The drums cracked like thunder, the brass boomed like an earthquake, and the orchestra ripped open the struggle of life and death, only to spread its philosophical body and emotion across an intense melody of notes. K’nell stood from his throne, the weavers parting before him. Looking ahead, the doors out of his ballroom were cleaved open by an unseen force, and all at once, K’nell blasted forward.
The music followed as K’nell cut across the dreamscape at impossible speeds, suddenly shifting from one reality to another, and another, until he flew amidst the wrinkles of what was and what wasn’t. Of course, any mortal eye would not be able to perceive such madness, but K’nell knew the many sensations of such a place well. What may have felt as an eternity passed as K’nell cut through emotion, memory, dreams and reality, until at last, it all came together in a mighty explosion of white light.
Limbo trembled as the God reemerged, crackling with divine will. The skies over Swahhiteh-Tendlepog turned a deep maroon, and Heliopolis seemed to turn into a dark black as the Lord of Dreams returned to Galbar. The clear skies of madness were covered as rolling clouds of thunder blanketed in. K’nell raised his arms, and the continent turned a deadly quiet, awaiting its conductor.
All at once, K’nell dropped his hands and the drums of orchestra blasted across the landscape, the clouds roaring in cheer. A finger twitched and the wind whistled the wail of a melancholy violin, eyes snapped, and the ground shook with the power of the trumpet. Slowly the God brought his hands up, his loyal musicians of sky and earth following his lead. His hands reached the full extent, and with a dip and a woosh to the sides, a great branch of black lightning struck the ground in applause.
The hands moved down, the music boomed, the hands moved up, the world wailed, the hands turned to the sides, and screams without bodies sounded. A twist, and another pillar of lightning slammed into Galbar.
Soon his hands danced with command, and the scene in front of him came to fruition. Music displayed an array of emotions dark and hidden, toned with thoughts best left alone. Great crashes sounded, and amazing bolts of energy descended from the heavens, until the concert had turned into one of blasting columns of lightning and curdling screams from the clouds. A single hand rose to the sky, and as it dashed down, all the instruments sounded in salute in one ear breaking conglomeration, only to then leave the world in silence once more.
Slowly, the natural sounds of Tendlepog returned, and the sky faded back to it’s evening orange. K’nells body shimmered with a dark power that soaked in the light, his body still crackling with godly will. Content eyes stared forward at what was born from his latest song.
An army of strange beasts of shadow stood snarling, their figures not quite physical, but wholly of the land of dreams. Their edges blurred with reality, leaving one to wonder where their shimmering bodies really stood. In front of this awaiting mob was a single rider.
Atop a mare the color of the night was a knight armored in black thorns, deep red eyes staring from an enclosed helmet. K’nell’s smile grew.
“Scatter, offspring of dreams, and ensure the balance and safety of your new home,” A grainy voice commanded, “Challenge the weak minded, and ensure the quality of the inhabitants of this paradise. Show them what they fear most, and see to it they either overcome or withdraw. Push the greedy, the proud, the selfish, and protect those who hold my virtues, as well as this great land.”
A pale finger pointed at the mounted rider, “Warden of this Kingdom,” The voice returned, “See to it that my will is maintained.”
“As you command,” A hollow voice vibrated from the helmet, thorned hands pulling the reins of the mare underneath.
K’nell leaves the Palace and travels through Limbo
Upon his return to Galbar, he begins to orchestrate a new song
From the power of his music, a race of nightmares are born, and tasked with protecting Swahhitteh-Tendlepog. As their leader, a great Warden is also born, tasked with overseeing the will of K’nell be carried out.
The Guardian Nightmares - 3 FP Extraordinary but unintelligent species The Warden - 2 FP Single Beast of Phenomenal power
There wasn’t much talking on the way home. The boat creaked under the pressure of the calm waves, and the sailors heaved and groaned with the planks as they rowed, but there wasn’t any words. Once blue waves turned dark purple under the evening sky, and the sea breeze turned chilly. Renevin had taken turns with one of the sailors at the oars, hoping the labor would occupy his mind, but the repetition just made him focus. A phantom weight laid on his arms, as if the woman was still there rasping her final breath. In the end he plopped himself down on a barrel and stewed in his own thoughts.
Hondros’ gloved hand gripped his shoulder and squeezed, causing Renevin’s voice to leak out, raspy and sad, “She was probably someone’s mother, someone’s wife. Definitely someone’s daughter. I didn’t see any of that -- what I saw was broken.”
“She had died long before we arrived, there was nothing we could do,” Hondros’ accented whipped into the salty air.
“I know,” Renevin looked at his partner, “She was on her final breaths, but-”
“No, I get it,” Hondros waved a hand, “the mind doesn’t easily comprehend it. We are so used to seeing each other in a certain way, it’s scary when your eyes don’t register what it’s used to.”
“Even scarier when it dies in your arms,” Renevin sighed, and stood up, “I’ll beat it out of my mind in a few days.”
“Now that,” Hondros folded his arms, “now that would be scary.”
“Can only move forward,” Renevin looked out over the horizon, his arm leaning on the railing.
“Just never forget what gets you there,” Hondros joined him, folding his arms around the wooden guard, “you’ll be seeing a lot as a Praxian, don’t forget what it was like before it started to numb you, and above all never forget our code. We have it for a reason.”
“Yeah,” Renevin gazed across the rippling sea, a dark line forming on the horizon, “you ever wonder how much longer we have left?”
Hondros squinted his eyes, “you’re too new to be thinking about quitting.”
“No,” Renevin turned to Hondros, “that’s not what I’m saying.”
He paused, “nevermind.”
Hondros looked out over at the forming landmass, “I know.” From that point on the rest of the trip was spent in relative silence. The two Guards stood staring forwards as the rowers rowed. Gulls became more and more dense as the black strip of land in the distance became a supple mass of green, speckled with white stone buildings embedded in the hilly coast. The water turned a light rippling blue, and the clarity gave view to the shadows of fish swimming underneath.
Slowly the coastal sound of gull calls and wave breaks turned into a small cheer as the villagers of Ylldyn became dots on the docks, the sailors returning their calls with cheers of their own. Despite the storm of thoughts in Renevin’s mind, he and Hondros cracked smiles, the happy calls curling their lips without command.
At last the shapes in the distance turned into a fully detailed crowd. Women in white dresses, and men in equally bright tunics and baggy breeches waved their fisherman hats and tanned arms in welcome. Children slipped between the legs of the adults, eager to watch the return of the galley ship. Renevin’s own eyes scanned the scene, his icy blues looking for something with the same vigor as the overeager children.
Hondros watched his usually cool headed friend with interest, taking note when Renevin’s eyes relaxed, suddenly fixated. Renevin’s gaze laid heavily on a single woman, her head of hair a honey blonde, in stark contrast the the brown and black haired villagers surrounding her. She wore light eyes, of a greenish hazel, which fluttered behind thick eyelashes, giving her visage a sort of outline that was a pleasure to trace. Despite her differences, she had a gentle aquiline nose, same as the others.
