"Ahem," Miryanna cleared her throat, still very uncomfortable. "Andarin, this is Iphnis," She gestured to the Gnome sitting right beside her, seemingly unfazed still.

Andarin's brow was furrowed and he looked confused, a little upset, and consternatated. (<<-- that's a word now. i've used several other places and it's a word. i make the rules.)

"Iphnis, this is Andarin," Miryanna said without emotion. She was sure that Iphnis knew all about Andarin, but it would be a little awkward if she introduced Andarin to Iphnis, but not Iphnis to Andairn.

Iphnis you little creep

There was silence again. It was clear that Iphnis wasn't going to say anything, but although Miryanna wanted to, she had no idea what to say. And Andairn still looked confused. Miryanna didn't blame him. She herself was confused. She wanted to ask Iphnis what in the world was going on, but she didn't feel right asking it when Andarin was right there.

If it seems like Miryanna is really awkward, it's because she was written by me

Finally, Andarin did it. "Alright, Miryanna, we all thought this was just a little hobby you had, looking for Gnomes, we never had any idea you'd actually found one," He said, putting his hands on his hips. He then pointed at Iphnis, "And you. Who are you?"

Iphnis stood up and bowed slightly, "My name is Iphnis. My occupation is smithing, and that's all you'll ever know about me,"

I will now keep careful track to see if Andarin ever finds out more about Iphnis than that

"What?" Andarin practically shouted, "That's it? That's all I'll ever know about you?"

Miryanna also stood up, "Look Andairn, I..." She trailed off.

"You what?" Andairn asked back. "I thought Gnomes were a myth and you were just joking about looking for them. Now you've found one?"

"I didn't find him, you could say that he found me," She explained.

Like the stalker he is

"How? I'm all ears," Andarin crossed his arms and looked expectantly at them both.

Miryanna sighed, "I was walking in the woods one day, and as you know, I'd been seeing little flashes and glimpses of something. At first I thought it was just my imagination, but then I decided to pretend it was Gnomes. Later, I wasn't pretending anymore, and that's why I was so fascinated by Gnomes. One day, this day I was walking in the woods, I caught another glimpse again, and outright asked to see him fully. To my surprise and delight, Iphnis came out."

Andarin was just silent for a bit. He nodded, "And now you're just the best of buds, right?" He asked sarcastically.

Iphnis doesn't have friends so yeah actually

Miryanna shook her head, "I know nothing more about him then when he first stepped out of the trees and told me a bit about himself. He says that Gnomes are a subtle race and are still enemies with the Terinnians."

You know a bit more about him.

OKay at this point I am getting tired of calling out everyone's bull but it is there to be called out.

Andarin turned to Iphnis, who, remarkably, hadn't disappeared as he was wont to do. "So you consider yourself an enemy of us?" He asked with brows raised.

"No," Iphnis responded.

"Then why do you say that you consider us enemies?" Andairn asked, spreading out his arms.

"My people consider you enemies. I am one of my people." Iphnis replied.

Andarin looked more confused than ever. "Then why...?"

"Gnomes are a subtle race and do not speak frankly with humans," Iphnis said.

translation: screw you, andarin you're not that special

"But why?" Andarin asked exasperatedly.

"Because you are our enemies,"

"But..."

Miryanna cut him off, "Don't even try. I have a few times and it just doesn't work,"

You have tried exactly one time as of now

Andarin's mouth was still open in a slight gape. He nodded slowly.

There was silence again. Miryanna started feeling awkward again.

"Hey, there you are," Another voice came in. Roric.

Both Miryanna and Andairn snapped their gaze up in alarm, and stared at where Iphnis had just been standing, but he'd disappeared.

frikin ninjas man

"Uh, Roric, hey," Miryanna attempted a smile,m but she was too flustered still.

"Roric, you'll never guess what!" Andarin exclaimed, "I've seen a Gnome! Miryanna has too," He turned to her, "Tell him, Miry,"

dangit andarin don't you know how to keep a secret

"What? No!" Miryanna cried, but it was too late.

"Wait, what?" Roric held up his hands to get them to slow down, "You're telling me that you've both seen some Gnomes?" He asked, one eyebrow raised skeptically.

