Hesitates before slowly shaking her head," I was… Thinking you would know," she admits softly, soft laughter bubbling from her lips as she slowly stood, hooking the shield beneath one of her arms, the broken strap hanging loosely from it as she cast him a tiny smile," Perhaps we can simply wander until we find one? Who knows? It might be good for us to simply wander about, hm?"

She flashes a small smile, teeth flashing white behind thin lips before looking away quickly. Still, something tugged at the back of her mind, every time and she looked at Aven- it caused her some discomfort not quite being able to catch the small bird of memory the fluttered about her skull- just out of reach.

Aven chuckles. "Wandering it is, then. If we go down enough streets and ask enough people, we're sure to find something." He rises from his seat, ruffling his hair back into a more defined look. The particles in his eyes begin to slowly increase in number, a steady change, one that Aven himself does not show any indication of noticing.
Stretching his shoulders and brushing the back of his tattered robe off, he smiles gently. "Shall we go?" 

She watched the particles for a moment, ever so slightly unnerved by the exponential growth of the numbers. Something about the void-like darkness that surrounded him was simultaneously disturbing and comforting. Hakon watched him for a moment, blinking, clearing her throat and nodding shortly," Right-"

Hakon turned upon her heel, moving from the Tavern before she could be any more dettered.

Aven strode after Hakon, oblivious to Hakon's unease. It didn't occur to him that the power he held was considered malicious at best, and pure evil at worst. That wasn't much of a surprise, given his amnesia, but none of that passed through his head at the time. He was walking on air, for what reason he was't sure, though that Kilandre woman's presence alone made him happy. A few dirty looks were shot at Aven on his way out, one of them especially nasty from a tall, gaunt man with a rapier, who kept his eyes locked on Aven like prey.
 
Aven caught up with Hakon outside the door, giving her a smile once more, gauging the area. "Should we try the city square first? That sounds like somewhere that a request board could be posted…" The sun shone down from the sky, bathing the land in warm, golden light. Within seconds, Aven's eyes began to droop sleepily. "Or maybe… there's an organization… that deals with adventuring…"

She did not notice the gaunt man, nor the increasing fatigue of her companion until he spoke. She turned to look at him, noticing how his movements slowed and his back slumped, accentuated further by the harsh sunlight. Hakon reaches out, instinctively gripping his shoulder, immediately a picture, a scene flickers before her mind's eye; complete darkness, a gentle touch though her entire body burned like hellfire, feeling as if her muscle would split from her skin. A question, the soft sensation of fabric from thin air resting on her shoulder, a warm embrace. A kiss.

she flushed suddenly and reeled back slightly," A… Are you alright?"

Aven gazed up at Hakon in confusion, wondering why he was so tired. It was as though his body and mind were being drained of energy, he could even feel what little control he had left over his powers wane. It couldn't have been the alcohol, he wasn't affected by alcohol. Wait… a scene plays through his mind of a giant man, almost like a bear, sitting next to him at a bar, the two of them chugging drinks as though competing. The bear-like man gives up, leaving him the victor, but as he searches around the room for the person he wished to share the victory with, they were nowhere to be found. Who was he looking for? It was so close to his grasp, yet he could not reach the distant memory. Regardless, he recalled that alcohol had no effect on him; was it because he was different? the amount he consumed was super human, did it have relation to those black particles, maybe? Gods, he couldn't think straight in that glaring light…

"Yes… I'm just… a bit tired, I suppose. Could we slow… the pace a bit?"

Furrowing her brow worriedly, she nods and murmurs vaguely," Of course," slowing down and carefully, hesitantly wrapping an arm about his slender shoulders, hoping to keep him upright as she tucked the shield under her other arm. Carefully she began to guide him into the shade of a stall, ducking her head slightly to try to look him in the face.

" what happened? Did you drink too much?" She asks warily, furrowing her brow slightly

"Thank you, Miss Kilandre…" He hobbled along with her to the shade, where life began to return to his features. His stamina flooded back, along with a sense of returning power. There was no doubt in his mind at that point: the research that wandered around in his mind, his weakness to light, gaining strength from the darkness. It finally came back to him: he wasn't fully human, Aven was a dark matter being, and a shadow being to boot. That was why his powers hadn't worked, why he'd felt so useless against that wolf. The sun drained his mana and stamina, while the darkness restored it, and the same went for his powers.

Could he tell that to Miss Kilandre, though? She was a Paladin, a light bringer: how could the two of them adventure together if he was a being of the dark? She seemed so thoughtful, though, and had been so gentle with him. He didn't want her to go, every fiber of his being screamed at him to stay with her… but why? "No, I apologize. It's just what I am: I'm composed of those particles you see in my eyes, I'm sorry for not saying so earlier. My abilities and stamina are drained by the sun, and the darkness bolsters them." His gaze drops to the ground, ashamed. He felt as though he'd deceived her, even though he did not remember until that time. "I apologize for not saying so earlier, I just… couldn't remember. I've had problems with my memory since earlier today, I honestly don't even know where I am." He fell silent, waiting for her to leave in disgust, or even draw her sword to strike him down. She was a paladin, after all, but somehow, he didn't feel right lying to her.

She hesitates a moment as she listens to his story, propping him against a stone wall as she gazes at him uncertainly. She should be unnerved, that shadow gave this man life. Instead, she merely felt sad. Standing a foot away from him, one hand remaining on his shoulder to steady the man, young Hakon merely offers a tiny smile,"… We'll… Find out something,"

her promise was vague but certain, she did not want to leave this stranger, in the hour they had been together she felt more certain of herself then she had since wandering aimlessly into the Wicked Mermaid.

she squeezes him gently, before pausing and putting down her shield, beginning to carefully unstrap her cloak from her back, handing it to him," Put this over your head,"

Aven was genuinely shocked at Hakon's response. She didn't hate him? It was so strange to think, but he didn't even know why it was strange. Wouldn't it be more normal for a person to judge based on character, rather than appearances? The thought gave him comfort, and as she offered her cloak, another memory shot to the surface: he was on a large, six legged horse-creature, riding through a snowcovered tundra, losing his handle on the beast's back due to sunlight not unlike the current day. A blurry figure in front of him offered a helmet to shade him, and had him wrap his arms around them for stability. He remembered feeling safe, not unlike when Miss Kilandre had helped him over to the shade. She couldn't be…?

Aven reached out, accepting the cloak with his gentle smile. "Thank you, Miss Kilandre. You're so gracious, I'm glad we met." He fastens the cloak over himself, that feeling of deja by still on full tilt. "Miss Kilandre… have we… met?" He gazed into her eyes with his own, as the black particles around his irises recede, leaving only the soft, silver-grey hue he was born with.