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Tasa was content to simply walk beside her oldest friend, but as they explored, delving deeper into times better left forgotten, her smile wavered. When he teased her, she laughed lightly, but within moments, her face would become serious once more, bordering on fear. She was uneasy amid the ruin of the place once so grand. Even as it stood proud, a legend even before times passed, she had rarely ventured inside, preferring to sleep under the stars. While, before, the walls had merely seemed to bar her view of the land and trees and beloved flowers of white lace, perched daintily on long stems of palest green that danced in the wind, they now felt more enclosing... more ominous. She felt trapped by them, whether behind or merely beside them. They seemed to radiate cold, though Malris appeared not to notice.
She drew her cloak about her as they walked. Though the sun was warm, Tasa shivered. Every step seemed to bring the chill deeper. She did not want to continue but she would not leave Malris' side. They had been separated for too long. She would not leave her friend, her brother in arms... her love... to face the horror of old memory alone. They had come together and they would leave together. She trembled at the old feelings of fear and hate that still lingered, attributing them to the enemies of old. She had never wanted more to retreat. It was ever one instance to face an enemy with a sword, but how could one combat the shadow of the past?
Tasa was uncertain whether or not it was all in her mind. They drew nearer to Malris' old chambers and her steps became heavier. Malris' face had become unreadable when they reached the door of his chambers. He paused before it and looked back at her. She shook her head and beckoned him onward.
"These are paths upon which I have little right, if any, to tread. Dear friend, I will await you here. Do not tarry, please..." she added quietly. "I feel a cold that lingers even in the brightness of the rising sun."
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