Andarin nodded breathlessly, "Yes, he was just here a few seconds ago," He glanced around wildly, looking for where Iphnis had gone, but he was nowhere to be found. Andarin looked back at Miryanna, "Where'd he go?"

Miryanna still wasn't able to say anything. "I-Uh--He has a way of doing that. He is a Gnome after all," She stammered out.

"Alright, hold on," Roric put his hands on his hips, "You've seen a Gnome. He disappeared. You're excited."

"Yes!" Andarin burst out.

Roric turned to Miryanna, "And you saw him to?"

Miryanna sighed and looked into the trees where she saw the icy eyes. She could see him nodding in the shadow of the bush he was hiding behind, so she responded, "Yes, yes I have,"

Roric rolled his eyes, "Listen, I know you like fantasizing, actually no, I didn't know you like fantasizing, but apparently you do now, but I just came to look for you guys because you'd been gone a long time. Can we go back to camp now?" He asked, his voice taking on a dull, tired tone.

"But we did see a Gnome!" Andarin insisted. "Iphnis, show yourself, please!" He called into the trees.

Miryanna clapped a hand over his mouth, "You can't just call a Gnome,"

"Then why is it that he'll talk to you and not the rest of us?" He asked with indignation.

"Maybe you should ask him," Miryanna rolled her eyes.

"I want to, but he disappeared,"

Roric face-palmed, "Can we just go back to camp and discus this in an organized manner on the way?" He asked.

Now it was Andarin's turn to sigh, "Sure. Let's go,"

And so they started on the way back, Andarin explaining in full detail about the little encounter. He tried to get Miryanna into the discussion, but she just insisted that she had nothing to add. She kept glancing into the woods where she could make out Iphnis gliding through the trees soundlessly. She could barely make him out so she wasn't worried about Andarin seeing him, and though Roric had a trained eye, he didn't really believe Andarin, so he wasn't looking for anything.

Finally, Roric held his hands up, "Alright, alright, If you're that insistent on it, I guess I believe you, but as a word of advice, you might want to keep the information to yourself," He said before going about his own business.

Andarin sighed and turned to Miryanna, "Oh, I remember what I wanted to talk to you about when I first saw you and the Gnome," He said.

"I'm all ears," Miryanna shrugged.

"Well," Andarin started, "I know we've both been thinking about going home, and I think I've come to a decision," He said a bit apprehensively.

Miryanna waited for him to continue, but it seemed he was done, so she took it as a cue to say something. "Well, I have been too, and I think..." She trailed off, wrestling with the decision in her mind, "I think... that it's the right decision also," She said haltingly.

Andarin smiled, "You really do?"

Miryanna paused only a moment before nodding stoutly, "Yes. I think we should."

"That's wonderful!" Andarin exclaimed.

Miryanna couldn't help but smiling also, and decided to ignore the feeling in her gut that maybe that wasn't the right decision.

It has to be the right decision as I couldn't squeeze any more plot out of the mountain place.

They prepared for the journey home, and as the day grew nearer, the bad feeling Miryanna had slowly went away. On the day before she left, she knew she had to talk to Iphnis again, and say goodbye. For all she knew, she'd never see him again.

She stood in the woods, away from camp. "Iphnis, you know I'm leaving tomorrow, possibly for good, so I'm here to say goodbye, and thanks." She waited in silence.

I didn't think of this at the time, but wouldn't that be so uncomfortable having someone who literally everything about you and what you do and everything but know nothing about them? yeesh. I'm thinking now that Iphnis wasn't near as knowledgeable s Miry thinks he is. she just assumed that right up front and he took that and ran with it.

Finally, Iphnis dropped out of one of the trees and landed right in front of her.

She started at his sudden appearance, "Oh, there you are,"

"Goodbye, is it?" he asked suddenly.

She nodded. "I need to go home. I made the decision kind of on impulse, but now I feel like it's the right thing to do,"

Iphnis nodded, "It is,"

Miryanna narrowed her eyes in confusion, "How do you know?"

Iphnis looked down, and hesitated before answering, "Some Gnomes can see to places where others can't, and I saw that you'll find something important at Campel," He told her.

wow that sounds super interesting how gnomes can do that could you offer more clarification about what is it and how it works? NOPE

"What important thing?" She asked.

He shrugged, "I don't know,"

bruh you can't just drop stuff like this and give no further insight?