(Time Skip, Thank you for introducing your characters)
Tilila awoke early in the morning, before dawn, and she looked out the window at the dark orange horizon. Looking at the city from up in the palace made everything seem so small, and yet, the wonder had not shrunken. She stared at the tops of the golden buildings, dusted by the orange light of the rising sun. At this sight, she made a small prayer to the gods and to her family. A prayer for protection, and for her to be blessed with their skill. She was a weaver by choice, but her family was known for their military professions. As was she. She changed from her sleeping robes into her normal outfit: a sunset orange tunic with a long beige sirwal, along with brown slipper shoes and a leather belt. This morning, she braided dried lavender into her hair, to increase her calm and her awareness. As she left her room, she began walking across the hall, making her way to the throne room again. Hopefully, there, she would receive further instructions on the expedition.
Mithonbaal awoke to the overpowering scent of lavender and sighed, thinking he was back home. Oh, wait… this is Egypt. Not Phoenicia. He sighs once more, then rolls out of bed, donning his soft leather armour and sandals, tying back his hair and walking out of his room. He waits just inside the throne room for the others.
Efraim only woke when the sun was slightly above the horizon. Upon seeing it shine on them from the window, they worried they had slept in too late. They quickly dressed and said a quick prayer for safety and swiftness, and gratitude for the opportunity to go on this mission then left their room. As they went, they grabbed a small satchel filled with extra art and painting supplies, just in case.
It didn’t happen all the time, but it always did seem to happen at the worst of times. Efraim couldn’t help it, as a deep sleeper only roused by bright light. They sighed and shook their head as they walked, then looked around in case someone else was up late too so that they wouldn’t feel so bad.
Ica took her time waking up, used to sleeping in late back home. He stretched, yawning with the light of the steadily rising sun. She smiled at the golden light out the window, Then put on another tunic, purple with gold embroidery. She ran her fingers through her hair, putting it up with a hairpiece, then smiled at her reflection in a bowl of water.
Ica strode out of the room, humming to herself as she sees Efraim.
"Oh, Ola!! I do not think we have met!!" She holds out a hand decorated in jewelry.
Cassia looked up from her powders and medicines to see that the sun was rising. already? she thought as she put her stuff into a small satchel and slung it at her side. Cassia sat down by the door, ignoring her sandals, she instead strapped two leather cuffs onto her wrists and walked out the door. She was completely lost here, but long ago she realised she had the power to know how to find the kitchen, no madder were she was. Once she got there, she begged and got a small bread roll drilled with hunny. As she ate it, she wondered back to the rooms, hoping to find someone who knew were she was to go.
Ah, it was the Iberian woman. Efraim suddenly would not have minded if they had been the only one who slept in. She was beautiful though, Efraim would paint her if they could.
Flinching at her voice, they took her hand and shook it once before letting go and taking out the greeting they wrote out last night. It seemed everything about the coming expedition made it difficult to speak, and Ica wasn't exactly helping with the stress.
Ica reads it, smiling.
“Awwww, thank you, my flower. I am so very glad to have finally met you! The… artist? I’m guessing?” She puts her hands on her hips, cocking her head to the side as she studies Efraim. such a shy little flower… I’ll have to figure out how to pry them out of their shell!
Mithonbaal watched all of this from the shadows, smirking. He steps out of the darkness, quickly. "Hello." he says, speaking Egytian once more.
They nodded to Ica, returning the smile. At least she was friendly, despite her volume and spontaneity.
Hearing another voice, they turned to find the rogue emerging from the shadows. Efraim waved to him briefly, wondering why he was smirking like that.
Ica spins around, gasping as she notices mithonbaal. “Another one! Oh gods above, aren’t I lucky today!” She laughs, putting an arm around efraim. “And who might you be, mysterious stranger?”
Mithonbaal bows. "My names is Mithonbaal. You are Ica." It wasn't a question.
Cassia finished her roll and licked her fingers. She was sure she heard voices coming from down the hall, so she decided to try her luck. She followed the voices as they grew louder and louder, until they were right next to her. Unfortunately, the voices were coming from behind a wall, and it took her another five minutes to find the door to the room. When she did however, she was pleased to find that it was the right room. "yay, I found you!" she cried out as she hugged Ica, who was half hugging a new person Cassia hadn't met yet. She stuck out her hand after releasing Ica. "Hi, I'm Cassia Lucius. Who are you?"
Mithonbaal straightens. "Who, me?" he asks.
"Yes you, you silly goose." Cassia was a little confused at who elts she might have meant other than him.
Mithonbaal sighs, but smiles slightly despite himself. "My name, little one, is Mithonbaal."
"Nice to meet you Mithonbaal. What is your reason for joining what I am told is our quest?" Cassia asked, glad to have made him smile so easily.
"My purpose is to be the one that slips into places, silent and unseen. I'm also here for other, more personal reasons." Mithonbaal says immediately, chuckling.
Ica tilts her head at the mention of her name, donning a sly smile. "Ahh… you are sneaky one, are you not?" He grins at Cassia and twirls her around. "My little princess!!" She shouts, laughing. "How did you sleep?"
"I didn't!" Cassia replied laughingly. "I made healing stuffs instead! How did you sleep?" She said quickly changing the subject. She always got a little unconvertible when people talked about her never sleeping.
Efraim flinched again when Ica put her arm around them, quite unused to being touched like this. The only person they could remember getting this close to them was their father, and he died so long ago. It was uncomfortable now, and since Ica had moved her attention to the others, Efraim tried to move out of the way of her arm.
Mithonbaal was getting uncomfortble himself, not used to so many people. He was just good at hiding and supressing it. "You need sleep, kid."
Ica glanced at Efraim's agonizing expression, quickly taking her arm off of them. "My apologies." She says quickly. Oh gods, I hope they don't hate me. Ice turned her attention to Cassia, shaking her head. "Yes, little princess. You need your sleep! Tell me, what kind of things did you make?" She asks questioningly, a bit nervous.
Probably stuff I could use… Mithonbaal thinks, still chuckling. "Yes, what did you make?"
"I made stuff for cuts, and for bruises, and for burns, and for poisonings!" She stated happily now that they weren't talking about sleep. "And I made some poisons." This Cassia added shyly, for fear Ica being mad at her for it.
Efraim waved her off, putting a hand to their neck awkwardly. It is alright, they tried to communicate with their expression. Waving farewell to the others, they left the group and went into the throne room, catching the scent of lavender. Spotting Tilila, they tapped her on the shoulder and waved.