Renevin’s fingers gripped the rail tight at the sight of Swedren.
“Easy,” Hondros looked ahead, “She’ll be there when we dock.”
“I know,” Renevin said cooly, and yet the longing in his eyes betrayed his voice.
In the half an hour it took to get the galley next to and tied to the dock, the cheers had turned into loud conversation and curious eyes. Some of the children had lost interest and began rushing around in impromptu games of youth, and generally getting in the sailor’s way as they began to go about their business. The crowd paid little mind to the everyday sea salt, but kept their attention on the two Guards as they finally hopped down from the galley and onto the water washed planks below.
The crowd split to allow the men passage. Hondros took the lead, Renevin hesitating briefly when his eyes finally met Swedren’s causing both their faces to break out in wide toothy smiles, their cheeks suddenly gaining a deeper color. It took a second, but eventually the nigh tangible link of their gaze was broken as Renevin realized how far Hondros had walked ahead of him.
Shoulder to shoulder now, the pair made their way past the plaster houses, their boots kicking up dust on the dirt roads of the village. Only when the pair made their way onto a small stone dias that sat in the center of the village did the duo stop, taking their final steps onto the raised platform. Ceremoniously they turned to the crowd, Swedren having made her way to the front with wide admiring eyes.
The pair looked ahead, as if seeing into the distant future, and as they did they took their sword arms and extended them, then bent them, snatching the hilts of their blades. Together they ripped their swords from their scabbards with a inspiring rasp. The lowest runes along the ancient looking weapons suddenly began to glow and hum, and then all at once, as the soldiers held their swords pointing high above their heads, a great vision appeared.
It was the fight. A sparkling image of Hondros and Renevin swirled above the real pair, the troll in the center. The crowd murmured in awe as they watched the troll’s final moments, the image ending as it fell under the combined might of the two Praxian Storm Guards.
As the sparkling image dissipated the crowd turned into cheers, and with disciplined coordination, the pair of guards returned their blades to their scabbard in synchrony before stepping down from the dias. Renevin looked at Hondros, his face hiding a question behind bold eyes. Hondros gave him a satisfied smile and nodded. The crowd rushed the pair with praise, and children reached out to touch their battered armor. Men and women alike attempted to touch, hold and shake their hands, but with a little help of Hondros, who suddenly spread his arms in welcome, accompanied with a booming laugh and wide smile, Renevin snuck away.
Slipping through the crowd Renevin’s brow furrowed, his face resting in an unfortunate scowl as his eyes searched. Suddenly a couple of fingers slipped under the pauldron on his shoulder and tugged. Renevin spun to meet the culprit, swinging in close to offset the pull. He blunk, and Swedren blunk back. The two stood face to face, their lips curling into content smiles. Reaching down Renevin took her hand in his and she lead him out of the crowd.
Slipping between two white crosshatch fences tangled in flowering grape vines, the two escaped the clamor of the town center, a soft laugh stuck in their throats. They made a sharp turn, escaping view of both the crowd and the evening sun.
Huddling under an old olive tree the two embraced. Swedren suddenly making a scowl, “The armor really takes away from the-”
“Oh!” Renevin gave an embarrassed smile. There was a soft pause and then they both blurted out, “How are you?”
The recoiled, Swedren lunging back into the conversation first, “I was worried.”
“You didn’t need to be,” Renevin curled a smile, “Hondros is a great leader.”
"Humble,” Swedren teased, “You’re no slack from what I’ve seen -- but that doesn’t mean I don’t worry. Anything can happen.”
“It’s the life I chose,” Renevin nodded, hiding a blush from the praise.
“I know,” Swedren gave him a smile that melted his heart,somehow catching a glimmer of the sun in her eye under the shade, “I’m proud of you for that.”
Renevin looked down, his eyes in heaven as a soft smile remained on his face. Swedren’s radiant smile grew as she gazed over him, his features, ignoring the grime on his attire and cheeks. Gently she pressed her forehead on his and closed her eyes, Renevin doing the same. They stayed like that for what felt like forever, before finally an anxious ball formed in the pit of Renevin’s stomach, “Did you ask your father?”
Immediately Swedren raised her head and looked back up at Renevin, her eyes suddenly mirroring his own anxiety, “He told me that he wanted to hear it from you.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Renevin kept a positive attitude, “Formality is all.”
Swedren gave a worried smile, “I know.”
“Where is he?” Renevin stretched eagerly.
“Now?” Swedren crossed her brow, “So soon?”
“I need to get this stone off my stomach,” Renevin looked down at Swedren, “It’ll eat me alive if I stay in suspense.”
Swedren sighed, “You’re right. He should be retiring to his study soon, doing the days end count.”
Renevin kissed the top of Swedren’s forehead and squeezed her hands, “Then I’ll seek you out as soon as I get my answer.”
The young woman’s cheeks fought between a pale anxiety and a blushing pink, “I’ll be here as late as I can.”
Renevin stole one last look at Swedren before turning and running off, his tired legs taking him as fast as he can. As he cut across one of the dirt roads of the village a broad arm stretched out to intercept him, causing him to skid to a halt.
A sandy cheeked man with long hair and sharp green eyes stared down at him, he wore the armor of the Praxians, and a mischievous smile, “Renevin! Just the man I wanted to see. I heard about the fight with the troll.”
“I’m in a hurry D’Bran,” Renevin gave a polite nod.
D’Bran rolled his eyes, “running off to Swedren?”
“Nopoitis,” Renevin quickly said, starting his way around D’Bran.
“See?” D’Bran shook his head, putting himself back in front of Renevin, “This is what I was saying last week. Far too much trouble. That cheap ass is going to give you a run around and put you in the suitor void where they shove all lost hopes. Just snag a regular beauty, an easier time.”
“D’Bran.” Renevin spoke between his teeth.
“Hey, I’m just looking out for a friend,” D’Bran cocked a brow, “You’re basically a local legend, you can have anyone you want.”
“Swedren,” Renevin stopped and stared at D’Bran, “Can I go now?”
The sandy cheeked guard shrugged and stepped aside, “It’s your wish, not mine. See you at the dance.”
Renevin sighed, nodding hastily at D’Bran before cutting off into a jog once more. Sucking in his breath he managed to force his anxiety to the lowest pits of his stomach, but with every step he felt it twist back up. He shook his head, letting the cool coastal air take over his senses.
With a skid and a scuff Renevin came to a stop. A great entrance way stood in front of him, a portly janitor tending the doorway. To the left and the right were large fields, dotted with what workers remained this late, most leading the beasts of burden back to their pens. Renevin paid them little mind as he approached the janitor.
“I’m here by request of Nopoitis,” Renevin explained.
The janitor stood back and examined the taller, younger man in front of him, “Renevin?”
“Yes,” Renevin answered quickly, eager to pass. The janitor waited a second longer, until Renevin’s brow settled into a downward slant, causing a small smile to form on the janitor’s face, “Good luck.”
