Fields of Mistria Seridia

SeridiaAh!

SeridiaWelcome, Ari.

SeridiaI see that you received my letter.

SeridiaPlease, do take a seat.

SeridiaMay I offer you some refreshment?

SeridiaA cup of tea? Some cake, perhaps?

Cake sounds nice!

This isn't the start of some kind of experiment, is it?

SeridiaCake! Of course!

SeridiaLet me just... er-

SeridiaOne moment.

SeridiaHere you are, some nice fresh Strawberry Shortcake!

SeridiaDelivered directly from Darcy's bakery.

Um... why does it say "Happy Anniversary"?

Um... Thank you!

SeridiaNevermind that, Ari.

SeridiaWe have a more important matter to discuss.

SeridiaCome...

SeridiaLet us go for a walk.

SeridiaBeautiful, is it not?

SeridiaThe soaring skies above, the storied land that unfurls before us...

SeridiaIf it were not for you, Ari-

SeridiaI am not sure when I would have been able to return.

SeridiaYour faith and dedication... I acknowledge them.

SeridiaSuch loyalty deserves reward.

SeridiaMy promise remains at the forefront of my mind.

SeridiaI shall not attempt to resume my right to rule in this lifetime.

SeridiaBut that does not mean that you must forgo such power yourself.

SeridiaWhatever your heart desires...

SeridiaI shall endeavor to grant it to you.

SeridiaSo tell me, Ari. What is it that you want most?

SeridiaRule over Aldaria?

SeridiaRiches beyond imagination?

SeridiaUntold magic power?

SeridiaSpeak true, Ari. You need not hide anything from me.

SeridiaSurely there is something you have wanted to ask for, in exchange for all that you have done for me...

All I want is to be a true friend to you, Seridia.

The only thing I desire is to be with you, Seridia.

SeridiaYou want to be my... friend? Is that all?

SeridiaDo not be foolish!

SeridiaYou already have my friendship. My fondness for you, my favor... I have made no secret of it!

SeridiaYou are the best friend I have in this life, Ari-

SeridiaAnd if there is nothing more you would ask of me...

SeridiaPerhaps the truest I have had in any lifetime.

Afterwards

CaldarusWhat?

ElsieMy, Seridia seems chipper today, doesn't she?

SeridiaI am glad that we were able to share our true feelings, Ari.

SeridiaI am glad we had that conversation, Ari.

SeridiaThis place, the font of all Magic...

SeridiaBeing here soothes me.

SeridiaAs do you, Ari.

SeridiaAll the plans and machinations of my old life, which preoccupied me day and night...

SeridiaThey all fall away when I am with you.

SeridiaAnd so I am able to see myself anew.

SeridiaYou... challenge me like no other, Ari.

You seem kind of into it.

I'll always be here to help you better yourself.

SeridiaDespite all odds... I am.

SeridiaWhen I first spoke to you, in the guise of that troublesome head priestess...

SeridiaThat was my old cunning at work.

SeridiaA cunning I learned long ago, in order to survive in a world pit against me...

SeridiaA cunning I turned on you without a moment's hesitation.

SeridiaBut as you continued to return to the Mines again and again, heeding my pleas with such purpose...

SeridiaI... began to look forward to our little meetings.

SeridiaAnd I began to wonder if my deception had been necessary at all.

SeridiaI am a survivor, first and foremost... but perhaps...

SeridiaHad I known your heart then, I may not have needed to hide my true identity.

You and I... we make the best of our circumstances.

It's okay. I had a suspicion.

SeridiaWe do, but... it is a deception I would take back, if I could. You came to my aid, without reservation.

SeridiaI see that now. There was a time I would have considered it a mark of weakness... helping a stranger as you helped me.

SeridiaBut you survive, and you thrive.

SeridiaAnd you do so without making enemies of those around you.

SeridiaYou dominate nature without trampling it, nor do you trample the lives of others.

SeridiaYour actions alone ask me to reflect. They show me a new way to live.

SeridiaTherein lies your challenge to me...

SeridiaAnd that is what makes you so desirable.

SeridiaI... channeled that desire when I manifested that set of Dragonsworn Armor for you.

SeridiaI wanted you to have a true set, one that represents our bond. In order to do so, it was necessary for me to... consider you deeply.

SeridiaIt was not difficult.

SeridiaAri, you are my Dragonsworn. I do not wish you to forget that.

SeridiaBut this feeling... it is more than that.

SeridiaThere is something I wish to say... Something I wish to ask-

SeridiaBut before that... There was something that brought us together today, was there not?

SeridiaSomething you wished to speak of?

I wanted to talk to you about our future together...

Let's talk about it another time...

SeridiaOh?

SeridiaGo on.

I love you, Seridia. Will you marry me?

Actually, let's talk about it more another day.

SeridiaAri...

SeridiaYou dare preempt me? I wanted to... I was going to...

SeridiaOh, you impertinent creature.

SeridiaYes, such impertinence belongs by my side... for all eternity.

SeridiaOf course I will marry you.

SeridiaThe way you manage to catch me off guard... it is one reason that I adore you.

SeridiaI love you, Ari. Let us be wed.

SeridiaThis calls for ceremony and celebration! Yes... we have much to plan.

Afterwards

SeridiaYou wish to speak?