[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Zv9uDxe.png[/img] & [img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/divinus-iii/images/d/df/Shengshi-logo.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/310?cb=20190112093445[/img] & [color=f6989d][h1]Arae[/h1][/color] [/center] [hr] Arya’s had been assigned to a smaller guestroom by the bathhouse below deck. While it was not nearly as ornate as some of the gods’ rooms, it nonetheless offered a most luxurious experience: The bed was so large that it could probably fit an entire family and had the mattress had the texture of clouds; the walls were white like paper, with some unfinished poetry and paintings coating some parts of it; the floor had no blanket like the gods’ rooms, but it made due with a fancy, striped pelt. Across the floor from the bed was a large door, rimmed and framed in gold; to the left of her bed was a neatly polished wardrobe, also rimmed in gold. The heliopolis shone in through the window blinds at the very top of the room, bringing the mahogany floorboards to live with auburn light. Arya didn’t really know what a bedroom was, or what a bed was, but nonetheless she was taken aback by how shiny everything was. It all seemed very… excessive but beautiful at the same time. She had to admit, her master had style. It was completely different then how she had lived on Kalgrun, and she wondered if Kalmar would approve. Probably not, but there was no way she could ever bring up his name, least not around the snake. That entire display had etched worry into her heart, and her curiosity on how they had come to hate each other needed to be known. Perhaps one day, but not know. Slowly she sat down upon the bed, and sank in as she fell backwards. It was an odd sensation, but so, just so… comfortable… Like...a...cloud...and the tiny girl then fell asleep. There was suddenly a wet slap against the door. There was no certainty as to how much time had passed since Arya fell asleep, but nevertheless, the slap was complemented with yet another one, this one being strong enough to open the door. Arya woke up with a small scream, not realizing where she was for a moment, before the sight of the water servants brought back her memory. In came a row of three water globules that zoomed around in circles in front of the bed, one carrying a roll of paper on a golden platter, one carrying a flask with some funny symbols on it, and one carrying a silver platter with something colourful that smelled like divinity itself. The globules put the platters and flask on the far end of the bed and zoomed back out, somehow managing to close the door behind them. As quick as they came, they were gone, leaving Arya very confused with the items before her. She looked over each item, not really knowing what they were, except for the item that smelled heavenly. That had to be food right? She picked up the flask with symbols on it graciously. It felt heavy, so she shook it and heard the sound of some sort of liquid. She noted the top of it looked differently than the rest, so she touched it and pulled and not knowing her own strength, the top gave and the bottle splattered her in some sort of liquid. Her eyes went wide with horror, what had she done! Her chalk-white, glowing form was splashed completely with some slightly sticky, sweet-smelling, purple water. The bottle had nearly been emptied as a result. The substance dripped off her form and into the sheets, colouring them a blueish purple. [color=ivory]”Oh no! Oh no oh no oh no!”[/color] she moaned and in her haste to try and fix it, she knocked over the golden plate with the food and sent the roll of paper unraveling as her once beautiful bed, was tarnished. Her master was going to kill her. The unfurled roll of paper fell to the floor and there was a gentle ‘ping!’. The paper floated up into the air and faced Arya, the characters on its surface forming something resembling a face. As she looked at the paper, her eyes went wider further and she was about to apologize to her master when it began to talk. [centre][i]Dear Anxin, Your presence is requested in the master bedroom atop the Grand Spire. There are clean clothes in the wardrobe in your room. His Lordship hopes the food was satisfactory and the drink delicious - blueberry juice is His Lordship’s favourite. A map to your destination will now form upon this letter. His Lordship awaits your arrival at your earliest convenience. Cordially, The Service Crew.[/i][/centre] The letter fell to the floor and the characters twisted into river-like lines, dancing across the paper until a detailed blueprint of the ship formed on its surface. Arya relaxed as soon as she realized it wasn’t actually her master, but this service crew. Then she instantly felt awful at the state she had left the bed in. They were going to hate her. She picked up the paper and looked over the design. It was gorgeous, and very, very helpful. But first she had to do something… something with… clothes? She looked over at the wardrobe, and walked over, opening the gilded knobs to reveal a folded, white shirt on the top shelf; a wide, red skirt on the middle shelf with a supplementary patterned red ribbon to function as a belt; and a pair of elevated sandals at the bottom. And the girl had no idea what to do with any of it, but she had to try. Several moments later, after a fierce battle with the clothes, she had them on. The skirt was worn backwards, the shirt was at a top her head and draped down her back. The red ribbon was used a scarf, and the shoes were on the wrong feet, but Arya puffed out her chest with pride. She wasn’t a complete failure! With her confidence, she took the map and left the room behind to join her master. As she exited the bedroom, she got a chance to gaze out across the banquet hall below. There, hundreds of cute little water globules zoomed around, carrying all manner of ingredients from the larders to the kitchens. The red paper lantern chandelier hanging from the roof had yet to be lit, so all the light entering the colossal hall was the white light of Heliopolis, shining in through the blinds and reflecting against any gold it touched, turning the room’s assets into a lightshow. The floor below oozed with smells and scents so fantastic that no smell could ever match their perfection again. She stood, leaning against the railing as she took it all in. She couldn’t even put words to what she saw, it was so just…[i]amazing[/i]. Everything, from the chorus of noise, to the smells, and especially at the lightshow. Her eyes squinted into a smile as happiness flooded into her, and Arya forgot everything about the morning and where she was going just to take it all in. They didn’t have this back on Kalgrun. There was a wet splash against her leg. Arya looked down at the feeling of water, the sight before her suddenly becoming background noise. A water globule was in the middle of reversing, before it accelerated forward again, only to crash into her leg again. [color=ivory]”Oops!”[/color] she said, before lifting her leg up. The globule accelerated again, zooming off under Arya’s foot and continuing down the balcony. As she watched it go, she mumbled, [color=ivory]”Cute as they are, they aren’t that smart huh.”