"I would like to speak to the owner of this establishment."
"We're just a simple florist, m'lady, and I run it."
"Come on, do I have to prove that I know what goes on in here? Fine, I'd like to see one of your butterfly flowers. Now, can I or can I not see the owner of this establishment? I know his name, but it'd be best if it was not said."
"Of course, m'lady." The woman headed towards the inside of the flower shop and promptly returned with the man Raewyn was looking for.
"Wind! It's been a long time, girl."
"And you too, Snake."
Slanel could be described as a stereotypical businessman, with the suit, briefcase, tie, he was extremely out of place at the flower shop.
"Come on in, we'll go to my office, shall we?"
He led her in, through a corridor where she could hear the sounds of certain illicit activities occuring in the rooms along the corridor. She took a seat by him, lying back against the wall.
"I still can't believe you went into prostitution."
He smiled wickedly. "I suppose you understood the moment Mr. Necromancer told you I was running a flower shop."
"You enjoy that phrase too much."
"It's true. I run a business involving genital organs, and so do florists. It's just the organs of what, that truly matters."
"Of course."
"What are you doing here, though? I remember the day when you left. The Shifter was heartbroken."
"The Shifter doesn't even have a heart. I think."
"Oh, he does. And he wasn't the only one. Arguil was really disappointed. And so am I. You nearly brought Liryc to tears, remember?"
"She's fine now, right?"
"Not... really. She got even more depressed after you left and that's saying something. I never thought she could get even more depressed and suicidal. Your departure really hit her hard. Hit all of us hard. But Liryc got hurt the worst, girl."
"If there was some way to help her, I would. But it's too late for that. It's much too late. I left the guild fifteen months ago. I'm here for a different reason."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
Mirroring her previous encounter with Arguil, she pulled down her top garment.
"Nice colour. What did you do?"
"What I did is not the matter here. The matter here is that the salve I'm using to cure it is much too potent. I need a stalk of dreaming fern."
Slanel pursed his lips. He stood and strode about his office.
"You ask a lot, Wind. You leave us all negative fifteen months back, now you come back and you demand a stalk of dreaming fern."
"I can compensate you."
"The compensation isn't the most important thing. The most important thing is, never insult someone who might one day help you. You never seemed to grasp that. And now, it still seems like you haven't. Respect."
"On account of old time's sake, Slanel."
"Ah, don't you remember? I never do credit.""
"Slanel. Just... Look, if I don't get the dreaming fern, the salve will eventually burn my skin away and kill me. If I stop applyng it, the thing will cover my body and kill me."
"And that concerns me how?"
"Don't be so stubborn, will you! This is a matter of life and death."
"I refuse. I require greater incentives."
"I will come and visit the guild regularly."
"Not good enough."
"I'll pay you double the value of the dreaming fern."
"Triple."
"Fine." Raewyn grinned. "You always were a sucker for cold, filthy gold."
"Hey! I polish that gold everyday until it shines! Or at least," He amended, "I used to. Nowadays, I polish it when I can, the rest I leave to my servants to polish."
"You ain't afraid they'll steal it?"
"Why should I? They ain't kravlun." He said, using the term for the bottom-class, generally considered to be thieves and pickpockets. "But yes, there's a spell on my gold, bring it out of a certain range, bad things will happen."
"Mmm. I'm not too interested in what your household does."
"I can tell. I really think you should go and find Liryc. Try to get her to her previous state of depression."
"She's a dirge-singer, shouldn't the depression work in her favour?"
Slanel shrugged.
"As a dirge-singer, I guess it would help with the emotions and all that, but as a person? Not so much."
"I heard she's in Necropolis now?"
"Yes. She'll be back in Pero Diaz by next week earliest."
"Alright. I'll try to keep in touch with you guys. It's been a long time. The Shifter?"
"He's working as a bodyguard."
"How did he even get the contract? Don't tell me he finally got the hang of speaking?"
"Oh no, he hasn't and I don't expect him to anytime soon. I work as his agent too."
"And I assume you don't know where Necros is either."
"Our de facto leader tends to disappear quite regularly. This is no different."
"I'll be seeing you then, Snake."
"And you too, Wind." He kissed her on her forehead. "You may have been an irritance and a nuisance back in the day but I still missed you. Now take the fern and begone. You can pay later."
"I thought you said you didn't do credit?"
"Details, details, now go!"
You've forgotten about Alice, haven't you. Libys' voice echoed oddly in her mind.
"Hush."
You can't hide from her forever. Either you go and find her, or she comes and finds you.
