council position, Deimos had offered her one in case she ever felt the desire to reach for it, and she keeps herself apprised of anything that may impact her current one-woman crusade. The brightness of Alys' excitement distracts her from more serious topics, and Hotaru mirrors with a similar smile. "I would enjoy that quite a lot. Divination is a formidable branch of magic, and too often downplayed or mimicked. Is that what prompted you to leave everything behind?" Hotaru had left behind the Grounds to chase the frozen peaks of Halo, a land as close to the Basin as she could get, but if she'd had any kind of Sight she can say with surety that it would have led her there regardless.
"Deimos is quite a formidable teacher, I'm glad you got to experience it. He is far busier now as Warden, but he can't fully escape the desire to train others. I'm not surprised to hear he was in the Barracks again." As if he didn't practically live there, preferring it to the council hall he clearly detested. "It's a rarer magic, but the Fae employ it masterfully. I lived in the Greatwood for a time and learned quite a lot from them - I'd be happy to help you train with it." As they approach the Citadel gates, Ru lifts a hand towards the guards on duty and gets a strange look in return.
"Back so soon, Valkyrie?" Ru laughs and tilts her head towards Alys, relinquishing her magic as they enter the magically warmed dome that covers the city. "Still bagged something, didn't I?" she remarks coyly, and the guard snorts wordlessly, waving them through. Adjusting the bow on her back, Hotaru looks back to Alys. "First things first, we're getting you a cloak and gloves. Then we can work on shoes and under layers. Sound good?"
Hotaru