[/color] But it did remind her that she had a place to be, so she looked at the map again and began on her way, careful enough to stay out of any water servant’s way. As she walked, she took in the ship with everything she had and was in wonder as she walked at all the new sights, sounds, and smells. The banquet halls had just been the beginning. As she made it to the main stairwell, the gold gave way to rice paper walls dressed in paintings and poetry. The steps were inconveniently long, each likely requiring Arya to take two steps per stair. The height difference between them was not particularly high either, making the entire stairwell seem like an abstract, artificial hill. She marveled at the paintings as she walked, but couldn’t quite make out the poetry. Though she had enjoyed much of the ship, this part just seemed, unnecessary. It was still beautiful, in it’s own way, but she wished it was more convenient for her small legs. Not to be deterred, she continued on regardless. As she ascended the stairwell, the paintings changed. At the bottom, there had been paintings of tranquil glades with small becks and the occasional fish; however, as she neared the upper floors, the paintings began to show a pattern of bipedal figures, all living around these becks in harmony with the life within; upon reaching the top floor, there was a painting in the roof of the stairwell - a beautiful, golden-skinned and crimson-scaled snake with horns, surrounded gold, jade and food, and by all manner of figures putting their foreheads and hands to the ground. She stopped in her tracks before the giant tapestry. Truly, she had never seen anything quite like that before. It made her feel many different things, and chief among them was awe. It was mesmerizing and she began to wonder if it was real, and not just colors on the wall. She drew closer, once again forgetting what purpose she had other then to look at the details in the image. To bathe in it’s glow. The detail put into the snake was incredible, the colours going so far as to shade the space between each and every scale. Its eyes were made of polished diamonds and its forked tongue was carved from rubies. Ahead of Arya, at the very end of the hallway, was another sight to rival even the painting. A mammoth gate of gold glistened in the heliopolis light that made it through the window blinds, flanked by two golden dragon statues with ruby eyes. She drew closer to the new sight, standing before one of the dragons and ogling over it. It was luxurious, the entire door before her was and without a doubt, on the other side was her master. She took a deep breath, remembering all she had yesterday and began to practice. [color=ivory]”Anxin. I am Anxin. No! This [i]servant[/i] is Anxin. Yes, that’s right. This servant.”[/color] she whispered before straightening her shirt hat. Arya then went up to the gate and passed through. The inside of the room was characterised by the odour of the surrounding jungle, fresh and damp, as if it has recently rained. At the far end of the room was a tall basket on a slightly elevated pedestal. To Arya’s left side was a slightly messy desk, prickled with dots of black and topped with a few, seemingly unorganised paper stacks. To Arya’s right was a table so low that one could not fit one’s legs underneath without also lifting the table. By the paper slider door wall to the right was also a large birdcage full of small, singing birds. Apart from those, the room was mostly empty. However, from the veranda behind an open paper slider door sounded some gentle harp cords. Arya paused, wondering if in fact she was in the right place. She looked at the scroll again and her eyes frowned. This was the right place, but it was so plain. Perhaps her master liked it that way? It was definitely a stark contrast to the rest of the ship, but she’d have to let it go, for a God waited. She walked over to the open paper door, and peered in, as she had guessed who was behind those lovely sounds. There, on the veranda sat the snake with a guzheng, gently pinching at the cords in the rhythm of the water beneath. The melody was slow and soft, almost melancholic in nature. “Did you sleep well?” he asked calmly, not taking his eyes off his instrument. She was caught up in the music, so she was startled when the snake spoke. [color=ivory]”Oh! This servant slept well, thank you for asking.”[/color] she said, standing a little taller. “A good start,” he noted and put his instrument down next to him. “However, many gods will expect a more humble ans-...” As the snake turned around and saw Arya - or more specifically, Arya’s dressings. “I see that I must leave instructions on the dress code as a clause in the letter next time a mortal visits,” he muttered with a sigh. Arya seemed to shrink at his words, growing embarrassed. Had she put them on wrong? The snake snapped his fingers and the clothes on Arya, as if suddenly given life, began to crawl and twist around her body. The shirt hopped off her head and grabbed one of her arms, carefully, yet purposefully, treading itself first over one arm, then over the other. Arya’s embassament quickly gave way to careless giggling as the clothes began to wrap around her. The torso met on the middle, where one half dove under the other, and the upper half twisted itself around her right side, tying itself neatly to a dangling thread right underneath the armpit. The skirt wrapped itself over the shirt around her waist and tightened itself using the red ribbon. Finally, the sandals tossed Arya a small distance into the air, quickly swapped places and caught her as she fell back to the ground. As an added detail, Shengshi pointed to Arya’s hair and whirled his finger around in a circle. A smaller red ribbon popped into existence, grabbing a handful of hair and tying it into a neat little knot. Her giggling turned into full blown laughter, high pitched and melodic. The clothing tickled her as it moved and she couldn’t quite help herself. When all was said and done, she looked down at herself and was once again amazed. So that was how clothes worked? She liked them like that, and Arya felt the knot in her hair and how her hair was in a ponytail and she was content. With her eyes expressing immense joy, she looked back at the snake and did a small bow, mimicking what he had done the day before. [color=ivory]”This servant is thankful.”[/color] she uttered happily. “Oh, are you not just adorable,” the snake mused in a deep, oily voice. “However, I will be expecting you to be able to dress yourself from now on. If the sequence of correct steps was not obvious, I will have the servants demonstrate it to you again the next time you dress.” He gave her a smile, though his eyes betrayed some strictness. Arya collected herself and stood to face the snake as he spoke. She was saddened to hear that she would have to dress herself from now on but that seemed right. She did however say, [color=ivory]”This servant would not mind another demonstration in the future.”[/color[ she nodded. Because in reality, she had not a clue how any of it went on, as she had been caught up laughing. “‘Would not mind’ is too intimate. ‘Would be humbled by’ is more cordial. Remember that,” he said and flicked his forked tongue. She nodded again, but a question came to mind. [color=ivory]”Intimate?”