Raewyn ignored him and slowly applied the salve. And the screams began once more.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Newspapers Are So Informative
Solciro whistled. "Hey guys, Delirious' been sent to the asylum."
"What? Why? He's always been somewhat mad, why send him there now?"
"Apparently he went crazy. Well, crazier. He started attacking people, it says here. And certain background information about him was revealed. Delirus was actually two people once. Siblings. Del and Irus. Who would have guessed. Some weird magical accident, they merged or something." He said, reading the newspaper.
"Wow. Where'd they get that information from?"
"His, uh, their other siblings. Iris and Iria."
"So, what's his real last name?"
"I don't know. It just says here The Family Of Del. I don't know, but it sounds quite sketchy to me. The Family Of Del. Maybe they were well-known somewhere else?"
Cocytus shrugged. "Anyway, I wonder who's gonna be the new Magics teacher."
They were sitting in a parlour sipping coffee and just lazing around, whiling away the time. The Terra parents had, as Solciro had predicted, expressed their sympathy and offered Grei a home. Grei had accepted and was still sleeping, not having slept in a proper bed ever before. It was a whole new world to her.
"So, Kestrel, what did you mean by those words yesterday?"
"Boredom strikes back. Shopping anyone?" Kestrel asked.
Cocytus stared at her. "Who are you and what have you done to my beloved Lady Kestrel?"
"I could do with a new hoodie." Lethe said.
They had been studiously avoiding the subject ever since Kestrel accidentally revealed it to the siblings. But they knew that they would have to tell them soon.
How long more before we tell them? It's starting to get annoying, hiding it from them. Styx sent.
Yeah. I think we might as well just tell them. I don't think I'd really want a boyfriend who doesn't accept me and my friends.
My friends and I. Phlegyas corrected. But, the grammar not withstanding, I agree with Lethe.
Then we might as well get it over and done with. Cocytus stated.
"Solciro, Lune, what you two heard yesterday was exactly that. As you already know, Lethe can absorb memories through touch and Styx is a telepath. But what you didn't know is that I can control blood and that Phlegyas here appears to be able to return from the dead without any outside intervention." Cocytus shrugged and deftly unbraided his veins. They dangled about his hands, far longer than his fingers. He lifted his hands up.
"See? Remember these? Watch." Blood started flowing from the veins and poured out into the air, forming a crimson globe. Cocytus became a shade paler, but continued concentrating.
"Blood control." He funneled the blood back into his veins and after he was done, started heaving heavily. He smiled weakly. "And it's tiring. Very very tiring."
It was a good thing that the parlour was empty save for them.
"But... How... I don't..." Solciro struggled futilely, trying to grasp what he had just been told. "Ah, you know what, never mind." He dropped the newspaper onto the table, slumped back onto his cushioned seat and closed his eyes, simply enjoying the cooled air and hot coffee.
"You're pretty accepting, aren't you?"
He opened an eye lazily. "You have to be accepting if you want to survive. You'll get nowhere with bigotry and calling other people freaks." Both his eyes then jolted awake as Lethe threw herself onto him.
"I am never going to get used to their extremely open displays of affection." Styx said, averting her face in mock embarrassment.
"I'm gonna have to get used to it, she's gonna be my sister-in-law!" Lunare exclaimed. "If they do this everyday..." She let the thought hang in the air.
"Besides, do your parents know about this?" Phlegyas gestured with a finger at the couple.
"Do you mean the fact that they're so intimate or the fact that they're together?"
"Um, both."
"Father and Mother only know that there's a relationship. They didn't inquire further. They think we know better. And I suppose we do."
The lovebirds finally broke their kiss and grinned somewhat breathlessly. Lethe sat on his lap, smiling in that Cheshire way that they had come to know recently.
"And I think I'm learning some manner of control over this. I can limit the experiences to just intellectual knowledge now, not actually reliving it all over again! But I guess it could be because I've touched him many times."
"Yeah, and in all the wrong places."
"I'm curious though." Cocytus cut in. "You and Lune don't act like nobles. Your speech, your actions, it seems more suited to the style of us regular commoners. The nobles I've seen apart from you two, they like to enunciate their words precisely, speaking in clipped sentences as if Common weren't their first language. And you two seem much more open."
Solciro shrugged. "We always resented the language, debate, court manners and politics lessons. We only put up a show of it in front of Father and Mother. Ah, you see, only we stuck-up nobles actually call our parents Father and Mother all the time, not Dad or Mum."
Lunare yawned. "Acherus, could we go and practise? Please? I'm really bored."
"We all are. I guess so then. Pickpocketing or lockpicking?"
