Fantasy Wherever the Wind Takes You

[Shreb]

Laila blinked at him, before recognizing the face immediately!

"Wow! That was really accurate, haha."

Still...Seems like I might not be able to readily talk to him as much...How should I go about communicating with him?

She thought to herself for a long moment. "By the way, you won't really have to do anything. Arioon's funding the whole trip for us as a favor for giving her Parilla, and Mom basically settled all the logistics. All I really did was show face so even if we don't have our tickets, the carriage will have us by password. Considering the thing she gave me...Who knows where we'll be able to go!"

...

Laila brought up her curiosity. "Question, Reeve. When you write...Like, let's say you write the word "Up", or "Yes," do the words you write remain consistent? I know that the language is basically completely altered so you can't communicate like that, but it's just because...Like, if you learned sign language, that's still 'communication', so your curse is obviously gonna stop you. Since you haven't made that effort, it hasn't tried, but I assume it's something that will stop working, but it's not like you writing the same gibberish will have that same effect. Maybe if you just kept writing really simple words like 'yes' or 'no' consistently, there might be a pattern and we can communicate some fairly simple phrases...? Like you just have to tell me what you're writing, in a way, and...All that."

 

[Gary Sue]

It was kind of surprising to hear that others did most of the job for Laila, but anything that would get them to have a smoother time at this point. They still had the tassel after all to go through whichever territory they pleased- or most of them at the very least- so it would be for the most part a trip around the town. Something to get his body 'back in shape' as much as possible, even if it was just a slow walk or a slightly faster jog around the area. Without a sword... well, it'd definitely be a new feeling moving around so lightweight. It mattered little, but the habit built over the last years would definitely feel odd to break.

The glance he gave at her when she asked however was... confused, to say the least. His 'writing remaining consistent' could only mean one thing, and for most people it was incredibly simple. But in his own eyes and mind, he didn't even write differently to how he wrote prior to getting curse. If anything, he couldn't understand how he was writing the abyssal runes that he was- neither could he really see them, like his eyes translated everything he read in abyssal automatically to the common spoken language.

The best he could offer to answer her musing was... a shrug..? Not particularly helpful, but he could see some utility to what she was saying as well. If they had time to kill, they could definitely give it a shot and see if they could muster an answer to this question she posed. Sadly though, it wouldn't be all that practical for their upcoming challenge. If it did work though... "... I guess we could pack some writing supplies just in case. It's interesting... maybe I can teach Laila how to partially speak this language, even if I don't know how myself?"

 

[Shreb]

As she suspected, it was uncertain. Out of combat, this wouldn't be a large issue. In combat, the most they would be able to do is organize the gestures of...

Laila got herself a good idea. "Back when we fought those boars and first met, I gave you those hand signals and we were able to communicate with each other that way. Ergo, there's no way this curse would affect you using hand signs, it didn't seem to register them as...Speaking; writing and speaking might be totally different from using hand signs."

She wasn't technically wrong; when they initially met, they managed to communicate that Reeve would push forward and Laila would be firing arrows and avoiding his running path; to minimize friendly fire, they succeeded in relaying where they would be going and how they would be pushing, though that was with the assistance of eye contact and weapon gesturing. Technically speaking, if they could evolve such communication, they would have access to fundamental tactics and command that, while still being leagues below verbal components, would still fit under the umbrella of speech and yet remain elusive to the curse's effects.

"The academy. The magic academy is likely going to have a combat department! We can ask them for lessons on communicating without a voice. I hear they can speak to each other through just their thoughts alone...But that in itself is a magical technique, but we might be able to learn something more physical for your sake."

As such, tactical orders that could be relayed in silence would prove useful in their endeavors.

"Eh, but I'm thinking too far into this when we haven't even gotten on the carriage...Well, there's a couple of things to do. We can get you some new equipment at the blacksmith's...With this trusty little badge Arioon gave me, I'm pretty sure we'll get special privileges! We can also spend a bit of time just hanging out, relax before the carriage ride because I think it'll be kind of uncomfortable...Can also get something good to eat! I love a good smoked duck...Mm...Oh, and there's also just buying general supplies. We'll probably be packing our own food and clothes, so it'll be good timing to get that settled...I was planning on writing some new scrolls and talismans; especially since you'll be needing some if you need to hit something but it's not immediately in front of you..."