[/color] she asked, [color=ivory]”What’s that?”[/color] The snake raised his hand and tugged at his beard. He hummed in acknowledgement and nodded. “I suppose we will start by expanding your vocabulary, then.” [hr] The training began simple - at first, Arya was taught the many characters that made up Shengshi’s written language. She was taught their meaning, their purposes and to read them out loud; then, she was taught how to write them, first as text on paper, then as calligraphic works of art. Shengshi drilled her on proper etiquette when facing others and the importance of understanding interpersonal relationships. Arya learned everything from bowing and kowtowing before those of higher rank, to courtesy and kindness to those below her. She was taught literature and how to write it, and given extensive courses on music, painting and tea ceremonies. Last, but not least, she was taught the concept of the Flow and given insight into Shengshi’s extensive works of poetry and prose. She had thought Kalmar’s teaching had been challenging but Shengshi’s were on an entirely different level. It was a struggle, but she tried and tried, reaching different levels of satisfaction from her master. It was all so much to take in that on many occasions she let slip improper etiquette, or she forgot to bow, use the proper words and disregard the concept of the flow. Each time she cursed herself, but what was worse was seeing the Snake’s disapproval, his sighs, his reprimanding. Most of all was the look of disappointment. It reminded her of her own father, and it drove her to try harder and to learn. With ample determination, and a steady fire burning in her heart, she slowly began to adjust. All the while, she had to process how to categorize both teachings of the gods. They were so different, and it what was, perhaps, the most difficult thing she was faced with. But try she did. One instance, as they were practicing calligraphy together in the snake’s chambres, Shengshi had perked up suddenly. After a moment, he had looked weary and let out a sigh. “Pardon me, Anxin. There is something I must do. Make certain you mind your downwards strokes so they do not bulge in the middle.” With that, the snake rose to his tail and slithered out on the balcony. At her master’s words, she let out a defeated sigh and brought out a fresh piece of paper to try again. Writing poetry was fun, but the writing part wasn’t. She watched her Lord slither over to the balcony and began to write again. She was curious to what he was doing, but she had quickly learned that he enjoyed his alone time. Or maybe he didn’t. The snake was many things, but his eyes never betrayed him. After some time had passed, the snake came back inside wearing a weary frown. He went over to the table and began rolling up his calligraphy sheet, motioning for Arya to do the same. “We will be receiving a most honourable guest shortly, my dear Anxin. Make sure you look stellar before she arrives, is that clear?” A guest! Another god? Another mortal? Who or what could she be? Her eyes expressed joy mixed with curiosity, but she obeyed her master’s commands. Having finished rolling her sheet up and wrapping a ribbon around the middle, she nodded at her lord, [color=ivory]”This servant shall prepare!”[/color] she said enthusiastically. She then wandered over to the elegant, standing mirror and began ‘prettying up’ which was just her fixing creases in her dress and making sure her hair was prim and proper. Not a single strand could be out of place. She squinted at herself in the mirror, growing satisfied. The snake winked at her proudly. “It is my deepest desire that all mortals will learn as fast as you,” he said and chuckled. “Now I almost do not want to-...” He interrupted himself and looked down. “Nevermind,” he said curtly and stood up, moving towards the doors. Arya turned around and gave her master a quizzical look, but he did not look back at her. She let out a fake cough before asking, [color=ivory]”Is there something wrong, my Lord?”[/color] she inquired. The snake swung the gate open slowly and let out a sigh. “No, there is not. Thank you for asking, however,” he said. For a moment, he stood in the door with one hand on each door. “You have a good soul,” he said after a long pause. “No matter what anyone tells you, my dear, remember that.” With that, he slithered down the hallway. Arya watched him go, not immediately following. That had been one of the nicest things he had ever said about her, and it made her so happy, her heart felt like it would burst. She wanted to give him a hug, but that wasn’t proper etiquette. So she sighed happily, before she began to follow after him. The snake was waiting on deck, his arms resting behind his back. He was glancing up at the blue sky, the light of Heliopolis reflecting sanguine glitters off of his scales. He appeared motionless and expressionless, save for a somber shine in his crystalline eyes. Arya arrived shortly after, and took in the sight of her master. Majestic was one of the first words that came to mind, but then she saw his eyes. His expressionless features, and she grew worried. There was a sadness there, deep and buried and it pained her. She wanted to do something, but how did one truly help a god? Without saying anything, she went over and stood next to him. The snake sent her a glance and hummed curtly. “She will be here shortly,” he said quietly. Without looking at him, Arya asked, [color=ivory]”Who, Master?”[/color] “The Dragon, Arae.” Not a second later after that was said did Arae drop from the sky, spreading her wings to slow her descent before landing gently on the deck. Arae smiled at both of them as she greeted them, “[color=f6989d]Hello to both of you, Shengshi, Arya. I do hope I didn’t come at a bad time.[/color]” Shengshi lowered his torso, leaned forward and prostrated himself before the goddess. “My dearest sister Arae - it has been far too long. I bid you welcome aboard my humble ship.” Even though he was facing the deckfloor, his voice was as clear as if he had been been looking at her. When she saw the Goddess, Arya was awestruck by her form. She had no idea she would resemble a dragon, and her scales were perhaps the prettiest shade of blue she had ever seen, reflected by the sunlight to show the full extent of her beauty. It took her a moment to realize that her master had already lowered himself before she quickly followed suit, but unlike Shengshi, she did not say a word. “[color=f6989d]It has indeed,[/color]” Arae agreed. “[color=f6989d]So much has happened without my knowing. Children being born left and right, and our siblings just keep arguing over so much. Shengshi, your… ‘Xiaoli’, was it? I know you’re worried about her, but rest assured, she’s doing fine. In fact, she’s taken quite a liking to that Hermes girl-[/color]” The snake erupted back up, his face a complex mixture of anger, sorrow and joy. “Really?! You mean she is well?! Do-... Do you know where she is?” he said, mellowing his tone as to not sound too desperate. At the mention of Xiaoli’s name, Arya perked up. So that was what she was called. Kalmar had never mentioned her name, just that she existed and ever since arriving on the Jiangzhou, she had wondered what had happened to her. At Shengshi’s sudden outburst, Arya stood up as well and looked at him with a concerned look. Was that what troubled her master? “[color=f6989d]Hmm… not exactly,[/color]” Arae answered. “[color=f6989d]I’m certain I could find her if I just followed my… ah, never mind. I would like to know, though, what happened between you two?