The two made their way out, though Acheros opted to stay in the cool room. The weather recently had gone haywire, the weather mages unable to control the eco-dome they had erected over Pero Diaz. Pero Diaz, having the good luck to be located in the middle of a desert, had several high-ranking resident mages who created a dome over the entire city to control the weather. This meant that the weather was very monotonous, cool anytime around morning and evening, warm in the day. However, the dome had been fouling up recently and heatwaves that were more in tune with the desert had been passing through the city. No one knew why.
Lethe had taken up the newspaper. "Hey, slaughter of three kids in this little village."
"What's so amazing about people slaughtering three goats?"
"Sorry, I meant three boys."
Cocytus eyed her suspiciously. "Since when did you pick up street slang?"
She just rolled her eyes. "Since I touched her, remember?"
"Oh. Right. That."
"And anyway, what's interesting is that it says here something about a lightning demon is suspected. Family Of Del included in questioning."
"Let me see." He eyed the article. "So if this is the same Family Of Del, which is highly likely, then we know where Delirious came from."
"What, you wanna go check it out?"
He snorted.
"I'm not so bored. Besides," He slid a deck of playing cards out from his jeans pocket. "Cards anyone?"
"What? Why? He's always been somewhat mad, why send him there now?"
"Apparently he went crazy. Well, crazier. He started attacking people, it says here. And certain background information about him was revealed. Delirus was actually two people once. Siblings. Del and Irus. Who would have guessed. Some weird magical accident, they merged or something." He said, reading the newspaper.
"Wow. Where'd they get that information from?"
"His, uh, their other siblings. Iris and Iria."
"So, what's his real last name?"
"I don't know. It just says here The Family Of Del. I don't know, but it sounds quite sketchy to me. The Family Of Del. Maybe they were well-known somewhere else?"
Cocytus shrugged. "Anyway, I wonder who's gonna be the new Magics teacher."
They were sitting in a parlour sipping coffee and just lazing around, whiling away the time. The Terra parents had, as Solciro had predicted, expressed their sympathy and offered Grei a home. Grei had accepted and was still sleeping, not having slept in a proper bed ever before. It was a whole new world to her.
"So, Kestrel, what did you mean by those words yesterday?"
"Boredom strikes back. Shopping anyone?" Kestrel asked.
Cocytus stared at her. "Who are you and what have you done to my beloved Lady Kestrel?"
"I could do with a new hoodie." Lethe said.
They had been studiously avoiding the subject ever since Kestrel accidentally revealed it to the siblings. But they knew that they would have to tell them soon.
How long more before we tell them? It's starting to get annoying, hiding it from them. Styx sent.
Yeah. I think we might as well just tell them. I don't think I'd really want a boyfriend who doesn't accept me and my friends.
My friends and I. Phlegyas corrected. But, the grammar not withstanding, I agree with Lethe.
Then we might as well get it over and done with. Cocytus stated.
"Solciro, Lune, what you two heard yesterday was exactly that. As you already know, Lethe can absorb memories through touch and Styx is a telepath. But what you didn't know is that I can control blood and that Phlegyas here appears to be able to return from the dead without any outside intervention." Cocytus shrugged and deftly unbraided his veins. They dangled about his hands, far longer than his fingers. He lifted his hands up.
"See? Remember these? Watch." Blood started flowing from the veins and poured out into the air, forming a crimson globe. Cocytus became a shade paler, but continued concentrating.
"Blood control." He funneled the blood back into his veins and after he was done, started heaving heavily. He smiled weakly. "And it's tiring. Very very tiring."
It was a good thing that the parlour was empty save for them.
"But... How... I don't..." Solciro struggled futilely, trying to grasp what he had just been told. "Ah, you know what, never mind." He dropped the newspaper onto the table, slumped back onto his cushioned seat and closed his eyes, simply enjoying the cooled air and hot coffee.
"You're pretty accepting, aren't you?"
He opened an eye lazily. "You have to be accepting if you want to survive. You'll get nowhere with bigotry and calling other people freaks." Both his eyes then jolted awake as Lethe threw herself onto him.
"I am never going to get used to their extremely open displays of affection." Styx said, averting her face in mock embarrassment.
"I'm gonna have to get used to it, she's gonna be my sister-in-law!" Lunare exclaimed. "If they do this everyday..." She let the thought hang in the air.
"Besides, do your parents know about this?" Phlegyas gestured with a finger at the couple.
"Do you mean the fact that they're so intimate or the fact that they're together?"
"Um, both."
"Father and Mother only know that there's a relationship. They didn't inquire further. They think we know better. And I suppose we do."
