"Veci, stop that." Hector had been watching a piece of his orange mane strangely moving of it's own accord, or so it seemed, but the truth was that something was there and Hector shot the ghost a glance as the strands fell over his ear. The Soldier thought he could almost hear a laugh as the boggart dived around, never once had Hector known his spectre to sit still, it was almost like teaching a child backwards. Instead of teaching Veci to walk, he had to teach him to stop, though the triple blooded boy couldn't help but think that was an even harder concept to try and get his bonded to grasp. It wasn't like he could hold out a leg to stop him, the damned ghost would just float straight through him, in the end Hector didn't know why he bothered. Sensing his thoughts, Veci floated around the Soldier's head and tickled his friend's ears. Much to the boggart's glee, Hector laughed and playfully shook his head, but continued walking onwards to the oasis.

His mind was at peace now, the fight with Kri had put his priorities into place and lifted his spirits. He walked with a new vigour, like a stud enlightened, a purpose firmly before him and a belief that he could do it. Maybe if his old friends could see him they would comment on how he looked more like a Prince now than he ever did before. Heir to an empire that he never wanted to return to, his place was in Helovia where his comrades didn't judge him. Didn't tip toe around him because he was the 'crown prince', he was just Hector and he liked that fact. Besides, he was a father of two children here, though he had not seen them in sometime, maybe one day they'd come looking for him and Hector wanted to be there for them whenever they did.

Something disturbed Veci's presence and the Soldier looked up to see that they had arrived at the oasis and not completely on their own. In his private musings he'd completely missed the appearance of the dun mare who had a rather beautiful, wild look to her, in Hector's eyes. Never before had he seen this femme who was now cooling herself down in the pool, the crystal blue water looking extremely tempting and Hector took a draught at the edges. Not wanting to frighten the golden female. Once satisfied, he lifted his head with droplets falling from his velvet lips, gentle face portrayed an open friendliness. "A warm day is it not?" He said, as soft as his booming voice would allow him to go.

He smiled gently and nodded once to her reply, noting that she had previously been in the Threshold which may or may not mark her a newcomer to the lands. If that was so, maybe she would grow used to it or maybe she would take off in search of cooler lands. Hector hoped for the former, but he knew some could not tolerate the heat. She further confirmed his suspicions when she mentioned having a short stay, he wondered if she would linger until after Tallsun. Maybe then she might find some relief from the infernal sun. The Soldier didn't at all mind it much, his birth land had much the same temperatures and parts were made up of desert. He often used to train in the desert with his old teacher until he lay on the floor, waiting for the relief of water. It was a punishing regime, but it was what made him strong today. "I'm sorry you don't agree with the weather so well, I know some who cannot stand it. I myself come from a land much like this one." He said with a distant smile before taking another helping of water.

Veci had drifted off somewhere behind them, the boggart's attention seemingly captivated on something else in the oasis. Hector could feel the waves of curiosity his friend projected and hoped that he wasn't about to try something stupid. He often forgot how young Veci was and how mischievous he could be, the Soldier almost trembled at the thought of how much trouble the spectre could possibly get him into. Sometimes the horned boy wished his bonded wasn't invisible and that he could actually see what the devil was up to, but alas, he only became visible when scaring others. It made their mental bond all the more important.

His mind returned to the present as the pretty golden femme spoke again, her name this time, she called herself Cierra. A beautiful name for a beautiful mare. The Soldier dipped his head once again and spoke kindly through soft lips. "A pleasure to meet you Cierra, my name is Hector, I'm a Soldier of this herd" he thought for a moment of introducing Veci, but that would only complicate things for the moment. If the boggart decided to do something stupid, then he would have to explain.

The orange hairs of his leonine tail dipped into the water and Hector flicked it up, over onto his back. Closing his eyes as the cool droplets relieved him whilst leaving his mind free to think of a conversation starter. He was not really one for long, drawn out conversations, often too drawn within himself to take an active role. This time, however, it would be a little strange if he said nothing so he awkwardly shuffled about, trying to think of something appropriate to say. Her vocal tones suggested she was a little abrupt in her nature, which further made him nervous, what if he offended her? He shuffled around some more before finally deciding on his next words "if I'm not too bold, what brings you to this land?"

It was the question that interested him the most, he often wondered why so many travelled to this vast land.