[/color]” Shengshi looked hesitant, then shot a glance down at Arya. “A topic best discussed under four eyes. For now, all I can say is that last I last saw her on Istais, together with that Hermes-girl. I reckoned they had run off, though I had not received any updates until now.” He tugged lightly at his beard. “I thank you deeply for bringing this to my attention - I miss her… Dearly.” His deep voice betrayed a drop of melancholy. It was quickly watered out by a clap of clawed hands and a warm chuckle. “Now, what say you to a meal to celebrate your visit, mm?” “[color=f6989d]A meal, hmm?[/color]” Arae thought out loud. “[color=f6989d]That sounds lovely. What do you have planned?[/color]” “Whatever the guest may want,” he said and snapped his fingers. The gates to the palace swung open to reveal a train of water globules balancing trays of creation’s bounty on their ‘heads’. A table for the three to eat from materialised on deck, with complementary pillows to sit on. The table was quickly crowded with plates of food and pitchers of drink. Shengshi turned to Arya and smiled. “Anxin, would you play us some music, my dear?” he asked softly. Arya was perplexed. Why did her master not wish to discuss Xiaoli? And once again, Hermes name was mentioned and a part of Arya really wanted to meet her. And this Xiaoli. She wondered where they were, and what they could be doing. As soon as Shengshi snapped his fingers, Arya knew what was in store. Quickly, with grace she moved aside so the water globules could do their work uninterrupted. If at all she was surprised by the table appearing she did not show it. When her master spoke to her she looked at him with a coy smile in her eyes. In a delicate, almost melodic voice, she spoke, [color=ivory]”Of course, my Lord, this servant would be delighted to play for the exalted gods.”[/color] she then did a small bow and almost by thought, a new table appeared and with it, an intricate Guqin of mahogany wood, embellished with gold patterning and silver highlights. She strode over and plucked the string before playing one of the many tunes she had practiced under her master’s tutelage. It was her favorite, perhaps for its simplicity, but she enjoyed the harmonious melody nonetheless. Shengshi nodded approvingly and turned back to Arae. He gestured to the table with food and bowed. “Please, join me for a meal.” Arae smiled as she went over to the plates of various foods, carefully examining each choice. The selection was vast, with everything from peeled and chopped fruits, to boiled rice and cooked meat, to cold noodles in vinegar and herbs. The selections of fish formed a rainbow of colour and variety, from cooked to raw. The snake sat himself down on one of the pillows, humming along to the music in the background. He gestured to the pillow opposite of the table. “Please, sit,” he said softly. “[color=f6989d]Of course,[/color]” Arae replied, making her selection of rice and a piece of orange-colored fish with herbs. When she looked at the pillow, she realized that she had very little idea about how to actually sit down with her current form. The closest thing to it was simply coiling herself into a circle. An idea popped into her mind, though, and she began to glow as her body’s silhouette shrank down into a humanoid figure. The glow soon subsided, and Arae was transformed into a figure with peach-colored skin, long purple hair with a streak of red, and a one-piece sky-blue dress. Looking down at herself, Arae muttered to herself, “[color=f6989d]Hmm, that’s a bit better,[/color]” as she sat down onto the pillow in a seiza position. “Oh my,” the snake mused. “Quite the transformation, dearest sister. I must say, your dragon form suddenly got quite a bit of competition.” He winked playfully, holding a ball of rice between two chopsticks. Arae chuckled, casually waving her hand as she said, “[color=f6989d]Oh, you flatter me.[/color]” She reached for her own chopsticks and began to help herself to some of the fish, placing it on top of a bit of rice before popping both into her mouth. As she chewed, the flavor of the fish washed over her mouth. “[color=f6989d]This is delicious,[/color]” Arae remarked when she was done with the bite. Looking over at Arya, Arae called out to her, “[color=f6989d]Arya, would you like to join us? The food is too good to pass.[/color]” The snake nodded in her sentiment. Arya kept playing as Arae seemingly transformed in front of her into a person that vaguely reminded her of Kalmar. Except her colors were much different then is own. When the Goddess looked over at her, Arya’s eyes smiled. When she asked Arya if she would join them, the girl looked to her master and saw him mad. So upon the final note of the piece she said, [color=ivory]”This servant would be honored to join you, Lady Arae.”[/color] She then humbly walked over and sat down to join them. Quickly she found her favorite food, cooked meat over a bowl of rice and placed it before her. She took some chopsticks and wrangled up a mouthful before bringing it up to where her mouth should have been. Then all at once, where a normal mouth would be, a small split appeared on her face revealing inky blackness behind it and what one could only imagine to look like hundreds of sharp teeth, but what was actually just her face. She then took a bite and the split closed. Shengshi chuckled. “This situation almost resembles a family dinner, would you not agree, sister?” The snake reached out for piece of fish. He also grabbed a bowl of cold noodles, which he promptly began slurping quietly. “[color=f6989d]Of course it does. It’s exactly what I was aiming for,[/color]” Arae said, reaching out and taking a piece of cooked fish with white flesh. The sauces and juices mixed very well, and the fluffy rice just made it all taste complete. After finishing the noodles, Shengshi put his chopsticks down carefully. “Now, dear sister, what say you we drink a glass to celebrate the occasion, hm?” The snake reached for a flask marked ‘lychee wine’ and poured each of the three small glasses full. “A toast, if you will.” Arya’s eyes expressed happiness as she ate with the gods, her family...per say. The food was, of course, heavenly, and she ate until she couldn’t eat anymore. When her master brought out a flask, she cocked her head inquisitively and wondered what it contained. More blueberry juice? But no...that said ‘lychee wine’. What was wine? Tentatively she took a glass and did what her master did. Arae did not really enjoy wine and other alcoholic drinks, but she didn’t wish to seem rude and accepted the glass. Lifting the glass with one hand, Arae nodded and responded, “[color=f6989d]A toast,[/color]” and cupped the glass with both hands while bring it to her lips and taking a small sip. The flavour was soft and gentle, only slightly