The lovebirds finally broke their kiss and grinned somewhat breathlessly. Lethe sat on his lap, smiling in that Cheshire way that they had come to know recently.
"And I think I'm learning some manner of control over this. I can limit the experiences to just intellectual knowledge now, not actually reliving it all over again! But I guess it could be because I've touched him many times."
"Yeah, and in all the wrong places."
"I'm curious though." Cocytus cut in. "You and Lune don't act like nobles. Your speech, your actions, it seems more suited to the style of us regular commoners. The nobles I've seen apart from you two, they like to enunciate their words precisely, speaking in clipped sentences as if Common weren't their first language. And you two seem much more open."
Solciro shrugged. "We always resented the language, debate, court manners and politics lessons. We only put up a show of it in front of Father and Mother. Ah, you see, only we stuck-up nobles actually call our parents Father and Mother all the time, not Dad or Mum."
Lunare yawned. "Acherus, could we go and practise? Please? I'm really bored."
"We all are. I guess so then. Pickpocketing or lockpicking?"
The two made their way out, though Acheros opted to stay in the cool room. The weather recently had gone haywire, the weather mages unable to control the eco-dome they had erected over Pero Diaz. Pero Diaz, having the good luck to be located in the middle of a desert, had several high-ranking resident mages who created a dome over the entire city to control the weather. This meant that the weather was very monotonous, cool anytime around morning and evening, warm in the day. However, the dome had been fouling up recently and heatwaves that were more in tune with the desert had been passing through the city. No one knew why.
Lethe had taken up the newspaper. "Hey, slaughter of three kids in this little village."
"What's so amazing about people slaughtering three goats?"
"Sorry, I meant three boys."
Cocytus eyed her suspiciously. "Since when did you pick up street slang?"
She just rolled her eyes. "Since I touched her, remember?"
"Oh. Right. That."
"And anyway, what's interesting is that it says here something about a lightning demon is suspected. Family Of Del included in questioning."
"Let me see." He eyed the article. "So if this is the same Family Of Del, which is highly likely, then we know where Delirious came from."
"What, you wanna go check it out?"
He snorted.
"I'm not so bored. Besides," He slid a deck of playing cards out from his jeans pocket. "Cards anyone?"
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Am I The Only One Who Predicted That?
Now, we shall see if it works.
"I trust Nova."
The truth will set us free.
"You're being unusually obtuse."
I... have my doubts.
She had received a transmission from Nova earlier on, dictating further instructions. The ointment was to be applied lightly and only once a day, lest it burnt her skin as the ointment contained various powerful herbs, both acidic and those that were bane to demons. Raewyn used a small fluffy piece of cotton wool to wipe the ointment onto the taint. It had spread so far that she grew worried that the ointment might run out ahead of time. The salve seemed to have no effect at first, save that it was cooling and felt comfortable on her mutated skin.
"That's disappointing."
Don't be so quick to... judge. He hissed.
"What's wrong with you?"
He didn't have to reply. The coolness faded and was replaced by a comfortable warmth. The warmth then grew in intensity. It started to get uncomfortable, a burning sensation, not dissimilar to being splashed by hot water. And the heat grew further. It felt as though she was being attacked by swarms of fireants and she yelped as the heat could no longer be described as heat, but rather as fire. She started screaming, so great was the pain and quickly sprinted to wash the medicine away. Libys' mental shrieks merged with her own to form painful harmonics that she was surprised her head didn't burst.
"Damn, damn, damn, damn the cursed medicine!" She swore after she managed to wash it away. "That was horrible."
You're... not the only one... who feels that way. Libys' mental voice seemed frighteningly weak.
"You okay?"
I feel... like I just survived an incredibly... concentrated dose of anti-demonic substances... Do you really think I am okay?
"Sarcasm. You're fine."
I.. told you I had... my doubts.
"Any way I could help you?"
Yes... Commit something evil...
"Very funny."
Gasping slightly, she examined herself. The taint was... The scales were duller and corroded, in some places she could see her skin. Her hands were scorched, an inflamed red and they had a throbbing pain to support the sight. The same signs were around the areas where her bare skin had touched the strong medicine.
"Damn." She closed her eyes. "That was painful."
However much... I detest the... weakness of the flesh... of inhabiting the flesh... I can't... argue with its... potency.
"I think Nova just lumped a whole bunch of herbs that hurt demons and then mixed them."
No... It was not a random mix... It was extremely effective, to be sure... We have to ask Nova if there was some way to dilute it, if you can't handle the pain...
"I can. It's a matter of how well you handle the pain. Your screams were just as bad as mine."