 

[Gary Sue]

So far, he had dreaded the two's inevitable visit to the magic academy, knowing that its time was only drawing nearer by the minute. But when she mentioned a lesson on non-verbal communication, his eyes gleamed a little as he looked at her, clapping his hands in both surprise and amusement. He could still use gestures to talk with her and convey some small emotions, it was all manners of speech that were hindered, from what he understood. Hell, thinking back to his clash with his curse, he clearly remembered one of the many words said during their brawl.

"The you meant to lead doesn't need words. The original owner this sword was made for didn't need them- but you lack the willpower. And in exchange for all this life we're blessed with, what do you choose to have? Nothing. Neither life nor magic, a shell of a puppet."

Though those words made very little sense prior to his encounter, he was beginning to understand now. His blade melting into nothingness by the time he was awake- he assumed that's what took place at least- and the lack of all magic. He was never attuned to it, but he had discovered that whatever little magic he did possess, he gave away when he picked up the blade in order to refine its own abilities. "... Maybe going to the magic academy could help. Perhaps they'll overlook my condition too and not make a hasty judgement. Laila has been scary using her magic before.", he laughed on his own as he remembered how she terrified the group of thieves that tried to attack them in the village by the cemetery, although she quickly put a halt to that train of thought.

Equipment, food, supplies... and talismans? He was completely unaware how the last of all of this worked, but for the rest of all of the above... He glanced over at his shoulderplate, vaguely remembering that he could form his own armor now that he had a better mastery over his curse, although he was still at partial risk of overexerting himself. His stomach rumbled at the mere mention of food, and for general supplies, he just found himself scratching his head and tilting it to the side a little. She said she had most of the general supplies, so... "... Maybe just get some maintenance work on my armor then, and... A-Ahh, have Laila show me the talismans..? I think-"

Another complaint from his rowdy stomach came in at the perfect timing to interrupt him, causing him to slump and drop his arms. "If I eat anything too intense, I might vomit... but I'm so hungry.", he huffed and gave Laila a tired look, just pointing at his armor and trying his best to form a rectangle using his index fingers and thumbs. After all, the last he remembered seeing any of the talismans when Tomoe used them, they had that shape. He assumed the rest were much the same, too.

"... I sometimes feel like a child pointing at things when we can only talk like this, urgh."

 

[Shreb]

Hunger and talismans, Laila presumed...Considering how tired Reeve looked, some food seemed to be in order. She was thinking about breaking the fast via classic TAVERN EXPEDITION! Thinking further on what the magic academy would be only slow down time for her, so she definitely was trying to distract herself.

Her attention was split partially when she saw him laughing. Oh, maybe he's thinking of something funny. I wish I could ask.

Regardless, she saw him doing that little gesture, with the thingy of the rectangle. "Oh, you want to know the talismans? Or I guess, what I'm drawing for you."

It was kind of funny, she partially was treating him like a kid, but she was fairly certain if she got too specific, she would be asking him questions all day and that just wasn't as efficient as a baseline educated guess.

...Laila considered this talisman exposition important, but she was also hungry, and there's no point explaining the talisman shtick if they're both looking to fill their stomachs. "How about we get something to eat, first? We've got a little bit of time and uh, yeah, we'll be here all day so it won't be a big deal...But we can leave whenever!"

 

[Gary Sue]

It looked like even though his pantomiming was rather... dubious, it got through to her! He was excited and eager to listen, only for a rumble to echo from the both of their stomachs before het let out a low sigh and slumped his head. With a nod to Laila, he pushed himself up and off the floor to offer a hand to the shrine maiden, looking back at his armor. He considered donning the protective plates, but if they were going to be staying only inside of the town to go to a tavern... then he'd be fine without it too.

Come think of it, it had been a good while since the last he wandered around using nothing but his casual clothes- and because of his odd predicament, there wasn't a blade with him either this once. An all too casual, almost 'average commoner' attire to sport. With a small grin, he took a little bit of pride in the more relaxed feeling of it all as he glanced at the woman and gestured for her to get going. Soon enough and once the two of them were ready, they were off.

And before they even knew it, they had arrived to the tavern, having only just made their order as Reeve sat across from Laila and looked at her. His gaze was softer, leaning on one of his hands while his arm rested on the table. A small smile was teasing itself on the verge of his lips' corners, as he lost himself in her cute features for a moment before realising he was... probably being a bit too obvious about it. Coughing to clear his throat, he did the rectangle motion once more to try and get the ball rolling as best as he could, smiling sheepishly afterwards.