stronger than juice. A mild bitterness complemented the docile sweetness, and the experience rounded off with a round aftertaste. Shengshi lifted his glass with both hands, bowed to both Arae and Arya and voiced an enthusiastic “Thank you, both of you” before lifting the glass to his lips and emptying it in a single gulp. To Arae, the drink was actually better than she initially expected. There were traces of bitterness, but it actually went well with the sweetness. She continued sipping her drink until it was gone, and a slight rosy blush appeared on her content face. Her chest and face felt warm, and her mind felt a bit cloudy, but she figured it was the alcohol’s fault. All in all, it was a good drink, although she wasn’t about to go making a habit of drinking it. It was still alcohol, after all. Moderation was important. Arya smelled the pleasing fragrance before she downed the contents of the glass and tasted the complementary flavors. And all at once her body felt warm and fuzzy, for this drink was made by a God, and it was beyond delicious. Her mouth watered and grew dry and she didn’t know what was going on. She looked at her master, her eyes blinking, growing heavy. “Have some more to eat, Anxin - overwise you will grow quite sleepy, indeed,” he said, chuckling. He sat back down and grabbed his chopsticks again, reaching for another piece of fish. Arya let out an excited [color=ivory]”Yes!”[/color] before diving back in to eat. “Now, if I may ask, dear sister, what did you wish to discuss, mm?” He rounded off his question by putting a well-sauced side of trout in his mouth and flushing it down with some fruit juice. “[color=f6989d]Not much, really,[/color]” Arae said, her face in a cheerful smile. “[color=f6989d]Besides the questions I already asked, I mostly just wanted to see you again. It really had been too long since we last met, and family should always find the time to meet face to face. Especially now, since our family is already growing.[/color]” Turning to Arya, Arae continued, “[color=f6989d]Arya, dear, you deserve better than how your father’s treated you. Cast aside, not even receiving a name from him… you poor girl![/color]” Tears emerged from her eyes before she reached out her arms in an attempt to give Arya a hug. Arya startled when Arae said her name and she looked to the goddess and she listened to her speak. At the mention of her father she grew sad and combined with the alcohol she too, grew emotional. When Arae reached out for her, Arya melted and forgot her etiquette as she whispered, [color=ivory]”Oh auntie. Thank you...”[/color] and she hugged her back and let herself feel the warmth of the goddess and it felt good. Meanwhile, the snake sat smiling at the two. He let out a quiet sigh as Arya went over to hug Arae, but the gesture actually brought about a wider smile on Shengshi’s face. “It is moments like these when I feel the most regret for my actions,” he suddenly muttered, grabbing a pear with his chopsticks. The hug continued for a short while before Arae decided that there was enough hug time and removed herself from Arya. She returned to her meal, eating a bit more ravenously than before. She scooped up a large quantity of fish and meat onto her rice, and it wasn’t long before the plate she was eating from was picked clean. At the very least, she still had the decency to wipe her face with her napkin, but soon resumed eating by grabbing hold of some slices of fruit. Shengshi sighed and sliced the pear into neat little disks with his claws. “You truly remind me of that warm sensation that I felt upon first seeing our siblings at the dawn of creation.” He looked up at Arae with melancholic eyes. “I cannot keep it secret from you any longer, my dearest sister - for you are the one I consider my closest. Xiaoli’s disappearance is no one’s fault but my own.” He sighed. “My drinking and temper dulled my reason, and my subsequent actions stirred in her a gruesome fright that made her run off with Hermes - and how could she not? I have been a petty brother to Kalmar and a terrible role model to Xiaoli - caused feuds and fights were none were needed; I threatened Anxin’s companion with murder. Had she not intervened, I-...” He silenced himself, casting his eyes down. “I spoke with Asceal earlier - she convinced me to end the feud with Kalmar, but I despise my method for that achievement.” He lifted his gaze again and turned to Arya, his eyes empty and somber. Arae listened to Shengshi’s words with a shocked expression, which soon turned to disappointment. She thought he had been going through some tough times, but she didn’t think it was that bad. At any rate, it was more than enough proof for her to reaffirm her belief that alcohol was not something to be taken lightly. And maybe Arae could actually help Shengshi find Xiaoli; she might be the only one who could help him with his current problems. Arya had returned to her seat by that time, picking at a piece of fish loosely. When Shengshi spoke again, she looked at him and listened. And her suspicions had been made real by his account. His avatar’s disappearance made him sad and it was because of him, that she had left. But when had Asceal been here? She had convinced Shengshi to end the feud? That was great news! Then her master turned to look at her with somber eyes. “I would return you to his protection. He must be worried about you, and the way I stole you - just to make a statement against his barba-... His teachings.” He paused. “It is understandable if your opinion of me has been altered severely.” It took her a moment to digest the words and when she did, her eyes seemed to furl. Returned to his protection? She hadn’t even been asked! She didn’t even need his protection! How could...How could Shengshi do something like that? Hadn’t she asked him to not be forceful? To ask before he did things to others? It sounded like she wasn’t even going to have a say in the matter, he had already made up his mind! And her thoughts turned to the day she was born, how she had pleaded her father not to send her away, how she had wanted to stay, no matter how much his words had hurt. Arya quickly rose, black tears beginning to stream down her glowing face. Her eyes expressed dejection, even betrayal. Without saying a word, or looking at Arae, she ran off into the ship, leaving the two gods alone. The snake hung his head dejectedly, rose up and slithered over to the railing to glance across the beautiful jungle flanking Nanhe. “[color=f6989d]Arya![/color]” Arae called out to Arya, to no avail, as she ran away. It was clear that Arya wouldn’t be coming back up anytime soon, so Arae turned her attention back to Shengshi. “[color=f6989d]Shengshi, you’ve made a real big mess of things. Honestly...[/color]” Arae began to chastise the poor snake, but she decided to leave it there, thinking he’s already trying to repent for his actions. Sighing, she continued, “[color=f6989d]Still, I suppose it could be worse. At least not everyone hates you just yet, brother. And I’m sure Arya will forgive you in time. At the very least, I should go talk to her.[/color]” With that said, Arae got up from her pillow and walked over to the entrance to the inside of the ship, following Arya’s familial bond inside. “[color=f6989d]Arya?