Woot! Been having fun experimenting with atmosphere and backgrounds. The second page ALMOST didn't make it in. I was already done drawing the page after this one. Briallen still asks Matthias if he loves Ari, but there wasn't this beautiful quiet moment of pause and reflection. Briallen loves talking, which makes this quiet moment she have feel so meaningful.
I just now realized that even though I originally based her off of my best friend, she's much more like a female version of my brother, the one who's been making the dragon language. Loves talking, loves STUDYING talking, but still downright lovable.
When I was making the flashback sequence, it made me wish that I had a moment like this when Briallen and Ari were first introduced together and talking about their dreams of traveling the world treasure hunting and speaking new languages, but you were still getting to know this world and the people in it, so it probably would have been a little emotionally manipulative to be all "Here's this random character you just met! CARE ABOUT HER!"
I'm glad you've had some time to get to know Ari and Briallen a little bit before this scene. I'm really proud of it. I loved working on it. I loved the linework, I love the soft pink colors, and I love the map. They were going to have different dialogue, but after I drew the details of the map with Briallen pointing at an island, their conversation became more about the island and wanting to go there someday.
I don't know if THAT particular island will be special, because they've probably had several conversations about different places on the maps they look at... but of course, now I'm imagining this scene where Ari and Matthias go there. Ari probably looking at some pearl/shell treasure and missing Briallen, but then Briallen pops up having triumphantly overcome her Elvish nature of never wanting to leave home.
But yeah. Another reason why this page almost didn't make it was because it was just in the thumbnail phase on Friday, then my husband and I were without power for two days. We ended up having to retreat to our cousins' house because a tree fell on our power line, so even if the city had its power back when it was supposed to- we wouldn't for a long time, and my day job is a work from home job so I need internet. But yeah! Turns out this page didn't take that long. Even with the detailed linework.
I'm so happy that I did manage to finish it and that I get to share it with you!