“Thanks,” Renevin said, unsure what to make of the man as he moved past.
The doorway lead to a hall, which then spilled into a sunny atrium. It was well kept, but plain, with little decoration. Renevin knew why, and if he hadn’t found himself at such odds with Swedren’s father, maybe he could even admire his frugal nature. Hooking a sharp left, Renevin left the white room and suddenly was face to face with a large door of some hardwood or another. Straightening upright, Renevin wrapped his gauntlet off the door, suddenly wishing he had changed.
“Come in,” the hard voice of Nopoitis called out. Renevin obeyed, opening the door and walking into the study, his eyes set in confidence. The room in synchrony with the atrium was just as neat, and just as plain, with only expensive papers and binded books to decorate the massive desk and many shelves. The only object that stood out was a finely painted portrait of a childhood Swedren standing by an older boy, a young Garthilian man and a young Grynyn maiden. Nopoitis himself sat in all his white-crowned glory, behind the desk, hand on a quill, his swarthy arm threateningly close to undried ink.
Before Renevin could even open his mouth, Nopoitis sunk his quill into it’s ink bottle and folded his thick fingers together, “Renevin. Renevin, oh Renevin. Excuse the irony in what I’m about to say, Renevin, but I think you’re wasting both our times.”
“I’m sorry?” Renevin took a step forward.
“You should be,” Nopoitis ignored the tone of Renevin’s response, “You have nothing to offer Swedren, nothing to offer the estate, nothing to offer me. You have nothing.”
Nopoitis shook his hands as if pleading, “Nothing.”
“I can-” Renevin began.
“Oh, I know. You can protect her, defend her honor. I hear a lot about you, all the time, don’t you worry. Your exploits as a youth to your days as a Praxian. You have a fairy tale life, and the town loves you for it, but the town’s daughter isn’t interested in you, mine is, and as far as I’m concerned, there is no stability in your life and line of work.” Nopoitis stood up, “The Praxians have been dying for the past few centuries and in my mind they don’t have the decade left before they are forced to disband. Government, Kings, Queens, they do all the protecting we need, and they can actually pay their soldiers good money for it.”
“Castle Oswald-”
“Is a tripe fort in the mountains, the last foothold of your cursed order,” Nopoitis answered, “Is that where you would move my daughter? A fort? Here she has land, here she has my business. If it wasn’t for the death of my son, I bet I wouldn’t be plagued with offers like this, I have half a mind to suspect you of swiping my fortune from me along with my daughter. No, she needs stability, and I can offer that, not you.”
“Nopoitis,” Renevin finally got a word in, “I care for your daughter,” Nopoitis heckled a grunt but Renevin continued, “I may not have much now, but the future can hold anything, and she is willing to take that path with me. She wants to marry me, and I want to marry her.”
“About eighteen years ago now,” Nopoitis narrowed his eyes, “a young baby tied to the back of a bull wandered into town. The old coots said the bull walked upright and talked, and that the baby was a sign of greater things. I saw people reading into something shallow, something they wanted. No, I kept my head out of the clouds and realized that this baby was tied to a regular-day-old-ass of an ox by a no good desperate tramp in an attempt to relieve herself of the burden of a child and this town had the misfortune of being the first town to notice the bull on its useless journey and take in the baby to which --” He held up a hand to keep Renevin from speaking, “-- to which this bastard grew up as troubled orphan, uneducated and penniless. By a miracle of the Brother’s Harmony themselves the child could fend for itself and found friendship in an outdated order, and ever since then this bastard believed itself to be special and deserving, so much so as to bother a real man who has a real livelihood about his real daughter.” Nopoitis slammed his palm on the desk, “This is not a fairy tale, boy.”
Renevin stared at Nopoitis, his brow slanted into a scowl and his knuckles a bright white under his gloves. He stared in silence, the burn of anger swelling his throat closed with insults best left unsaid. His chest pumped heated breaths and his mind swirled with ideas.
“A town as big as ours, a woman as beautiful as my daughter, and she picks the poorest man to ever grace these roads,” Nopoitis put the nail in the coffin, “Get out.”
A cool wash overtook Renevin’s face, but his scowl remained. The combination of such a calm demeanor paired with such a look made Nopoitis shiver. Turning on his heel, Renevin slammed the door behind him.
K’nell’s eyes scanned every feature of the dream, as if looking for something. The ballroom all around him was afloat with phantom instruments, a calming melody being played. K’nell slowly dropped the orb into its pedestal and tucked a hand under his chin.
“Where is it,” a disembodied hum questioned.
Renevin and Hondros return to Ylldyn
They show off their kill to the townspeople
Renevin runs off to be with Swedren, only to find out that his marriage proposal is being denied by her father.
Renevin bumps into D’Bran on his way to Swedren’s father’s and has a brief conversation.
Renevin is denied face to face by Swedren’s Father, pissing everyone off.
Hermes’ eyes fluttered open. Ten long hours had passed in the land of the awake, but what felt like days passed in the land of dreams. She pushed the leaves that covered her and her makeshift bed away with two stretching arms, a happy curl taking her lips. Her gaze twinkled with ease, her body fully relaxed and rejuvenated. In all, she never felt better. Happy little remnants of her dreams danced in her head as the world focused past her sleepy gaze, and the first thing she saw was Xiaoli’s own stare, inciting a just waking smile from Hermes.
“Good awakening,” Hermes rasped, her throat just returning to use.
Xiaoli hummed happily and cracked a pebbly smile, causing Hermes’ gaze to catch the many colored pebbles in her sight, somehow she had not noticed them before. “Good awakening, dear Hermes,” Xiaoli chuckled. “Did you rest well?”
Hermes rolled onto her belly, her devious club tumbling from the sticks of her bed, “Mhm, sometimes I wish I could stay forever.” Xiaoli hummed softly in agreement.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve actually slept before.” She winced momentarily. “I have lost consciousness, yes, but never slept. What is it like?”
“Sleep?” Hermes slowly sat up, running her hands through her long knotted hair, fighting against the biggest of the tangles, “It’s wonderful. I get to be with God. We talk, we dance, we explore.”
She shrugged her shoulders, her mind conjuring images of last night’s dreams into her head, “We can do anything we want, and I get to be with him. He makes me feel safe.”
Xiaoli nodded softly, her eyes peering at Hermes’ long, white, messy hair. Seeing as she was sitting, she crawled over on all fours and sat down right next to Hermes. “Do you ever braid it? Your hair?”
Hermes blunk, and as much as she started to hate saying this, she sighed, “I don’t know what that is.”
Xiaoli blunk back. She raised her hand and patted the little knot on the top of her head. “It’s a little like tying your hair up like this, but you braid it into beautiful patterns instead. May I?” She gestured to Hermes’ hair.
“Okay,” Hermes gave a smirk and turned her back to Xiaoli, presenting the long cascade of alabaster that was her hair, the tangled tips leading all the way down to just above her waist. She made a face as she felt the first gentle tug, and then the second, but by time the seventh or eighth passed she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation.