Pride. You don't have to pretend to be strong. We have... known each other for a long time already, though it is a short time to me.
"I'm not pretending." She huffed and lay down, already dialing Nova's shop. It was night and she would be there.
"Hello?"
"Nova, this is Raewyn."
"Ah yes, Raewyn, how was it?"
"Curse you, Nova, it was effective. Too effective. And very very painful. Could you dilute the damn thing?"
"Well, I engineered this level of potency because you wanted it to go away quickly, yes?"
"It's much too painful."
"I suppose I could administer a local anaesthetic when you apply the salve."
"Libys isn't affected by anaesthetics. He'd be screaming in pain and that is more than enough to make me want to scream."
"Complications." November sighed. "I suggest you go and find your other friend, the one from your old guild, what's his name, the one who's dealing with drugs?"
"Slanel? Wait, how do you know so much about them anyway?"
"I am an Upyr, no one denies me information. Besides, Arguil didn't mind. He said that the whole group of them were going somewhat more legit, so it was okay. He was the one who told me everything."
"Weird guy. He never did appreciate the value of keeping certain bits under wraps. What should I get from Slanel?"
"A certain plant. A dreaming fern."
"Why would I be getting plants from him?"
"Firstly, the dreaming fern, dear friend, is the plant from which dreamglaze is extracted. What happened to common knowledge of expensive narcotics? I would have thought that you would have tried dreamglaze before."
"That's not the point. I'm not a drug person. What's the second point?"
"To use his words, he runs a quaint little flower shop."
Raewyn didn't respond for a few seconds. Then she started laughing.
"He's pimping?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"And he's hiding it behind the cover of a florist?"
"Yes. Funny guy."
"I can't believe he carried out on that stupid bet."
"What bet?"
"Never you mind. So I've just got to get this dreaming fern from him? How much?"
"I should think a single mature stalk would be enough. Dreaming ferns are the top-grade stuff, very hard to grow and just as hard to find. He may want some compensation."
"I have way more than enough to compensate him if need be. But I doubt so. But, what's drugs got to do with diluting the salve?"
"Who's the alchemist, you or me?"
"You."
"Exactly. I've got a customer incoming, bye." Again, Nova terminated the connection before Raewyn could reply.
That is starting to get extremely irritating.
"Yes. She evades. Still, we have to find Slanel now. This is like some annoying treasure hunt."
"I trust Nova."
The truth will set us free.
"You're being unusually obtuse."
I... have my doubts.
She had received a transmission from Nova earlier on, dictating further instructions. The ointment was to be applied lightly and only once a day, lest it burnt her skin as the ointment contained various powerful herbs, both acidic and those that were bane to demons. Raewyn used a small fluffy piece of cotton wool to wipe the ointment onto the taint. It had spread so far that she grew worried that the ointment might run out ahead of time. The salve seemed to have no effect at first, save that it was cooling and felt comfortable on her mutated skin.
"That's disappointing."
Don't be so quick to... judge. He hissed.
"What's wrong with you?"
He didn't have to reply. The coolness faded and was replaced by a comfortable warmth. The warmth then grew in intensity. It started to get uncomfortable, a burning sensation, not dissimilar to being splashed by hot water. And the heat grew further. It felt as though she was being attacked by swarms of fireants and she yelped as the heat could no longer be described as heat, but rather as fire. She started screaming, so great was the pain and quickly sprinted to wash the medicine away. Libys' mental shrieks merged with her own to form painful harmonics that she was surprised her head didn't burst.
"Damn, damn, damn, damn the cursed medicine!" She swore after she managed to wash it away. "That was horrible."
You're... not the only one... who feels that way. Libys' mental voice seemed frighteningly weak.
"You okay?"
I feel... like I just survived an incredibly... concentrated dose of anti-demonic substances... Do you really think I am okay?
"Sarcasm. You're fine."
I.. told you I had... my doubts.
"Any way I could help you?"
Yes... Commit something evil...
"Very funny."
Gasping slightly, she examined herself. The taint was... The scales were duller and corroded, in some places she could see her skin. Her hands were scorched, an inflamed red and they had a throbbing pain to support the sight. The same signs were around the areas where her bare skin had touched the strong medicine.
"Damn." She closed her eyes. "That was painful."
However much... I detest the... weakness of the flesh... of inhabiting the flesh... I can't... argue with its... potency.
"I think Nova just lumped a whole bunch of herbs that hurt demons and then mixed them."
No... It was not a random mix... It was extremely effective, to be sure... We have to ask Nova if there was some way to dilute it, if you can't handle the pain...