[/color]” Arae called out to Arya in hopes it would catch her attention. Deep, deep, deep Arya went through the ship that was a castle. She heard Arae call after her, but paid no heed to her voice and Arya Stopped for nothing and ran through many water globules, soaking herself. She was hurt and wanted to be alone, so on she went through the twisting corridors until she at last made it to her own chambers. There she opened the door and slammed it behind her, quickly de-robed and then jumped into her bed and wrapped herself up in the sheets and cried. She was a mess of emotions and none of them good. The only sound in her chambres was the sounds of her sobs, complemented by the weary creaks of the wooden walls and the distant flush of water from the outside. There was a wet slap against her door. Arya stifled and peaked her head out from under her sheets. She knew the sound all too well but usually they just barged in without waiting. With her face streaked black, Arya wrapped a sheet around herself and went to open the door. As she opened the door, Arae stood there in front of her, her face full of concern. Down the hallway, a servant just turned the corner. “[color=f6989d]May I come in?[/color]” she asked softly. Arya lowered the sheet from her head to her shoulders and nodded, wiping her tears away from her eyes. Trying to compose herself, she spoke quietly, [color=ivory]”Of-Of course, your exaltedness.”[/color] Arae walked inside, making her way over to the bed and sitting down on it. She patted the spot next to her and said, “[color=f6989d]Come, have a seat. Tell me what’s on your mind, Arya.[/color]” Arya let the goddess walk by, watching her closely as she went and sat down. She began to shuffle over to wear Arae patted and plumped down next to the god. She let out a long sigh before speaking, [color=ivory]”On the day I met Shen- his Lordship, he forced me onto his boat. He didn't hurt me but it did come as a surprise and he frightened Arryn. So I was angry and I told him it wasn't nice to force people to do things. I told him to never force anyone again, to ask before he wanted something. And I thought he listened... B-But he's going to force me… to leave… He wasn't even going to ask me and… it reminds me of… of my father and how he forced me to leave. And I… I just want to be wanted.”[/color] she finished, silent tears falling from her eyes as she looked to the floor. “[color=f6989d]Shengshi is a fool,[/color]” Arae began. “[color=f6989d]But then again, who isn’t? The truth is, we gods have been brought into this world fairly recently, so hardly any of us know what we’re doing. All we do is follow our instincts and desires. We are just as much children are you are, Arya, despite, and perhaps even because of, the powers we wield. And currently, many of us are in the middle of a fight between ourselves, with the gods of destruction on one and the gods of creation on the other. There’s a lot of pressure between ourselves, what with our power to destroy the world several times over.[/color]” Arae was silent for a second, gathering the rest of her thoughts, before continuing, “[color=f6989d]I guess what I’m trying to say is… sorry. You’re being treated like this due to my siblings’ family feud, and that’s not fair to you. You deserve the chance to make your own choices, live your own life, rather than being tied down to us gods.[/color]” Arya listened to the goddess speak and much came known to her. It seemed she wasn't the only one with family problems, how had she been so blind to that? Regardless, Arya was thankful for what Arae said, it lessened the turmoil in her heart and so she looked to Arae and without asking she laid her head on the goddess’ shoulder and sighed again. [Color=ivory]”Thank you, Arae. Your words are kind and I appreciate them. Who knew family could be so, so difficult?”[/color] the small girl let out a yawn thinking about what she wanted to say next. Perhaps she overreacted just a tad, Shengshi, for all his faults, did not deserve her ire. He was just sad and alone and he missed his Xiaoli. And they needed to talk about this, instead of burying it deep. She spoke softly and tiredly, [color=ivory]”Perhaps...Perhaps tomorrow I'll talk to… my… my… lor-”[/color] but her words were replaced by steady breathing as her eyes became heavy and she drifted off to sleep. [hr] Shengshi had not moved from his spot by the railing since Arae went downstairs to soothe Arya. His breath was steady, almost coldly so. Flood season was approaching, as evidenced by the slowly disappearing riverbanks and the drowning trees. The rivers were full of life, but the woods were not as rich, save for a stray boar or two. Shengshi hummed pensively at the sight, as if laying a strategy or a plan for the future of this forest. His planning would have to wait, however, for Arae soon came out the gates again. Arae emerged from the ship and walked back to the table, sitting down at the pillow she had been using before. “[color=f6989d]Arya’s asleep now,[/color]” Arae reported to Shengshi. “[color=f6989d]You two should have a talk when she wakes up. In the meantime, let’s talk between ourselves. You know you have a problem with your drinking and temperament. What do you think you should be doing about it, and have you done anything about it?[/color]” The snake turned away from the forest to face the dragon. “The wine today was my first drop since Xiaoli left - that is a condition I can control, I believe… As for my temper…” He sighed and slithered over to the pillow, sitting down. “I have been recording my thoughts and experiences during my time alone in a compendium. I will use that code to bind my spirit to its laws and rules - all in an effort to become a paragon of the Flow… However, it is not yet complete, and until it is, I cannot do much other than control myself.” Arae nodded. “[color=f6989d]What matters most is that you are making a sincere effort. It’s all I ask for.[/color]” She then placed her elbows on the table, allowing her head to rest on her hands. “[color=f6989d]As for our siblings, well, you know there are many… disagreements between them, such as Kalmar and the other gods of creation against Orvus. I do feel as if the tension between them has eased a little, but it is still something that will not be easily forgiven. What do you think?[/color]” The snake sighed. “I will be honest - it felt wrong to accept the invitation to an alliance against my brother, especially when I had to ally myself with-...” He closed his mouth and flicked his forked tongue. “Regardless, Phystene’s story was frightening, and Asceal has echoed the warnings against some of our siblings. As much as I would rather wait and watch this beautiful world bloom, those that would see it destroyed must be controlled.” He took another bite of fish and chewed it absentmindedly. “I would rather not have him murdered - I would have none of my siblings murdered, in fact. However, the Flow advocates for adaptability: Should the situation escalate, even the wise cannot keep the sword sheathed anymore.” “[color=f6989d]It’s a terrible situation for all,[/color]” Arae remarked. “[color=f6989d]I’ve been meaning to visit them, but I find myself putting it off every time. I’m… nervous. I want to believe Orvus is capable of more than what his powers are, and that even those powers of destruction can be used for good, but not everyone is so inclined to agree. I fear the damage is too much for each side to forgive the other, and any interference I try will only make it worse. Unable to do anything, feeling powerless… it’s a horrible feeling.