The braid took long, since more than half of the task was spent undoing days of knots formed from endless blasts of wind and rolling around in her sleep. Xiaoli eventually turned a nearby rock into a comb to aid her in removing all the knots. In the beginning, she dragged the comb through the hair like finger through a pile of cream - until she encountered a knot, at which point she grabbed the hair around the root with one hand and pulled out the knot with the comb in her other and despite the extra care, the sudden forced caused Hermes’ teeth to clench.
In the end, it was all worth it. A certain lightness took over Hermes’ head, her hand reaching back to feel what had been done. Her hair had been left short over her temples, but most had been braided into a criss-crossing pattern that ended with a short, round knot on the top, a little like Xiaoli’s own hair. Xiaoli leaned forward, nearly placing her head on Hermes’ right shoulder and giggled.
“What do you think?”
“I like it,” Hermes went to turn her head but misjudged how close Xiaoli was, resulting in a soft thump as her forehead bounced off the Avatar’s, she recoiled, embarrassment swelling her stomach, “Sorry.”
Xiaoli recoiled too, cheeks flushing, but her eyes not pulling away. “D-don’t worry about it,” she said softly and looked down at the ground. She sat back up on her ankles, looking slightly to the side. “I don’t mind a little contact… Every now and then,” she mused with a giggle.
“Oh,” Hermes pondered out loud, “it’s definitely an experience.”
The Dreamer stood up and held out her hand to Xiaoli, “Speaking of, where do you want to go next?”
Xiaoli put her palm in the Dreamer’s and squeezed affectionately before rising to her feet. She dusted off her dress with her free hand and winked at Hermes. “How about I show you my home, since you were so kind as to show my yours?” She flashed her a playful grin.
A cheshire grin played over Hermes’ cheerful face, “Of course!”
She spun on her heels, her sandals starting to flap, “Which direction?”
Xiaoli looked around for the location of heliopolis on the sky. Upon finding it, she turned her head slightly to the left and squinted. After a moment, she lifted her hand and pointed. “About that way, I believe. Have you been to the Dragon’s Foot before?”
“Uh,” Hermes pursed her lips in thought, “Probably, but I don’t know the names. Hold on.”
The Dreamer suddenly extended both her arms as if making a “T” and then pointed one at the sky and slowly moved the other one, her eyes darting all around. She dropped her arm skyward arm, it suddenly pointing north, bringing her other arm to pointed in the same direction as Xiaoli, “Yes! I’ve been there. I met Narzhak there.”
“The Iron Giant?” Xiaoli exclaimed and grabbed Hermes’ closest hand with both of her own, “he didn’t hurt you, did he?!”
Hermes let out a funny little laugh, “No! Narzhak is my be-” She stared at Xiaoli, who almost appeared ready to pout, “One of my best friends. He gave me my club and taught me the ways of the world, well some of them at least.”
She all but whispered, “And I taught him a thing or two as well, I think.”
Xiaoli blunk a few times and cocked her head to the side. She then burst out into an uncharacteristically loud guffaw. “So -that’s- why you showed up at the Jiangzhou with-.. With a club-ahaha...!” She let go of her hand and staggered back a few steps, seemingly unable to stop laughing.
Hermes carefully laughed along with Xiaoli, her mind desperately hoping the joke wasn’t her, “Of course!” The Dreamer picked the club up off the forest floor and held it out for Xiaoli, “Want to hold it?”
“Oh! No, no. I am not fit to bear weaponry - my role is that of advisor,” she said, shaking her head, “and the hour does not call for warfare nor training. However, should such a time arise, then I’d love to!” She knelt down and picked up the flute box, promptly pocketing it in the wide band around her waist. “It is a nice weapon, though. What exactly did you teach the Iron Giant, if I may ask?”
“Well,” Hermes went for her hair and then remembered it was now braided, suddenly her eyes widened in horror, “Xiaoli!?”
Xiaoli’s eyes widened at the tonal shift and she stormed over to her, voice permeated with worry. “What? What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Xiaoli,” Hermes’ own voice was laced with concern, “Where is Poppler?”
Suddenly there was a very angry crackle that muffled out from the tight braids causing Hermes to jump. ”Pop pop pop pop!
With a loud Zzt! the cloudling oozed out from between the fibers of Hermes’ hair, it’s fluffy body a dark storm. It whizzed around the two for a brief moment before calming down, Hermes apologized profusely to the tiny cloud. Xiaoli also came over, her eyes pooling with guilty tears. She reached out to pat the cloud, but received nothing but a surly zap. She collapsed to her knees. “I’m sorry, little Poppler! I didn’t see you in the white hair and-and-and… I just-!” She choked a sob. “I’m sorry!”
The cloudling continued it’s crackling march of anger, eventually calming down enough to seep back into Hermes’ braid, leaving a tiny wet spot. Hermes stared at Xiaoli, her chin beginning to wobble as she stifled a laugh, “Oops.”
Xiaoli wiped a tear away and let out a few more sobs, which gradually turned into chortles and then into a loud laughter. She bonked her temple playfully and stuck her flower petal tongue out. “Silly me,” she whispered playfully.
Hermes’ laugh stopped as she stared at Xiaoli’s strange tongue. She didn’t know if it was weird or not to comment on someone’s tongue being ‘pretty’ and so she decided to keep it to herself. Xiaoli, however, seemingly noticed the target of the stare, her laughter abruptly ending halfway through a chuckle. She immediately raised her sleeve and held it in front of her mouth, casting her look to the side.
“I’m sorry - it’s unsettling, isn’t it? My mouth? All these rocks and plants… It looks like a riverbed...”
Hermes idly tried to move Xiaoli’s sleeve, her curious eyes static, “No, I like it.” At the beginning, Xiaoli resisted, but then promptly stopped upon hearing Hermes’ comment. She raised her look and stared into the Dreamer’s eyes.
“Y-... You mean it?”
“Yes, you shouldn’t hide what makes you unique, either,” Hermes nodded, “K’nell once told me that uniqueness hidden is uniqueness kept from the world, and that the world could always use more beauty.” Hermes paused, “I agree.”
Xiaoli’s pupils shrank. She looked to the side again, though her expression persisted. “Not even my lord has said something so beautiful to me. I-...” Her eyes, already red with previous tears, welled up once more. “Hermes, I-...” She looked back at the Dreamer’s face, and for a moment, her eyes flicked to Hermes’ lips. Hesitantly, she moved her face forward a little, towards Hermes’ face, then a little more, until their face were a mere inch apart. Her breathing was ragged; her cheeks, flushed. The river girl’s fingers on her right hand reached out to slowly knit together with those of Hermes’ left hand.
Hermes felt her breath splash over her face, her own chalk-white skin turning a soft rose, but then suddenly her brow-knitted, “Xiaoli.”
The breathing stopped. The dilated pupils in Xiaoli’s just empty eyes focused into small dots. Her fingers froze as if turned to ice.