"I can. It's a matter of how well you handle the pain. Your screams were just as bad as mine."
Pride. You don't have to pretend to be strong. We have... known each other for a long time already, though it is a short time to me.
"I'm not pretending." She huffed and lay down, already dialing Nova's shop. It was night and she would be there.
"Hello?"
"Nova, this is Raewyn."
"Ah yes, Raewyn, how was it?"
"Curse you, Nova, it was effective. Too effective. And very very painful. Could you dilute the damn thing?"
"Well, I engineered this level of potency because you wanted it to go away quickly, yes?"
"It's much too painful."
"I suppose I could administer a local anaesthetic when you apply the salve."
"Libys isn't affected by anaesthetics. He'd be screaming in pain and that is more than enough to make me want to scream."
"Complications." November sighed. "I suggest you go and find your other friend, the one from your old guild, what's his name, the one who's dealing with drugs?"
"Slanel? Wait, how do you know so much about them anyway?"
"I am an Upyr, no one denies me information. Besides, Arguil didn't mind. He said that the whole group of them were going somewhat more legit, so it was okay. He was the one who told me everything."
"Weird guy. He never did appreciate the value of keeping certain bits under wraps. What should I get from Slanel?"
"A certain plant. A dreaming fern."
"Why would I be getting plants from him?"
"Firstly, the dreaming fern, dear friend, is the plant from which dreamglaze is extracted. What happened to common knowledge of expensive narcotics? I would have thought that you would have tried dreamglaze before."
"That's not the point. I'm not a drug person. What's the second point?"
"To use his words, he runs a quaint little flower shop."
Raewyn didn't respond for a few seconds. Then she started laughing.
"He's pimping?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"And he's hiding it behind the cover of a florist?"
"Yes. Funny guy."
"I can't believe he carried out on that stupid bet."
"What bet?"
"Never you mind. So I've just got to get this dreaming fern from him? How much?"
"I should think a single mature stalk would be enough. Dreaming ferns are the top-grade stuff, very hard to grow and just as hard to find. He may want some compensation."
"I have way more than enough to compensate him if need be. But I doubt so. But, what's drugs got to do with diluting the salve?"
"Who's the alchemist, you or me?"
"You."
"Exactly. I've got a customer incoming, bye." Again, Nova terminated the connection before Raewyn could reply.
That is starting to get extremely irritating.
"Yes. She evades. Still, we have to find Slanel now. This is like some annoying treasure hunt."
HC SVNT DRACONES
HC SVNT DRACONES.
The black letters stared up at him in stark defiance.
Hic sunt dracones, as it was read in the Latin.
Fearful words. Anathema to all sense of self-importance, to all sense of racial accomplishments.
Here be dragons.
Unexplored, uncharted, unknown regions. While new species, lifeforms, undiscovered. Medicines and pathogens alike, both virgin in their existence, untouched and unspoiled. For all he knew, an entire civilisation could be out there and then they would share the knowledge and wonders of Science and Technology for the advancement of life as they knew it.
He would be the first to explore this new land, the New World, and create colonies, spreading the influence of the great Empire. He was proud to be part of this effort to reach the rest of the Earth. His men were brave of heart and bold of flesh, his ships made of stout wood and the sails made from hardy cloths. He could not ask for a better fleet. His task was sanctioned by the Queen and blessed by God, he could not fail, nor could he go wrong.
And yet... The thought faltered, unwilling to resolve itself. He brushed aside the lingering doubts and stepped out from his cabin, taking the map with him. He had spent the past few days in the ship, getting its feel and learning the lay of the land. His mobile plot of land on the sea, he amended mentally with a smile. The wind was right and good, a sign that his mission truly was the will of God and he knew that today was the right time to set sail.
And yet... The doubt surfaced once more. Somehow... He looked at his map of the world again.
HC SVNT DRACONES.
The uncomfortable train of thought cleared. Perhaps...
Hic sunt dracones.
Perhaps there were some places man should never go nor know.
Here be dragons.
The black letters stared up at him in stark defiance.
Hic sunt dracones, as it was read in the Latin.
Fearful words. Anathema to all sense of self-importance, to all sense of racial accomplishments.
Here be dragons.
Unexplored, uncharted, unknown regions. While new species, lifeforms, undiscovered. Medicines and pathogens alike, both virgin in their existence, untouched and unspoiled. For all he knew, an entire civilisation could be out there and then they would share the knowledge and wonders of Science and Technology for the advancement of life as they knew it.
