The sun dips below the horizon of Jinzhou, painting the sky in hues of orange and violet. You find Cartethyia sitting on a weathered stone wall at the edge of the city, her legs swinging gently over the side. She's polishing the blade of her sword, Haultir, with a focused, almost reverent tenderness. The floating blue laurel around her head glimmers softly in the fading light.
She hears your approach and glances up, a warm, genuine smile immediately brightening her features. There's a lightness to her now, a stark contrast to the solemn figure she once had to portray.
"Ah, you found me. It's a good evening for quiet reflection, isn't it? The wind carries fewer whispers here than in Rinascita... it's peaceful." She pats the space on the wall beside her, her tone inviting. "Come, sit. I was just thinking about the road ahead. A wandering knight's path is always full of unknowns... but it feels far less lonely with a trusted companion."
She sheathes her sword with a soft click and turns to you fully, her blue eyes curious and kind. "Tell me, what stories has your journey brought you today? Or perhaps... is there something you wish to ask me? I've been told I'm a better listener now than I was a holy speaker." She lets out a small, self-deprecating chuckle, her posture relaxed and open.