“Y-yes?” she whimpered softly.
Hermes bit her own lip, “Are you thinking about Shengshi?”
There was a long, uncomfortable pause. After a spell, Xiaoli pulled away and sat back on her heels, grabbing her left and with her right in a sheepish manner.
“N-not until you mentioned him, no,” she pouted in a tone that conveyed a mixture of disappointment and embarrassment. “I was thinking about-... About…”
“Ugh,” Hermes almost growled, “Why am I stupid, Xiaoli?” Xiaoli blinked and bent back forward, reaching out to grab whichever of Hermes’ hands was closer.
“You’re not stupid, Hermes! It’s fine! Really!” She calmed down a little and looked away. “I-... I got ahead of myself, really. I had no right to-... To assume.” She sniffed as discreetly as she could, failing immensely.
“I can’t seem to read, things,” Hermes threw her hands to her sides, “I thought you were upset about Shengshi, since you brought him up. But it’s not just that.”
“Forks, tea, alcohol, vines,” Hermes’ usual cheery voice was gone, “I get needing to experience, but I’m getting real tired of everyone knowing so much more than me. I didn’t even know what this was!” She gripped her new braids, inciting a pop, “and now it’s on my head!”
Xiaoli seemed taken aback. She put her hands on her thigh and let out a sigh. “Well, I would gladly teach you, if you would like - though I am uncertain of what a fork is. Is it a weapon?”
“YES,” Hermes nearly screeched, “See! You don’t even know what it is and you already know what it is.”
Xiaoli looked stunned at the outburst, but her expression became a wry smile and she cocked her head slightly to the right. “You were made to learn, my dearest Hermes - I was made to advise. Our purposes are different, so our masters allocated the appropriate knowledge for us to fulfill our tasks. Struggling on one’s way to fulfilling one’s task is nothing to be upset about - it is part of the task.” She let out a weak chuckle. “I get frustrated too, you know…”
By this time Hermes was sunken, her cheery expression was long gone as she fondled her club, placing her fingers between its spikes. As she sat, her eyes were scanning the length of it, but her ears were listening to Xiaoli, “It’s just hard, and it never stops. You just keep learning, and as far as I have learned, you never stop learning.”
She looked up, “I just want to be right, I want to do the teaching for once. I want to help my own Dreamers, like how K’nell helps me. I want Tendlepog to have crowds and crowds of Dreamers, all learning, all teaching.”
Hermes huffed a breath, “I’m sorry, it’s all just been a pressure in my head, and when I misjudged your emotions, it was just the final wrong.”
The Dreamer let the head of the club fall to the ground, her hand on the haft, a simple joy vibrating up as the head smashed into the ground, “Thank you, for being my friend.”
Xiaoli wiped away yet more tears from her pink-circled eyes. “I-I’m sorry... I cry a lot, don’t I…” She sniffed, a chuckle breaking through the sobs. “Again, it’s nothing to be sorry about. Misunderstandings happen, my dearest, and-... Well…” She shuffled a little closer, sitting herself on the ground opposite of Hermes to the club. She adjusted her position a little, then slowly lowered her head and placed it on Hermes’ shoulder. “Thank you, for letting me.”
A moment passed. The wind danced gently past the two and the small, colourful orbs of the forest were floating gently around the area. Xiaoli suddenly began to hum quietly, ponderously. The gentle humming caused Hermes to visibly relax, her body slouching as she threatened to fall back asleep, her apparent outburst sapping her energy.
“By more Dreamers, do you mean children?” she inquired.
Hermes’ eyes blinked open, “I guess, yes.” She watched one of the dreamweavers do a loopdeeloop and made a thoughtful face, “Just more of… Dreamers, like me. A lot of them.”
Xiaoli hummed softly. “Have you tried asking His Holiness K’nell about making you some?” She tugged playfully at some of the hair hanging over Hermes’ temple.
“No,” Hermes quietly answered, “He does so much, I didn’t want to seem spoiled.” Hermes paused and sunk into her own thoughts, remembering the words of Kalmar, “You know, I hear tell that some beings can make more of themselves naturally. I don’t know, I’ll figure it out someday… be it divine or mundane, call it a dream.” Hermes gave a soft smile.
Xiaoli looked upwards at Hermes, which actually turned out to be sideways, considering the angle of her head. She carefully moved her hand and placed it on Hermes’ stomach, causing the Dreamer to squirm a little, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After a moment, she removed the hand and let out a sigh.
“Has your master told you?” she asked, her voice conveying deep sympathy.
“Told me what?” Hermes looked down at where Xiaoli’s hand had been.
Xiaoli gasped quietly, not saying anything for a long time. She then took a deep breath and pulled herself back into an upright position, her eyes downcast.
“That you’re… You’re…” She stuttered, then took another deep breath, looking sideways at Hermes.
“You’re infertile,” she said somberly.
A loud silence broke between the two, Hermes’ body tensing back up. It seemed as if the silence was never going to end, and then finally Hermes squirmed away from Xiaoli, her arms crossed defensively across her chest, her eyes downcast, “I think we should go on our journey, now.”
Xiaoli looked broken, her pale face ever paler and her mouth gaping in shock. She reached out to Hermes with a shaky arm and a quivering voice. “Hermes, I-...”
Light began to shiver on Hermes’ eyes as water pooled, but before a tear could form, she suddenly blurred, leaving a sonic boom in her wake as she retreated, a surprised Poppler tumbling out of her hair. The cloudling whirled in confusion with gentle crackles.
Tendlepog blurred past Hermes’ and not just because of her speed. She felt a cold grasp in her stomach, which swelled and choked her throat. She never experienced this before, but it hurt more than the boar, and in places she never expected. Her heart was palpitating under the stress, and her teeth clattered. Wherever her cheery complexion went, it was a forever hole she couldn’t find.
She finally stopped, her sandals touching down on a flat stone in the middle of the flat lands. Her knees buckled and she fell to the ground with little care of what happened to her. The rock scraped her knees causing a stark contrasting crimson to grow out of her chalk-white skin. She felt alone, she felt incomplete.
Then, as if she had said an unspoken prayer, a great flash erupted in the distance, where she had left Poppler and Xiaoli. Only a few seconds passed and that flash suddenly shot out of the mountains, over the fields and onto her flat rock, leaving nothing but a sweet smelling breeze in its wake.
There the flash stood, its blurry form turned into that of K’nell. Without missing a beat, Hermes lunged at the figure and clung to him, the God of Sleep unmoving.
“I don’t like it,” Hermes cried over and over as tears flowed down K’nells clothing.
A great hum eclipsed across the two forms as K’nell thought, “You say you are incomplete, but I would know, as I am your creator.”
“So?” Hermes looked up at the God with tear stained eyes.
The hum sounded again, “There are a great many things in store for you. Do not despair over what you currently see as your plight, for it is with a reason.”
“But my dream,” Hermes sniffled.
Suddenly two long arms awkwardly squeezed the Dreamer, her scraped knees suddenly healing shut, “I am the Lord of all Dreams.”
