As her lips came to a frown, Kiernan's eyebrows drew together slightly. Shilf hadn't been her fault, but here she took blame as if it were hers directly. She had tried defending his home when it wasn't of any tie to her, to save the innocents there that she hadn't personally known. A grin came to rest on his face, though it did indeed pain him to think again of Shilf. The place had been leveled, even with their attempts. Even so, as she smiled and claimed she knew she could do better, how could he argue with her? Chuckling a little, he nodded. "We can both do better. You did your utmost, though. I am sure everyone present was appreciative of that." He spoke calmly enough even after her stomach's growl, then smiled a tad playfully as she mentioned food.

"That should be coming soon enough." He promised, trusting that Hecate would probably be back soon. His brows furrowed slightly again as she questioned their surroundings. Kiernan held many questions-- questions for Ixera and Numira, though he knew not how to ask yet. His gaze swept away from her as he let out a heavy sigh. "A ship she called the Iskander. It's... a part of a cave not far from Shilf. Hidden." He explained what he knew, though he was still unsure of what exactly this ship was. Rubbing his neck, he frowned slightly. "It is that woman's. Ixera's. She claims to know who you are, find you valuable... I don't know." He lifted his gaze, a bit wary. "Do you know her?"

~ . ____________________________ . ~


As it appeared that her stroke followed through, Veila's attention was drawn to where the woman had stood. Something was off here. Suddenly there was a large blade parrying her from where the woman had been, with no figure to be seen holding it. Veila's eyes narrowed on the scene. Was this magic, or similar technology? Seeing the blue flames burst from its own energy, she frowned. Perhaps it was a mix, as were her abilities. Veila's gaze trailed up along the structure, half in awe and half to try calculating just what it was. It became apparent she would need more than one blade, even if that gave her more control. There was nothing she would do to parry several blades with only one of her own. Shifting backwards, she lead her golem into taking a few swift steps backwards, towards but not pressing into the troops. It moved like she may herself, swiftly with that lean frame, and with care as she drew out her second blade. Gripping the both of them, the fire along their edges blazed brightly as the archaic words etched into hers, too, glowed.

"Tch. Don't get cocky, we're just beginning." Veila called in response, some amusement lingering in her tone as she eyed the woman carefully. Was this really okay to approach on her own with the troops behind her? Arnoult was quiet-- either distracted, bored, or intrigued. Picturing the dull look on the commander's face drew anger from her form, her own body heating as her golem took another stance with ease. She didn't need to wait long. The floating blades seemed to tend her now, their points shifting as she locked her attention on them. How well could she block attacks like her own in this? A wicked grin passed along Veila's face. She hadn't any clue.

Stepping with nearly as much grace as its human counterpart managed on her own, her golem swung around with enough ease to put a stop to the blade carving into the earth as it twisted towards her, half turned as she slipped her blade from the other's edge, sparks lighting the air. Catching sight of the other two hurtling towards her, she lead her golem into taking two swift bounds forwards away from the one she'd stopped to meet the other two. She met the first with the middle of her blade, firm and steady, while the second she parried with her blade's hilt. Her golem stepped under both of them carefully, its own blades yet in the air as it danced further from the troops and closer to this crystal. It seemed more important than its tools. Parting each of her blades from those they blocked, she kept one free near herself defensively while sweeping forwards to send a blow towards the crystalline structure.