Pugg lies alone on a ridgeoverlooking the Plains of Mulgore. It's past midnight, with a pleasantchill in the air and a beautiful moon shining. Looking out at theplains below, and up to the stars, he wrestles with his thoughts andmemories of the past month or so.
It all started simply enough,she was fun to tease. Randomly selected while waiting to dobattle...was it the Tower, or the Dragon Killer?...I don't evenremember now. The look on her face was just so amusing when I changedher into a human ninja. Always so serious...now flustered. How didshe know it was me?...and she did know, because she got me back,changing me into some god-awful gnome.
I didn't mind,though. It was fun and it passed the time while we waited for thefists to form up. She was intriguing. I couldn't tell if she wastruly annoyed, pretending to be annoyed, or having fun with me. Evenwithout the ninja costume, she seemed to wear a mask. So hard toread. I must know more...and so it begins.
I had to peek underthat mask. What lies beneath it? A playful remark here and there, theoccasional wink or smile...how would she respond? Would it bepleasant, or ugly? A hard exterior often protects something softbelow. She can't be hard all the way through, can she? I saw glimpsesof softness...a woman...struggling with balancing the weight of herresponsibilities, and the desire for happiness. She understood dutyand responsibility, it seemed to be her shell keeping the happiness atbay. "I don't have time for fun." she said.
My inquisition wascoming up soon. Maybe I can take this opportunity to see a little morebehind the mask...would she lift it briefly? She did! There's a womanbelow that mask, struggling to get out. I can see it! ...or is itjust wishful thinking on my part? Why am I doing this? What if I'mwrong? I had to know. I told her she should take the time to stop andsmell the roses in life. Make the time to enjoy the smallpleasures...and remember to smile. She said she'd try.
I shouldsend her a reminder. The herbalist in Thunder Bluff sells roses. I'llsend her one to remind her of our talk. How will she respond? Will Iscare her away, or will she like it? She replyed, and she liked it! Even better, she removed just a little more of the mask in her reply! I like what I see under the mask. There is beauty there, I know it!
Stolenmoments of conversation tonight with her, between the battles withGruul and his minions and afterward, she reveals more of herself. Sheshares my appreciation of these Plains, she's even planning to comehere to relax...maybe this weekend...perhaps with me.
I'm growing very fond of her...feelings I haven't felt since...well, I can't remember feeling this way before.
Whereis this headed? What should I do? She's an officer, not just anyofficer, but the Inquisitor! You're playing with fire, fool! If thisgoes bad, it REALLY goes bad!
Live life for now! Not for what may be, or what was!
Shemakes me happy, and I think I make her happy...I think. She does smilemuch more when I'm around. That means something, right?
Maybeit's time to open up to her? Perhaps if she allows me to join her herethis weekend, the time would be right? Yes, I think so. It's worththe risk.
I must remember to thank Grolish for showing me thisplace so long ago. So beautiful and peaceful...I hope Acherontia willjoin me here. She will love this place.