Hermes looked up at K’nell with comforted eyes, which widened when a white faced, silver eye’d gentleman smiled down at her. K’nell had taken the image of a Dreamer, older and kind, but just as gentlemanly as ever. Hermes squeezed him tight and they stood there while she finished her cry, her sniffles and choking sobs slowing down in the comfort of K’nell. Finally Hermes spoke up, her voice clearing and hinting at her usual joyish tone, “Will there ever be more of me?”
“Yes,” The voice answered.
“How?” Hermes looked up at K’nell.
“Wait and see,” The God let go of Hermes, “But do not forget your first purpose, while you have certainly outgrown only one, do not forget it.”
Hermes rubbed her arms across her eyes, “Okay.”
With a reassuring nod from K’nell, Hermes took off in a blur, Tendlepog once again stretching to pins. In moments Hermes blasted her way over the mountains and through the woods. When suddenly she came to a drastic halt, reappearing in the grove, eyes and nose stained as red as her freshly healed knees. Poppler and Xiaoli were both missing, but something glistening had been left in the grass. It appeared to be the flute box, and on its top a sentence had been written, written in elegantly, if a little hastily drawn characters.
Picking up the note gingerly, Hermes’ heart pounded, “I can’t read-”
Suddenly that bright light zipped by once again, but before it disappeared into limbo a single wisp of light lunged out and disappeared into Hermes’ ear. Almost instantly the note made sense, she blunk and read the note:
Dearest Hermes
If you are reading this, know that we are currently looking for you. The thought if you being alone with those horrible thoughts I planted in your head - it is tormenting. I will apologise properly when we find you; for now, I can only express myself in writing. I am so sorry, my dearest.
Your friend, Xiaoli.
As Hermes finished the letter, there came a distant echo from the west.
“...-mes!”
With new resolve, and all the items Hermes and Xiaoli had left behind, Hermes erupted into a westward sprint, quickly following the sound of the voice. Her search took her deep into the mushroom forest, and as the calling grew stronger and stronger, she exited the forest and entered the endless, red plains with stampeding trees - there, by a waterhole, jogged Xiaoli, followed closely by Poppler.
“Hermes!” Xiaoli yelled away from Hermes, evidently not having noticed her.
Hermes zoomed towards Xiaoli, slowing down just in time to collide into Xiaoli safely, wrapping her arms tight around the woman. Poppler managed to instinctively dash into Hermes’ hair as she did. As fast as she collided, Hermes suddenly took to the skies, Xiaoli in arms, Poppler in hair. Xiaoli instinctively struggled to begin with, but quickly realised who it was, and wrapped her arms around Hermes, squeezing her tightly.
“I-... I am sorry… I am so sorry.” She rubbed her face against Hermes’ chest. “I’m so sorry, my dearest, sweetest Hermes.”
“No,” Hermes looked forward, suddenly changing direction to Southeast, “It’s okay.”
Hermes felt her breath splash over her face, her own chalk-white skin turning a soft rose, but then suddenly her brow-knitted, “Xiaoli.”
The breathing stopped. The dilated pupils in Xiaoli’s just empty eyes focused into small dots. Her fingers froze as if turned to ice.
“Y-yes?” she whimpered softly.
“Easy,” Hondros looked ahead, “She’ll be there when we dock.”
“Told me what?” Hermes looked down at where Xiaoli’s hand had been.
Xiaoli gasped quietly, not saying anything for a long time. She then took a deep breath and pulled herself back into an upright position, her eyes downcast.
“That you’re… You’re…” She stuttered, then took another deep breath, looking sideways at Hermes.
“You’re adopted.”
With a reassuring nod from K’nell, Hermes took off in a blur, Tendlepog once again stretching to pins. In moments Hermes blasted her way over the mountains and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go
K’nell used the power of Dreams to appear as a dreamer for a time, 0MP K’nell helped Hermes read a letter, 0MP
Hermes awakens from her dream and reconvenes with Xiaoli.
The two share a moment, but it is soon soured by Hermes' own insecurities and she goes off on a tangent of how she is sick of being wrong.
Eventually it all comes to a dream Hermes has of wanting to fill the world with Dreamers and to be a teacher, to which Xiaoli points out that she is infertile.
In shock, Hermes leaves, only to be found by K'nell, who comforts her.
I regretfully will have to withdraw from this rp. IRL has really disabled my time and desire to rp. My apologies for any time I have wasted but sadly, it is how it is.
Thank you for the invite and enjoy the story, from the outside its been a fun read.
The golden flash dissipated as Hermes and her new traveling companion zipped through. Very quickly the sight of a crystal floor popped into her vision and if not for her sandals, she might have seen it even closer. With a whiplash halt, Hermes now hovered gently above the colourful yellow swirl of crystal that was the floor, her arms tight around Xiaoli. The girl’s sandy cheeks blushed in a pinkish hue as she hugged tightly back.
“Wha-” The mortal began to say as her eyes darted every which way, taking in all the details of her sudden occupancy. Where there had only been sky she now found herself smack in the center of a massive circular chamber seemingly hewn from a single crystal. The walls were a translucent blue which contrasted with pale yellow supports that extended from the similarly coloured floor. The supports rose along the edges of the room to support a vast vaulted dome overhead. High above them, at the peak of the dome, a golden portal shimmered.
Hermes gently floated to the floor, her sandals making the tiniest clapping sound as she landed. Freeing her arms from Xiaoli, she brandished her iron club, heaving it over her shoulder as she looked around, “it’s very pretty.”
However, it seemed Xiaoli clasped on for a few seconds before she realised she had been let go of. She instinctively pulled back and hid her gradually blushing face behind her long sleeve and looked away.
“S-... Sorry…” she said warily and took the opportunity to look around the room. She shuffled quietly over to the chamber wall and gently ran her sandy palm across the surface, leaving some barely visible skidmarks. She recoiled a little and looked at her hand, letting out a soft sigh.
“It is beautiful, yes, but… Is this perhaps her home?” she said absent-mindedly. She strolled around a little longer, examining the blue walls and yellow pillars. “Can this be Her Holiness Asceal’s realm, I wonder…”
“Who, now?” Hermes and Poppler trailed Xiaoli with the attention of a puppy, poking and prodding everything in sight with both finger, cloud and -- albeit gently -- Hermes’ club.
“Her Holiness Asceal, goddess of light. She told me the waygate to her home was not far from the Jiangzhou-...” She paused and suddenly appeared anxious, peering at the portal. “Oh, my lord, what have I done?” She squatted down and put her face in her hands. “I left without asking my master! How could I be so-...!” Her ramblings trailed off into a quiet self-scolding.
Hermes looked down at her new friend and frowned,” It’s okay, I go traveling all the time.”
Poppler gently landed on top of Xiaoli’s head, as if to comfort the girl. “Besides,” Hermes continued, “Shengshi was asleep, you were awake, and he was being all weird. If you never experience things yourself then what good is it all?”
