On the Road to Ruin V

"It's delicious! Tomato soup is my favorite! Thank you for going through all the trouble." Kasia thanks me as her spirits seem to lift after the meal.

"I think we're safe enough to talk about your father and what's going on… If you're up to it?" I ask, trying to broach the subject of her previous moody disposition.

"Should I know at a time like this? When Jonestead could be under attack as we sit here out in the middle of nowhere?" Kasia asks, torn between her desire to know the truth and her need to protect her home.

"It could ease your mind… Knowing your past is soothing, or so I'm told." I joke.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to-" Kasia tries to apologize before I interrupt her.

"It's fine, I was just kidding." I say with a smile.

"If you say so," Kasia chuckles before becoming serious again, "I'm more concerned about what's going on right now, but some explanation after all these years will help… I hope."

And with that, I explain everything Marcus has told me, from Kasia's mother to Project Purity, and the start of her family's tragic history.

It takes about an hour to explain all of it and for Kasia to come to terms with everything I'm saying before she finally speaks up, "I'm… Speechless. This entire time, my family has been hunted down for something that happened two hundred years ago? For being saved?!" Her rage and indignation become apparent towers the end.

Though it quickly transforms into sorrow, "Why? That doesn't even make any sense. How can this Project Purity be so cruel? And my father… Gods, I had no idea. Why didn't he tell me?" Kasia says turning to me in hopes of finding some answers.

"I'm sure your father just wanted to try his best to give you a normal life, one in which you wouldn't be afraid of every shadow that darkens your doorway." I say, trying to explain how I see his actions.

"I could have handled it! I-I'm only shocked because he's not here right now…" Kasia heatedly says before her mood shifts once more downwards, "For the second time in my life, he's not here… The one time I need him the most and he's gone." She stares sadly into the flames of the campfire.

"Don't worry, you'll be back soon and your father can explain everything." I say trying to reassure her.

"I know but we should be back there helping him and the rest of Jonestead! Not sitting here waiting for a message!" Kasia tries to argue.

"And what help could we give that their heavily armed and trained prostitute army couldn't?" I say sarcastically.

"I-I… I don't know, I just wish I could do something!" Kasia relents in exasperation before slamming her fist into the snow.

"You are though, by being safe and out of harm's way. You're letting him give his undivided attention to the battle before him, instead of having him be worried about protecting you." I say taking her hand in mine with a reassuring smile.

"I… I didn't think about that… Is it hard? Being a fighter that is? With people who can't that you need to protect." Kasia asks turning from the flame to stare me in the eyes.

Making me lose my train of thought while I stare into those emerald gems…

"Silvantus?" Kasia calls to me shaking me from my trance.

"Yes, I was just thinking…" I say before explaining my thoughts.

"Yes and no… The fighting, at least for me, is as easy as breathing, easier than breathing at times. There's an unmistakable flow to battle, like a conversation or a dance. The to and fro is second nature to me, I feel the most alive with a blade in my hand and a foe at my front… But..." I trail off.

"But?" Kasia asks curiously.

"There's a thrill to battle, but there's a joy in the simple moments. Joking with my companions, playing with Crimson… Camping with a beautiful woman." I say with a smile causing Kasia to blush before I continue, "And then I remember… There are many things in this world stronger and scarier than me… And they can take it all away with a snap of their fingers."

"So how do you deal with it? The feeling of being…" Kasia tries to explain, but the words escape her.

"Powerless? Simple, I'm going to make myself strong enough that those things that scare me now, will be terrified of the monster they will unleash if they harm a hair on the heads of the ones I care about." I sat with a menacing smile illuminated by the firelight as the sun sets.

We set in silence for a while longer before Kasia speaks up, "It's best if we get to sleep, at least as much as we can in this cold." Kasia shivers pulling her coat tighter, "I'm used to the warmth of Jonestead. Even with this fur coat, I'm still freezing! So much for my Nord heritage, huh?" Kasia jokes.

"Well, there's only one tent, and I'm sure this blanket will be warm enough if we huddle together closely enough. If that isn't a problem?" I ask starting to head to the tent where there is a M'rissi sleeping with a content smile curled up in a little ball.

"U-um… That's… Fine…" Kasia says with a furious blush, mumbles under her breath, "Thank you for not leaving me alone."

We all three fit in the tent, if just barely. Though as I lay down in the middle, M'rissi turns in her sleep before latching herself to my body and burying her head into my chest, silently murmuring unintelligibly in her sleep, "Warm… Fluffy… Safe… Fishies… Cat nip…"

I leave my left arm open and motion for Kasia to lay down beside me as I gently spread out the blanket, careful not to wake M'rissi as Kasia lays down beside me and I wrap my arm around her as the blanket just barely covers all three of us.

I close my eyes and pretend to sleep, and after about twenty minutes I feel Kasia relax and pull herself even closer to my body and I can feel her soft mounds press against me through her shirt. They're fuller and give more than M'rissi's whose peaks seem more on the firm and perky side, causing my mind to wander into dangerous territory before karma strikes.