He would be the first to explore this new land, the New World, and create colonies, spreading the influence of the great Empire. He was proud to be part of this effort to reach the rest of the Earth. His men were brave of heart and bold of flesh, his ships made of stout wood and the sails made from hardy cloths. He could not ask for a better fleet. His task was sanctioned by the Queen and blessed by God, he could not fail, nor could he go wrong.
And yet... The thought faltered, unwilling to resolve itself. He brushed aside the lingering doubts and stepped out from his cabin, taking the map with him. He had spent the past few days in the ship, getting its feel and learning the lay of the land. His mobile plot of land on the sea, he amended mentally with a smile. The wind was right and good, a sign that his mission truly was the will of God and he knew that today was the right time to set sail.
And yet... The doubt surfaced once more. Somehow... He looked at his map of the world again.
HC SVNT DRACONES.
The uncomfortable train of thought cleared. Perhaps...
Hic sunt dracones.
Perhaps there were some places man should never go nor know.
Here be dragons.
Monday, January 17, 2011
She Blurted!
The clerk sighed, his command of Draconic halting and basic.
"Grei. Permanently blinded. I am afraid that we cannot afford you as a guide anymore. However, we do have several positions that one of your situation could fil-"
"No."
The clerk blinked.
"No?"
"No. I resign. I shall leave with these tourists."
"I must say, that is extremely irregular." He turned to the group. "Are you all willing to take care of her?"
"Yes. No question about it."
"Since Grei has verbally tendered her resignation verbally, I see no reason to hold you folks back any longer. Next!" The clerk called out to the next in line, effectively dismissing them and preventing them from asking for any compensation or asking for any further action with regards to that mysterious assailant, the Twin as the doctor had named him.
They left, somewhat dejectedly as they had wanted to at least gain a measure of recompense for Grei.
"Why'd you want to resign?" Styx asked suddenly.
"There's nothing left here for me."
"What do you mean? That idiot said that they had a few positions that you coul-"
"I hate this place." She curled tighter around Phlegyas, causing him to wince a little. "I hate it from the bottom of my heart. I grew up here. My parents were also employees here. They died awhile after I was hatched. My whole childhood was spent being bullied. Come lunchtime, everyone would step on my wings, kick my tail, knock over my food, being treated like any other stereotypical orphan. I wanted to leave. But being born here, I was a debt. I had to work for them. So now that I'm blinded, I'm a liability and so I can finally leave." She gave the sound that they were starting to recognise as laughter, but the laughter was dripped in mockery and hate. "I wanted to leave so that I could see the world but I can only leave when I am blind."
Phlegyas could hardly respond, him being overwhelmed by her thoughts and emotions, but the rest just stood in awkward silence.
"Grei?" Styx asked tentatively. "You.. You don't have to be blind."
"What do you mean?" Grei snapped. "I'm blinded because a bullet went through my head. How do I not be blinded?"
"Let me show you. Don't resist." And Styx reached into her mind and joined what she saw into Grei's mental view. Grei gasped as pictures of herself clinging on to Phlegyas came to her.
"I... I.. What is this?"
"I'm a telepath, Grei. I can read minds. Don't worry, I did not ever read yours. I can also do a multitude of other things, but it's too lengthy to explain now. With both your and Phlegyas' consent, I think I could form a sort of visual bond between you two, so that you can see from his eyes."
"I... No. Don't."
"Why not?"
"I am blinded. I cannot rely on crutches to make my way. I will hone my other senses and I will do it until one day I can go alone."
"Damn," Lethe whispered. "You're strong. You're stronger than any of us, stronger than I will ever be. I wish I had your strength of will, Grei."
"I am not strong. I am a fool. A determined fool." Wet blotches stained her pristine bandages.
"It's okay, Grei, it's okay. We're all fools. We'll help you."
She sniffed and stopped trembling. She gave yet another short laugh.
"I still can cry."
"So now. We head back into Pero Diaz." Cocytus stated authoritatively.
"This trip was depressing. No offence intended, Grei." Lunare mumbled.
"None taken."
"Sol, how're you and Lune going to explain this to your parents? Plus, somebody's gotta help Grei." Lethe asked.
"I'm sure we can make it sound like the accident it really was. And my parents, they'd surely feel obliged to aid our dear draconic friend here."
"Thank you." Grei croaked, her voice overflowing with gratitude.
"No problem."
"Maybe we should go find that Aesiflay woman. From all that I've gathered about her, she seems pretty adventurous. She's bound to be doing something fun."
"Hello? Have you forgotten? She's ill."
"True. This holiday is just plain bad."
"We've still got a long time yet. We could just hang about, no need to go to some fancy-pants place." Phlegyas shrugged.