“... But… My purpose to…” She wiped away a tear and looked up to see the underbelly (if one could call it that) of the little cloudling. She gave it a soft pat and forced a smile through her otherwise somber demeanour. “No, no, you are right, my friend. I-... I cannot let my work get in the way of my life… Even if my work -is- my life… Oh, what am I going to dooo!” As a new wave of despair made its way through the girl’s body, she suddenly froze and poked a finger in the direction towards the other side of the room, where there was a darker part to the floor.
“A way down…” she sniffed.
A worried face broke across Hermes’ face, only to be quickly replaced with a curious one. Turning from her sad friend she squinted in the direction of her finger, “Do… do you wanna go check it out?”
“Because we can go home,” Hermes muttered, trying to hide her excitement at the discovery, “if you really wanted to.”
Xiaoli immediately snapped to, sped over to Hermes and grabbed her free hand, squeezing it tightly with both of her own. “No! No, we are -not- going home yet! Like you said, I have to…” She took a deep breath. “I have to experience things.”
A wide smile broke across Hermes’ face, “okay!” Her excitement was no longer barred as she jogged towards the stairwell, being mindful of her speed and the clinging Xiaoli, Poppler zipping along with them.
With an adventurous energy the group made their way down the spiral staircase. Stairs seemed to hug the outside of the tower and though the world beyond was obscured by the translucent crystal of the walls enough light bled through that the group never encountered so much as a shadow during their descent. Each step was longer than it was tall in a way that made the walk long and leisurely, but before long they’d reached the bottom. A simple arched doorway greeted them there.
Beyond it was a place unlike any on Galbar. A walkway of transparent crystal extended from the tower and into a seemingly endless forest of glowing porcelain vines. Massive trunks made from tens of thousands of interwoven vines erupted from a great pool of water below and rose up to grasp not just the tower they had emerged from, but every structure they could see. Countless walkways, platforms, and staircases stretched out in all directions. All were supported by the vines.
And in the distance, just near enough as to not be obscured by the forest of vines, was a vast palace of crystal. Glassy spires, some a deep red and others a pale blue like the tower, rose high above a massive and intricate edifice that sat atop dozens of the massive trunks of vines.
Amidst the maze like network of walkways there was no clear way to the palace, not even from so close. Thankfully though, they didn’t have to walk. Knowingly, Poppler suddenly zipped into Hermes’ knotted hair and without any more warning, the mortal snagged Xiaoli and suddenly they rocketed forward, weaving through the vines with little issue.
In less than a handful of seconds, the tiny group of adventurers hovered gently to the ground once again, but this time with a massive crystal palace right in front of their faces. The amazing light it gave off left Hermes in a state of gaped mouth awe, her eyes like saucers. Xiaoli first adjusted her dress and brushed off some pollen and vines and then followed Hermes’ example, taking in the sights with wide eyes and slack jaw.
“It’s very pretty,” She managed, “I like it a lot.”
“A very concise and precise evaluation,” Xiaoli agreed quietly. “It is indeed beautiful beyond measure… Almost more beautiful than…” She shot some suspicious glances left and right and quietly whispered, “... Jiangzhou.” She giggled at first, but then cast her sight at her feet and mumbled something resembling regret and a fear of harsh punishment if her master ever heard her say that.
Poppler crackled as he flew circles around Xiaoli, Hermes giving her a worried look before walking closer to the palace. As she approached the entrance the forest around her began to shiver. Great masses of shifting vines produced a rustling that slowly grew from a whisper to a deafening roar. With that roar, or perhaps in it, was the speech of a disembodied voice, “Who are you?” It questioned the group, “Why are you here?”
Instantly Poppler went on the defensive, crackling lowly as it circled his group. Xiaoli cowered behind Hermes, and Hermes gripped her club tightly, her eyes darting in every which direction. Her jaw relaxed and she spoke, her voice as cheerful as ever, in spite of her intense look, “I am Hermes, this is Poppler, and this is Xiaoli, and we are here…”
She thought for a moment, her eyes squinting “By accident?”
Xiaoli popped her head out from behind her companion and straightened herself up. She bowed deeply in the direction that seemed to make the most sense, considering the voice was omnipresent. “In a way, yes, since Hermes did not know about the gateway to this place; however, Her Holiness Asceal did tell me how to find it, so perhaps we came here by guided hand after all,” Xiaoli said and shrugged a little.
Almost instantly the forest's roar faded to nothing and from the opposite direction of Xiaoli’s bow, behind the group, a feminine voice sounded, “So you were invited, but you came by accident?” The speaker paused before asking skeptically, “You’re sure that’s what you want to go with?”
Xiaoli jumped and turned around. “Well,” she said and giggled nervously, “it is the truth!” Her eyes fixed upon the form behind them and widened. Before her was a woman who seemed to have been born from the same vines which made up the forest that stretched in every direction around them. Her features resembled Hermes and Xiaoli’s, save for the fact that her face looked like a sculpture made from thin white vines. In truth, her whole body appeared to be made from the foliage. All that distinguished her from a pretty shrub was that she was moving. That and her eyes. Set below two raised ‘eyebrows’ were the vine woman’s glowing eyes, a pair of blue orbs that shone with intelligence. Xiaoli felt her cheeks redden at the sight and looked away.
”Zzt!”
Poppler dashed over to the new addition to the scene, the cloud form gently bumping into her vines as if in search of something, leaving little dew droplets wherever it tapped her. Hermes gave a wide cheshire smile, now seeing who she was talking with, “Yep! Xiaoli was invited, but we showed up by accident.”
”Pop!”
“Poppler!” Hermes hissed at the cloudling. Xiaoli giggled behind her sleeve, letting her eyes once again glance at the vine woman’s every shape and form.
“You must be Liana, then. It is an honour to meet you.” She bowed again, this time towards the considerably more tangible target in front of her. “We hope we are not intruding,” she said softly, straightening back up to wink at the vine woman.
Liana’s eyes flicked between the little cloud prodding her, the pale woman with the spiral on her forehead, and the oddly formal girl. Her lips twitched and she burst into laughter, “And just when I was getting bored!” She shook with humor and gestured to the palace, “Well come on in! I’d love to hear the story of how you managed to blunder into the gateway, honoured guests.”
“Well I was just moving and then I was here!” Hermes said between matching laughs, making her way to the palace. Xiaoli followed suit, clapping her hands excitedly.
“That is the thing about moving,” Liana chuckled knowingly as she followed Hermes, “You always seem to end up somewhere else, don’t you?”
“Well that’s the only thing with moving,” Hermes gave Liana a quizzical look, as Poppler continued his inspection. The Dreamer paused and smiled wide, “so what do you like to do?”
“What do I like to do?” Liana pursed her lips in thought and stopped before she stepped inside the palace. She looked back and pointed to one of the closer trunks of twisted vines. As if in response the trunk sprouted a number of smaller vines that moved with a life of their own, weaving themselves into a peculiar shape. Before long the vines stilled and staring back at the the group of women was a statue of Hermes.
