#elsewhere

"Shall we go? This water is very nice, but it's not Sea."

"...I will need my sword. And maybe we should get Holger."

"Want me to fetch him?" Ariel offers

"Si!"

Ariel races off "SATYR SPEED ZOOM"

With pretty good response time, Holgar comes in, hastily affixing his shield "What is this about danger?"

"Our new friend Luisa is in need of a battle!"

Lu eyes the big young lad. "You are very blue. Like a betta. Can you fight? Betta look like courtiers, but they excel at battle."

"I am a troll" the boy says as if that explains it

"Holger is our caballero!"

"And si, he is a fighter and defender and very strong!"

"Countessa, battles? You know this will upset Countess Jessica. Has anyone told her?"

"Noooottttt yet..."

Holger's brow knits "She will NOT be pleased"

"The true measure of a warrior is how they function in autonomy. If you must be ordered and directed, you are simply a soldier, a sword more than a man."

She says, not in an insulting manner, but in the manner of one who believes such to be true.

"Duty to one's lords, if the lord be worthy, is no weakness" Holger grunts, troll belief

"But you're OUR Caballero," Ariel reminds "And your other Countess needs you. Or... do we got without you?"

Holger winces

"A spear that must be personally wielded and directed takes up a lord's hands. A warrior that can fight on their own is far superior!" Swish of her finned tail!

Holger makes a humph sound ("A shield that twists of it's own accord rather than hold strong betrays its charge") . If the Mer knew trollish grunts ,she would realize how devastating that comment is..by troll standards

"Holger, be nice" Ariel DOES speak troll

He blushes

"What if we leave a note?"

Lu realizes that something may have been said, but she responds in a conciliatory tone, "I mean not to say that it is not proper to serve one's liege. Only that a warrior that can serve their liege without being directly instructed frees their lord or lady up for other duties. There is wisdom in knowing what must be done without being told to do so."

"A note? That would be mannerly" Holger says then considers "We should leave the note for Salma, so she may read it to the Countess La Granda. Salma is a very good reader"

Then he nods to Lu "I apologize if I took your words wrong"

"Write your words then, so that your Contessa will know that we go to summon and vanquish the fiends of the fell upon sea and shore, to bring honor and glory to us all!"

Ellie wavers.

Lu peers at her. "It is okay if you feel fear. A wise warrior knows that courage is overcoming fear. Only a fool does not fear."

"I am not afraid of fighting."

"I am afraid of disappointing Yessica."

"Then do not." She says, simply. "Fight with your all, and Vatae will know your worth."

Ariel gives her friend a hug

"....Si..."

"You want to write the note? Or shall I?" Ariel asks

"Can you not leave a message with yon water sprite? Paper is precious and rare."

Nodding towards Fontaine.

"I could pass it on" Fontaine says "yes"

"Issue resolved! Should your superior seek you here, the message awaits. If she does not, then you may report on your return!"

Lu swings her tail out of the water and it splits into a pair of legs, still clothed decently wither her sleek robes.

She twists her fingers together, nervously.

"I shall get my sword!"

"And I got my bow"

"I have my shield" Holger nods

"And my trident!" She adds, innocently unaware of any memes.

Ariel giggles at something