The rich fragrance of pine needles wafted through the air. It came from Keychain, as she walked into the courtyard. The scent clung to her clothing, hair, and skin. The appearance of Keychain looked the same as she did ever before. Her large, innocent eyes were ever so blue as they have been. Her long, blood red hair was pulled into a braid that snaked down her back. She had the look of an innocent child still.

Even if her appearance hasn't changed from her last encounter with the world outside her small home, she had an aura of someone who had changed. She walked with confidence. Instead of having her body hunched over and ready to find a corner to cower in when a situation soured she looked ready to battle. Her eyes no longer darted around in fear. She had a gaze that would lock on to a passerby that stared at her. She stood taller than before.

Even if nothing had changed from the outside, everything inside of her had changed. She spent years in isolation honing her magic. The warm fire of magic burned in her stomach. It was always there now, flickering in the background. That magic was the very reason why Keychain had changed. It became her protection bubble. With it there, always reminding her of the power she truly had, she felt safer. She felt like she could take anyone on.

At that thought, she let out a quick bark of a laugh, frightening a little child nearby. She smiled softly before continuing on her way. Keychain knew of her limitations. She was also far too intelligent to start waving her staff around, challenging people to fight her. And who would, in all honesty? She still looked so dainty. She looked like a child in her over sized coat that covered a simplistic dress that clung to her womanly curves.

At that moment, Keychain stopped at the doors that led to the bar. She pressed a hand against the door and then suddenly backed away. She gnawed at her lip. Keychain couldn't remember if she had ever been in a bar before, but the thought of going in alone did terrify her. She bounced from one heel to the other, an old habit she had picked up doing as a kid, as she stood in front of the door, wondering if she should go in or not.

Well, maybe some things never change.

OOC: Not exactly a reply, but I enjoyed it.

"Hey... Keychain, isn't it?" A voice called from behind her. Should she turn around, Keychain would see a tall Sheikah standing a few yards back, wearing a dirtied brown tunic half-hidden by a dark cloak. His face was grizzled, he hadn't shaved in a few days, and his brown hair was looking a little wind-tossed, but his smile gave away his light and cheerful disposition. It was, of course, Leth. He approached and extended his hand for a handshake.

"I'm Leth. I know we've met before, but it's always been during some sort of crazy battle, or cave delving, or whatever - you know how things are around here." He said with a grin, gesturing good-naturedly at the world around them. "Anyway, I don't think we've ever really been introduced. If you were looking for someone to accompany you into the bar, I'd be more than happy to buy you a drink and give you some company. I'm not really doing anything right now, and Din knows I could stand to get to know my fellow 'adventurers' a little better... I've never really been the social type." He said with a chuckle.

OoC: I'm so sorry for such a late reply. I locked myself out of my own account, and the email I used to use for this account is dead. I finally was able to remember my password.

IC:

Keychain's eyes flickered to Leth quickly. A half smile appeared on her face. Her own hand came out from within her jacket to shake his. It was like a child's hand. It was barely over half the size of his. Her blue eyes locked on to his face as her eyebrows drew close together.

"Yes," she finally said, "I vaguely remember you. I was just an apprentice mage then. I am not much better now, but I can at least say I'm confident about what I can do." She then laughed softly. "Of course, I'm also confident in what I can't do."

Her eyes went back to the bar. "I once had a friend who frequented here," she explained. "I was hoping that if I came back he would be here. Times have changed, though. Everything seems quiet. Even the letters that I once got from Aqua have become nothing more than a quick hello and a description of her day."

Keychain rubbed the back of her head. Her dark red hair that she touched came undone from the pins she had in. The locks spilled down past her shoulders. She quickly wrapped the loose hair around her fingers, finding the loose pin within her hair and pinned it back up. She gave a quick smile to Leth.

"About that drink," she finally said. "I think some company would be nice. And since you are offering to buy."

As Leth's hand clasped Keychain's in a handshake, he couldn't help but notice how small her hand look compared to his own. He looked at her again, and seemed to notice for the first time how young she looked.

Wait a minute... she is old enough to have a drink... isn't she? He wondered to himself, momentarily alarmed at what he might have just agreed to.

"I once had a friend who frequented here," she explained. "I was hoping that if I came back he would be here. Times have changed, though. Everything seems quiet. Even the letters that I once got from Aqua have become nothing more than a quick hello and a description of her day."

"Yeah... Leth said with a sigh, looking around. "Castle Town's become kinda quiet lately. All the people I used to see around here on a regular basis seem to have disappeared... I might bump into them every now and again in the streets, but not nearly as often as I used to. I wonder if that has anything to do with the war in the south..." He grew somber as his thoughts turned to recent memories of battle against the ghastly creatures terrorizing the southlands, and of abandoned buildings and deserted streets. He quickly shook himself out of it with a shrug, and smiled. "At any rate, it's nice to see a familiar face."

"I think some company would be nice. And since you are offering to buy."

He laughed. "Yes, well, about that... before we go in, I just have to make sure... You... are old enough to have a drink, aren't you?" He tried to laugh the question off to make it seem less awkward than it felt to say out loud. "I assumed you're old enough since you were about to walk in on your own, but it doesn't hurt to double check. I'd hate to be carried off to a jail cell today for buying adult beverages for a minor." He said with a raised eyebrow and a wry grin.

Keychain tried her best to smile brightly, but she felt as if she was sneering at Leth. "I'm 24," she said. "You are not the first one to think that I'm too young for many things, though. When I first started as a scholar I had one man tell me to leave the building because I apparently looked like I was less than the age of twelve. I get comments from older women who tell me I should feel lucky that I always look so young, but it's more of a burden than anything else."

She sighed and pulled her hair over her shoulder. "I once cut it all off, you know. My hair. It helped a little bit but not much." She then stared up at Leth. "Doesn't help that I'm short, too."

She gestured to the door after that. "I mean, if you don't believe me, there's more than just alcohol offered. I could suffice with some tonic water or coffee. I do wish to speak about what happened in the south, or what is happening if it is still going on. I've been in the opposite direction for too long. And I've been on my own for too long as well. You would not know how much you miss a conversation until you are alone for a few years."

Leth laughed heartily. "No, no, I believe you. I just figured it was worth asking... I suppose having a youthful appearance has it's pros and cons. Personally, I look every day of my thirty-one years.... though I suppose it might help a bit if I ever bothered to shave on a regular basis." He mused as his hand absent-mindedly moved up to his face to feel the long, ragged stubble that resided there. He was mostly correct: his unkempt facial hair definitely made him look older, but his physical condition was well enough that if he kept a closer rein on his appearance, he might actually look to be in his twenties. But as a man of the woods, it was unlikely that he would start trying to improve his rough appearance any time soon. He shook his head and brought his hand back down to his side.

"As for the South, it's mostly up in the air at this point - there's a lot that remains to be decided. A lot of us have been in the opposite direction, I suppose. It all depends on whether or not we "adventurers", as the locals have taken to calling us, can rally up again and make another push into the swamps. Ganon's hordes still have a strong foothold there." Once again, his eyes seemed to look past her, as if deep in thought. With a soft "Hmph", he looked back at her directly. "Anyway, it's hot out here, and if we're going to discuss anything at length, I'd much rather do it in the shade of the bar with a cold drink in my hands. Shall we go inside?" He asked, opening the door for her to walk through ahead of him.