The sand and dust settled on what had briefly turned into a small skirmish. The large jackal strutted back towards his planted spear, as if it was a banner he grabbed it's handle and raised it in the air before he let out a bellowing laugh. With a flourish of his spear he holstered it and his shield on his back.
"Are you okay my friends? The lizardmen around these parts are quite nefarious!" The jackal's voice boomed as he approached Cyrus and Sarah.
As he got a better look at the Jackal, Cyrus had to look up at him to meet his gaze. The sheer height difference meant the beastman was towering over Cyrus. An almost brotherly like smile was strung across the Jackal's maw as he addressed the two travelers.
"Yeah thanks, would've been in a pinch if it wasn't for you." Cyrus thanked with a little chuckle as he holstered his own dagger on his hip.
Another laugh rang out from the Jackal. "No thanks are needed! Those who would prey on two children deserve a good beating!" He laughed as he put a hand on Sarah's head and ruffled her hair.
Sarah was in a state of utter bewilderment, as she looked up at the jackal her mind raced. The halo above her head tingled and throbbed, the same sensation she had felt once they arrived at Laura's inn in Lexin. Her thoughts racked and pounded away in her skull. Why had she not sensed his presence before? To track down the wielders of the cores was her mission and duty so why couldn't she sense this one until it was directly in front of her? Her face was contorted and reeked of her distraught state.
As he noticed the look on her face the Jackal suddenly and quickly crouched down to be face to face with her. "Are you alright small child!? Lizardmen are scary but I the great Nadir Rastis have chased them off." Another laugh resounded from him as he boasted for what he thought was a child.
As his loud voice nearly burst her ear drums Sarah was smacked out of her distraught stupor. His head shook as she looked Nadir in the eyes and blinked as she came back to her senses. "I am not a child!" She corrected before she grabbed his snout. "But never mind that! You found a strange relic recently right."
As his snout got grabbed his eyes widened a bit but he stood up. As he stood up Sarah went shooting up as she held onto his snout, and gave yet another laugh rang out from him as Sarah dropped into his arms. "You're a grabby one aren't you, but you are right small child!"
Being in his arms Sarah's brow and forehead quivered before a series of runes appeared and struck Nadir in the chest. "I am not a child!" She declared as the runes burst and sent Nadir skidding back against the sand as she fell out of his grip and landed on her feet.
As he got pushed back a bit of smoke billowed off of his chest. "Hah! A might blow!" He boasted as he stuck out his chest his fists on his hips before his eyes hazed over a bit and his head sank as he stood a bit wobbly for a few seconds before shaking his head and letting out a hearty laugh.
As he watched Nadir get the same treatment he got from sarah he chuckled and walked towards him reaching up and patting his shoulder. "Good job staying on your feet, welcome to the club." He kept walking past him and back towards their carriage.
As he got to the carriage he opened up the door to see Celene huddled against the floor of the carriage. Cyrus poked at her cheek and crouched a bit to be eye to eye with her. "You can't say its nothing now. We'll talk about it later but at least come thank Nadir he did save us."
As she got poked Celene scowled a bit as she looked at Cyrus. "I'm not dealing with a desert beastman. I don't know who he's involved with I-"
Celene was cut off as another laugh rang out. "The second child speaks! I am Nadir Rastis I will bring you no harm I swear on the Rastis name!"
As he approached their carriage and spoke Celene's eyes widened a bit and she pulled her hood farther down onto her face and turned away from him. As he saw her reactions Cyrus let out a heavy sigh.
"Sorry about her." He'd apologize as he stepped between the two of them and closed the carriage door.
"No apologies needed! Children's moods can be very fickle!"
Cyrus chuckled. "She's not a kid either.""Ah, my mistake. She seemed so small huddled against the floor of your carriage!"
Cyrus laughed a bit with the man and looked away a bit as his own laugh faded into a bit of an awkward chuckle. As he spoke to Nadir he would catch sight of Sarah behind him waving her arms around. Her arms swung about, she mimed an array of different motions, throwing a rope, casting a fishing line and all manner of things. As he looked on at these hand signs and motions Cyrus's eyes narrowed as he tried to piece together what the angel was trying to tell him but to no avail. His head tilted as he tried to look at her arms at a different angle a look of confusion spreading across his face before Sarah let out a heavy sigh and a huff as she joined the two men.
"By Celestia pick up on something! You! You said your name was Nadir right, you need to come with us." She'd command as she placed her hands on her hips.
As he heard her Nadir laughed. "Growing attached already I see, but I can do no such thing! I have my duties as a Rastis, the guardians of Ibis!" He exclaimed as he pounded his fist against his chest.
"This is more important than one little city in the desert! That thing you picked up was-"
Sarah was suddenly cut off as Cyrus's hand covered her mouth and he picked her up as she kicked and flailed about. "What she meant was that's unfortunate. But we're actually trying to head to Ibis, could you show us the way there?"
"Hah! Of course! Such a simple request is nothing for one such as I!" He boasted
"Thanks, the name's Cyrus by the way." He chuckled and tossed the flailing Sarah into the back of the carriage with Celene and Henry.
"A pleasure to meet you Cyrus!" He smiled and slapped Cyrus on the back.
As the sting of the slap hit his back Cyrus shivered a bit before he returned it with a slap of his own and a game seemed to begin. The two repeatedly slapping each other on the back in increasing intensity. The sounds of a hearty laugh and slaps started to ring out from the lone carriage in the desert as its wheels started to turn once more.