Just Atlas was just as angelic as he was mere moments prior, despite the now glistening blood and gore that coats the armor like polish. The juxtaposition was shown to highlight the more pure visage of the boy, the bright sun shining behind him welcoming her into this newer world of blood and monster. Heart racing fast, breath caught hard in her throat, after an attempt to breathe in the fresh mountain air now feverishly putrid, the girl doubled over heaving, clutching her chest, tears in her eyes. A hand settling onto her quivering shoulder managed to spread its warmth within her body, as if given a blanket on a snowy evening, and so with this she could finally heave in a great breath to thank her savior in a proper, more ladylike manner. When she speaks, it is small, quiet and with the air of someone who did not wish to cause more trouble, though she had done nothing wrong.

Reds once muted by terror now shine bright when met by the icy blue of the young squire, the very same warmth felt by that hand now seemed to course through her weary spirits to overflow the heart and set her mind at ease. Warmth that was only encapsulated by the concerned and melodic lilt of his young voice, a voice just teetering along the line of boy and man. Kind and empathetic. Innocent and brave. Just Atlas had spoken, but all she could hear was the voices' tune, not the words they sung. Her ears had been ringing fiercely since her tumble, and when finally her body had mustered the strength to listen, she took in the words with absolute reverence.

" Be kind to yourself, " he says, guiding her to her feet with slow and steady hands, a gentleman even at such an age. " Not everyone can stare them down and be alive enough to tell the tale at dinnertime. "

" What is — " she hesitated, catching full sight of the gored creature at her feet, its blood now staining her kaftan. She wobbles, but Atlas steadies her, making no comment to this constitution, nor the crumbling visage of her crying face and shaking breath. It took only a moment, but she finally gathered her thoughts enough to ask — " What was it? "

" Never you mind. Myself and. . . most all of the Knights shall handle any more invasive creatures that threaten to do us all harm! "

" Quite the inspiration, aren't you, Atlas? " Just then, another boy clad in black leathers came up from behind Atlas to peek down at her. Slim, tall, but most unmistakably around the same age, with deeply black hair as glistening as ravens' wings. She noticed that he too was handsome.

Atlas reddened just 'round the ears and elbowed the other boy at his midsection, to which the boy feigned a painful groan. This bit of playfulness brought a smile to her face, thankful that there were at least some people who could find joy in all of this mess. Perhaps the boy noticed her smile because no sooner did her eyes meet with his, dark and shadowed by those strands of black hair, he matched the expression. In that moment, he was just as kind, raising his hand to his heart and bowing his head in the more traditional knights greeting to the people ( though, he was most certainly still just a squire ). She mimicked the gesture shyly, earning her ears the sweet melody of the boys laughter. Despite the armor and more intimating mien, they really were just children like her.

" Well, Wolfram, we ought to go back to meet Everard and Faron before they worry. " said Atlas, sheathing his sword and turning to his comrade. Wolfram, who must have obviously been the boy in black, hummed his understanding before turning again to her to say goodbye. There was still so much she wanted to say ( Thank You for a start ) but the words were having trouble coming out, and the moment she blinked, it seemed as if they were hundreds of miles away from her, despite only their slight turn to leave. Without further thought to her actions, she reached forward and took hold of the cold armor piece that covered his hand.

Silence.

Then finally, a mumbling bid of thanks before letting go.

Again the boy named Atlas elbowed the other boy, Wolfram, at the reaction of his laughter, giving her the knights' bow, and politely bidding her farewell. Wolfram too gave her this farewell, turning the two of them around to seek out the two other boys off in the distance. Soon, they were so far away she could not properly see their features, only the juxtaposed sight of gold and black fading far away. Once more, she thought to reach out and join them, but was stopped abruptly by a pair of large hands lifting her up by the middle ——

" Papa!! " shrieking, flailing, forgetting her father was nearby at all.

" We return home at once, no more dawdling. " he spoke in frantic bursts of worry and seriousness, and she could barely hear what the other men he'd been speaking to were saying. " The Knights will care for everything now — and are you well? You were not hurt, were you? "

" Oh! No, papa I'm alright! Did you, uhm, see what it was? "

" Never you mind. " he replied quickly. Sternly. Very much unlike the warmness she knew and loved so well.

A wild myriad of shouting and panic come bringing more questions, poured over her from all sides as they made their way home, Qistina now carried tightly by her father. They all seemed to have the same questions that she did now, with no one giving satisfactory answers. Where did it come from? Where was it going? What was it? Will there be more? What happens to the people it hurt? Such questions would not be addressed for many years to come, but one thing in the here and now was at least certain : The world was far, far bigger than she had given it credit for.