[/color]” The snake took a pitcher of mango juice and filled Arae’s cup, then promptly filled his own. “Well, my dearest sister - I can assure you that you have my support in whatever you do. Should you wish for diplomacy, then I will join you in that endeavour; should we need to resort to other solutions…” He raised his glass. “Then so be it.” “[color=f6989d]Thank you, Shengshi,[/color]” Arae said, raising her own glass. Finishing the glass in one quick swig, Arae sighed and continued, “[color=f6989d]I should get going. Thanks for letting me visit.[/color]” The snake finished his own glass and bowed. “It is always a pleasure to have you here, my dearest sister. Please, should you ever want to return, do so posthaste.” Arae smiled, and she began to glow, her body transforming back into her dragon form. She made a quick jump and took off into the air, heading back towards the direction she came from, to the Dragon’s Crown. On the distant horizon, past Arae as she flew, a storm was coming. [hr] The ominous storm arrived, battering the Jiangzhou with a torrential downpour. Gale force winds battered the hull as lightning flashed and thunder boomed above the dragon’s head. The dark skies shrouded the land in a thick blanket of darkness as if it came from The Great Dark itself. However, all was dry inside the ship, save for the water globules and wines. And it was in her chambers that Arya slept, deeply nestled in thick, warm sheets as soft as a dove. Much troubled her, but in the safety of her dreams, she forgot her earthly troubles. Least for a time. Upon the deck, heralded by the storm, her father came. With a flash of lightning illuminating the deck, Orvus stood quietly, his glowing eyes impassive. He did not know what compelled him to arrive upon this ship, but he had come regardless. Orvus could taste the essence in the air and knew it belonged to the God of Rivers. More importantly, he could feel [i]her[/i]. She was nearby, and only then it did occur to him that he desired to see her. For what reason he did not know. In a slightly less exciting, but equally purposeful manner, the doors to the palace swung open to reveal the snake, who looked rather vexed at Orvus’ presence. Still, his face did not show wholehearted contempt, and the snake opened his arms invitingly and bowed. “Orvus, my brother. What a… Surprise. I will admit, I had not expected you to come here.” He straightened back up and polished his claws on his chest absentmindedly. His voice was emotionless when he spoke, [Color=black]”Neither did I. Now tell me, where is she?”[/color] he asked getting straight to the point. The snake scowled. “The first time you visit me, you display no concept of manners or etiquette, yet demand that I, your host, surrender the only thing that has brought me joy and peace in a long time.” He took a deep breath and bowed curtly. “Give me one good reason as to why I should comply.” Orvus cocked his head at Shengshi's words. He was both right and wrong. Thunder boomed overhead as he thought upon those words. It seemed his offspring brought Shengshi some form of positive emotion. An attachment? Had he grown to care for her? When next he spoke, his voice was calm and collected, [Color=black]”You’ve mistaken my intent, brother. What I ask is not a demand, but a need. I wish not to take her away, nor harm, merely to… to see her. You would not understand this desire, I barely do myself.”[/color] he finished quietly. The was a pause. The snake eventually relaxed somewhat and lifted his brow slightly. “You will swear upon your existence as a god that you will uphold these conditions; now, speak your oath or begone.” The waters around the ship began to rumble and quiver, and the snake himself curved his hands upwards in preparation for battle. The threat, idle as it was, did not bother Orvus and he reacted as if it meant nothing to him. [Color=black]”I swear it, then.”[/color] and began to walk towards the snake as if bidding him to lead the way. The snake flicked his tongue menacingly, but the thunderous rumbles of the river below slowly ceased, and the snake bowed before Orvus. “So be it, then. I will call her up - I would rather not have your presence soil my larders with rot and destruction.” He held up one hand at Orvus to signal for him to stop but before the snake could snap his fingers, Orvus shouted, [color=black]”NO![/color] his emotions full on display. Orvus sighed, collecting himself, [color=black]”If she sleeps I dare not wake her. I cannot… I… I only wish to look upon her. Talking… Just take me to her. You have my word, once again, that my presence shall not touch your ship.”[/color] and with that said, Orvus began to float a few feet off the ground. The snake betrayed a slight sneer. “So be it. Follow me, then… Brother.” The two went down the gilded corridors. They entered the upper levels of the banquet hall and turned to the right, moving away from the stairs down and towards the servants’ quarters by the bathhouse. The two gods moved in silence, radiating an aura that deafened the normal ruckus of the ship’s core. Upon arriving at Arya’s door, Shengshi stopped. “Remember your oath, brother,” he hissed menacingly, his eyes turning to reptilian slits. He then opened the door silently and gestured for Orvus to enter. Orvus said nothing to the snake as he entered the room, door closing behind him. Though it was dark in the room, Orvus could see her perfectly. He floated over to the bed, and his impassive eyes changed to that of sadness when he looked upon her. Sleeping softly, there she was, the one he had said should not exist. And yet he was there, close but yet so distant. Slowly he reached out his hand and with it, he stroked her face, delving deep inside her mind and witnessing her memories of her time on Galbar. The first thing he found, was her name. [color=black]“Arya.”