"I wonder how she's doing though. She seems like the sort of person whose life is always interesting."
Kestrel snorted. "Yeah, and our own lives are totally boring. Controlling blood is the norm, reading minds is child's play, absorbing memories by touch is so lame, reincarnation with no external help is outdated and having two brothers within a body is just stupid. Yes, our life is so plain and predictable, yes?"
Lunare and Solciro stared at her, though Grei would have done so too if she could have stared.
"Ah shit. I said the wrong things, didn't I."
"Grei. Permanently blinded. I am afraid that we cannot afford you as a guide anymore. However, we do have several positions that one of your situation could fil-"
"No."
The clerk blinked.
"No?"
"No. I resign. I shall leave with these tourists."
"I must say, that is extremely irregular." He turned to the group. "Are you all willing to take care of her?"
"Yes. No question about it."
"Since Grei has verbally tendered her resignation verbally, I see no reason to hold you folks back any longer. Next!" The clerk called out to the next in line, effectively dismissing them and preventing them from asking for any compensation or asking for any further action with regards to that mysterious assailant, the Twin as the doctor had named him.
They left, somewhat dejectedly as they had wanted to at least gain a measure of recompense for Grei.
"Why'd you want to resign?" Styx asked suddenly.
"There's nothing left here for me."
"What do you mean? That idiot said that they had a few positions that you coul-"
"I hate this place." She curled tighter around Phlegyas, causing him to wince a little. "I hate it from the bottom of my heart. I grew up here. My parents were also employees here. They died awhile after I was hatched. My whole childhood was spent being bullied. Come lunchtime, everyone would step on my wings, kick my tail, knock over my food, being treated like any other stereotypical orphan. I wanted to leave. But being born here, I was a debt. I had to work for them. So now that I'm blinded, I'm a liability and so I can finally leave." She gave the sound that they were starting to recognise as laughter, but the laughter was dripped in mockery and hate. "I wanted to leave so that I could see the world but I can only leave when I am blind."
Phlegyas could hardly respond, him being overwhelmed by her thoughts and emotions, but the rest just stood in awkward silence.
"Grei?" Styx asked tentatively. "You.. You don't have to be blind."
"What do you mean?" Grei snapped. "I'm blinded because a bullet went through my head. How do I not be blinded?"
"Let me show you. Don't resist." And Styx reached into her mind and joined what she saw into Grei's mental view. Grei gasped as pictures of herself clinging on to Phlegyas came to her.
"I... I.. What is this?"
"I'm a telepath, Grei. I can read minds. Don't worry, I did not ever read yours. I can also do a multitude of other things, but it's too lengthy to explain now. With both your and Phlegyas' consent, I think I could form a sort of visual bond between you two, so that you can see from his eyes."
"I... No. Don't."
"Why not?"
"I am blinded. I cannot rely on crutches to make my way. I will hone my other senses and I will do it until one day I can go alone."
"Damn," Lethe whispered. "You're strong. You're stronger than any of us, stronger than I will ever be. I wish I had your strength of will, Grei."
"I am not strong. I am a fool. A determined fool." Wet blotches stained her pristine bandages.
"It's okay, Grei, it's okay. We're all fools. We'll help you."
She sniffed and stopped trembling. She gave yet another short laugh.
"I still can cry."
"So now. We head back into Pero Diaz." Cocytus stated authoritatively.
"This trip was depressing. No offence intended, Grei." Lunare mumbled.
"None taken."
"Sol, how're you and Lune going to explain this to your parents? Plus, somebody's gotta help Grei." Lethe asked.
"I'm sure we can make it sound like the accident it really was. And my parents, they'd surely feel obliged to aid our dear draconic friend here."
"Thank you." Grei croaked, her voice overflowing with gratitude.
"No problem."
"Maybe we should go find that Aesiflay woman. From all that I've gathered about her, she seems pretty adventurous. She's bound to be doing something fun."
"Hello? Have you forgotten? She's ill."
"True. This holiday is just plain bad."
"We've still got a long time yet. We could just hang about, no need to go to some fancy-pants place." Phlegyas shrugged.
"I wonder how she's doing though. She seems like the sort of person whose life is always interesting."
Kestrel snorted. "Yeah, and our own lives are totally boring. Controlling blood is the norm, reading minds is child's play, absorbing memories by touch is so lame, reincarnation with no external help is outdated and having two brothers within a body is just stupid. Yes, our life is so plain and predictable, yes?"
Lunare and Solciro stared at her, though Grei would have done so too if she could have stared.
"Ah shit. I said the wrong things, didn't I."
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