[/color] he whispered quietly. So the God of Hunting had named her. He was surprised Kalmar had found her, but not the words he chose to describe himself. Irrational. Dangerous. Destruction. Then why had Kalmar wanted to talk in the first place? To change his mind? To make him rethink everything? Well… He was here wasn’t he? He saw how much sadness he had forced upon, the inner turmoil she faced. And he grew ashamed of himself, but his desire to know more outweighed this shame. He looked further, and saw that Kalmar had taught Arya many things and the ways of the world, but only as he knew them. Chief among them was the desire to live, to exist and to ‘win’? Arya had believed every word of it, and her one desire in life, was to find her way home. The foolish girl. She hated silence, she loved color, she wanted so much more then [i]that[/i] place. Yet it haunted her, [i]he[/i] haunted her. Orvus looked further still, and saw her journey, Shengshi’s trickery and how she had stood up for herself. How she had stopped a God and an Avatar from fighting, how she had… willingly let herself learn and serve, just to save her ‘friend’. It was a noble action. And Orvus saw the snake’s teachings, and how Arya, or Anxin, grew further. She was a marvel and more then he would ever be. At such a young age, nonetheless. She had a heart, and with it compassion, love, and loyalty, things Orvus had denied himself. Arae had then arrived, and the dinner she shared with his two siblings was impressive. Then he saw how Shengshi betrayed her, over some petty fight with Kalmar, and Orvus grew angry at seeing his daughter upset and sad at the hands of another. Luckily, Arae was able to calm her, but instead of rejecting the snake, Arya only wanted to make things right, to make him let her have a choice. Choice. He broke away from his daughter and hovered over her with a shocked expression in his eyes. She was, in so many ways, apart from him and yet, at her core, they faced the same dilemmas. And Orvus knew in that moment what he came there to do. He poured a little bit of his power inside of her, letting her drink his divinity and soak in its power. She would be immortal now, ageless and have her own power. A power to choose what she wanted to do. But he was not without other gifts for his wayward child. He had seen her dislike for water, another failure on his part, but her fear could easily be corrected. So he gave her the ability of self-sustained flight, as natural as it was to walk or to breath. She would never have to walk again if she chose. And at last, he summoned a bit of his metal, and from it, Orvus created a ring. Etching it with the stars, he willed it onto her finger and there it would fit snuggly. The ring would serve as protection from harm if she ever needed it, by amplifying the powers of desolation that she had yet to master, or even awaken. Another choice, one he knew she would not use lightly. But her compassion would be tested, and taken advantage of, thus she needed it. Satisfied with these gifts, Orvus floated to the door, looking back at the Arya, his daughter. They would meet again, or they wouldn’t but at least he had finally created a being not with the intent of pain, but for compassion. The door opened and Orvus looked to Shengshi, first with thanks, but then quickly changing to anger. He spoke to the river lord, his voice full of venom. [color=black]”Many thanks, brother but know this; if you ever hurt her again, intentional or not, I shall spread my ‘rot’ my ‘destruction’ to every river on this planet and then, and only then, I will bathe in your ichor. Now goodbye, shall we not meet again.”[/color] and with that said, Orvus floated past the snake and made his way out of the Jiangzhou and onto places unknown. The snake hissed silently as Orvus left and shot the girl another glance before he closed the door. [hider=I’ll Make a Scholar Out of You] Arya is first escorted to her new room. There, she discovers what a bed is and falls asleep for an unknown amount of time. She is awaken by some water servants barging in with food, a juice bottle, and a note from Sheng. When she tried to uncork the flask, the contents spill out all over her and the sheets. She panics and spills her food, as well as the note, off the bed. The note unfurls and tells Arya to get out of bed, dress up and head to Sheng’s room. The note also tells her where she can find her clothes, as well as where Sheng’s room is. The room contains a wardrobe, which itself contains Arya’s clothes: A white shirt, a red skirt with a red ribbon and a pair of sandals. Being unfamiliar with clothing, Arya puts the shirt on her head, the skirt on the wrong way, the ribbon on as a scarf and the sandals on the wrong feet. She then goes to see Sheng. Along the way, she sees all the wonders of the Jiangzhou - the massive, adorned banquet hall with its opulent usage of gold, and the stairwell up the central tower (aka. Grand Spire). As she ascends the Grand Spire, Arya is witness to the many art works of Shengshi - she is captivated with the ceiling painting at the top of the stairwell, which displays Shengshi bringing prosperity to all. She enters Sheng’s room, only to find it rather empty. She hears music from the outside, tho, and finds Shengshi there playing guzheng. He turns around to greet her and is mildly disappointed that she is incapable of dressing herself. Using hokus pokus-powers, Sheng mades the clothes dress her. Cue training montage: Arya is drilled on everything cultured and snake-related: reading, writing, calligraphy, music, poetry, all that jazz. Arae appears! Shengshi brings Arya along to greet her on deck. To start off, they talk about how life has been and the joy of being together again, then Arae drops the Xiaoli-topic and Shengshi grows hesitant. Shengshi invites them to dinner. To fit at the table, Arae adopts a more humanoid form. At first, Arya is tasked with providing music for the banquet, but later joins in the meal. They have a nice conversation until Arae and Arya’s closeness reminds him of Xiaoli and the snake confesses his plans for trading Arya for peace between him and Kalmar. Arae feels betrayed at the idea that she would be given no choice and runs inside crying. Arae scolds Sheng and then promptly runs after her. Sheng remains on deck to contemplate. Arae finds Arya in her room and talks with her. She tells her she is sorry Arya was dragged into this family feud and that she is being tossed around like a pinball. Arya thanks Arae for her advice and goes to sleep. Back on deck, Sheng is still observing the fancy foliage around. Arae reemerges from the ship and the two discuss how Sheng will act in the future. Sheng reveals that he believes he can control his alcoholism, but not his temper, and that he has future plans to bind his spirit to a set of morals. The two toast one final time (with mango juice) and Arae hops off. Cue Orvus, who drops by to see Arya. Shengshi is immediately suspicious of him, and when Orvus demands to see Arya, Shengshi makes him swear on his existence that he will not hurt her nor the ship in any way. Orvus agrees and the two head downstairs. Orvus enters the room, reads Arya’s memories and learns about Kalmar and Shengshi’s treatment of her. Comes to the conclusion that Arya hates neither of them, but simply wants a choice. He makes her immortal and gives her a fancy ring. He leaves the room like the absent father-figure he is and flips Sheng off one last time before floating off. [/hider] [hider=Might Expenditure] [b]Arae:[/b] Started with 10 MP, 8 FP 1 Might spent acquiring a humanoid form. 2 Might spent acquiring the ability to change between the two forms. MP: 7 | FP: 8 [b]Orvus:[/b] Started With: 5MP & 8FP -2MP to LEVEL UP ARYA TO HERO -1FP to GIVE ARYA THE EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY TO FLY LIKE SUPERMAN -1MP(DISCOUNTED TO 0 CAUSE DESOLATION, FUCK YA) to CREATE THE ‘STAR RING’ Ended With: 3MP & 7FP Portfolios: 10/10FP Towards Asteroids Unlock > Not Purchased 3/5 Towards [b]Soul[/b] Decay Unlock > Not Available for Purchase [/hider] [Hider=Prestige] Arya 0 prestige starting +1 for the post +1 for being a main focus +1 for jolly collaboration = +3 prestige [/hider] [hider=Blooper] HAHAHA GOTTEM [/hider]