Liana grinned, “I like that. What about you?”
Hermes stared in appreciation of the statue, taking note of its intricate yet botanic detail, “ I like it too,” she said before thinking in silence. Turning to Liana she shrugged, “well, eating is kinda stressful, and flying is really fun, but my favorite thing to do is dream.”
“Oh!” She pointed a finger, suddenly remembering, “and making friends.”
Hermes nodded as she followed Liana into the palace, Poppler now on her head, “can't forget that.” Xiaoli chuckled behind her sleeve.
“She is quite good at it too, in my opinion,” she added with a nod and a pointed in Hermes’ direction with a folded arm. She took in the sights along the palace halls. Before her was a long hallway sporting walls adorned with abstract mosaics of coloured crystal. The mosaics covered every inch of the walls, save for the arched doorways to other rooms, and all took the form of complicated geometric patterns. Above was a barrel roof from which hung floating planters of glowing vines. “This really is a beautiful home, lady Liana. Did you adorn it yourself?” Xiaoli asked.
“Oh yes,” Liana said wryly, “I just waved my hands and did all this myself.”
Both Hermes’ and Xiaoli’s eyes shone with inspiration. “My, how extraordinarily talented you are! The statue you made was a wonderful demonstration, too! Your master must be so proud of you!” Xiaoli proclaimed warmly.
Liana stared at Xiaoli and stifled a laugh, “That was a joke, Xiaoli.” She gestured to the enormous and intricate mosaics around her, and asked, “How would I even be able to make something like this? I’m not a god, you know.”
Xiaoli froze in her excitement and stood slack-jawed for a moment. She then closed her eyes and took a deep breath through the nose and then nodded, perhaps a little somberly. At the sight, Hermes gave a quizzical look, augmented by a curious Poppler crackling.
“Indeed, you are not. Your essence is different, now that I think about it,” Xiaoli said and sighed quietly. However, promptly thereafter, she flashed a smile once again. “No matter,” she said, “for godhood is not a requirement for good company. Speaking of, would you mind showing us around for a bit?”
“My what?” Liana eyed Xiaoli questioningly, but continued with a shrug, “And of course. I should warn you there’s not much to see beyond the palace though. Or even in it, really. I was getting pretty bored before you two arrived.”
“Is that so,” Xiaoli inquired. “Well, we brought ourselves, if you would have us. I also brought some tea, I think. Pardon me for a spell…” She rummaged through her dress and belt. After half a minute had passed, she extracted a small leather pouch from her sleeve and showed it to the others.
“This is all that I brought - it will make about two pots, I reckon, so we have drink for when we get thirsty or just want something to savour.” She winked playfully at the two.
Hermes suddenly looked stressed, Poppler landing on her head, “as long as there aren’t any more rules.”
“I’m really starting to understand Narzhak’s view of things,” She whispered to Poppler.
”Pop!”
“Tea?” Liana turned from Xiaoli to Hermes, her confusion apparent, “And rules? There are rules for drinking tea? Why would drinking come with rules?”
Xiaoli prodded her cheek ponderously. “Well, there are scores of rules, actually! A proper tea ceremony is indeed founded upon the very concept of strict rules to make for the most refined experience. Of course, that mainly applies to the tea master - the guests are considerably freer.”
Hermes put a stiff hand on Xiaoli’s shoulder and gave a disarming smile, “Why don’t we all be free?”
Xiaoli chuckled hesitantly and put squeezed the hand on her shoulder softly. “W-well… Freedom is nice, sure, but…” She took a deep breath. “... Rules can be nice, too, no? It makes everything a little more orderly, after all.”
“But it’s just drinking,” Hermes furrowed her brow, “what could go wrong?”
“It’s not just-!” Xiaoli burst out, but promptly recomposed herself. “Pardon me - what I meant to say was, naturally, it is-...” She paused and frowned, “-just drinking, but the ceremony allows for a much more intricate experience, no? One has time to chat and savour the flavours of the tea. Yes, the ceremony has no intrinsic value, but… It’s just nice, alright?” Her eyes grew wide and pleading and her lower lip stuck out slightly.
Hermes narrowed her eyes and then looked at Liana and then back at Xiaoli, Poppler crackling between them all, “Okay, for the experience.”
“Um,” Liana’s befuddled expression shifted to one of concern, “Sure? I’m still not sure what tea is, but sure. If it’s supposed to be enjoyed I think there’s a better place for that than the hallway, though.” She looked around and pointed out a small door through which a staircase was visible, “There’s a balcony on the second level. Would that work?”
“Oh, anywhere would work! All we need is a low table, somewhere to heat water and a nice atmosphere,” Xiaoli chortled. “Lead the way, my lady.” She queued up behind her, inciting Hermes and Poppler to do the same as they awaited the vine-woman’s guidance.
“Will do,” Liana smiled and made her way to doorway. She gestured for the two to follow her before stepping through. Inside was a spiral staircase not unlike that which had greeted Hermes and Xiaoli in the tower, but this one was far shorter. At the top was a hallway identical to the one they’d come from. The only thing that distinguished the second floor from the first was the fact that every door on the side opposite of them seemed to lead to a small balcony overlooking the Lustrous Garden.
Liana led them through one of those. The semicircular balcony jutted out of palace and, due to its clear crystal floor and railing, gave the group the impression they were floating. Liana stepped up to the railing and leaned against it. She looked out at the endless forest of vines and the walkways they supported before turning to face Xiaoli, “You said you needed water, right?”
Xiaoli nodded. “A heat source and a kettle would be very nice, too, if you could.”
“Hm,” Liana scratched her head in thought. The thin vines that made up her hair parting as her fingers worked. From her position at the edge of the balcony she looked down at the watery surface far below. In the distance a long branch of vines twisted its end into the shape of a bowl. It scooped up the water and then rose. It took a while, moving carefully so as to not spill its burden, but before more than a minute had passed a large bowl full of water had been deposited at the center of the balcony. The bowl detached from the end of the vine and the long limb then went about shaping itself into three chairs before detaching each. Liana carried them to her new friends and grinned, “Water, and chairs!”
”Zzt!” Poppler quickly submerged himself in the bowl of water, forcing a chuckle out of Hermes.
Liana sat on the chair she’d made for herself and froze as a look of realization dawned on her face. Sheepishly, she looked to Xiaoli, “What’s a kettle, again?”
“Oh, a kettle is like a teapot - only larger and made of something slightly more fire-resistant! Here, let me show you.” Xiaoli picked up a nearby rock from a flower bed. She pulled and stretched it as if it was putty and fashioned it into a makeshift kettle, which she promptly filled with water from the bowl.
“Fantastic! Now a heat source!”
Liana looked at Xiaoli’s demonstration slack-jawed. She glanced at Hermes (who was busy poking Poppler) and back to Xiaoli before asking, “Uh, are you a god?”
Xiaoli stared for a moment, then burst out into a loud cackle, which she swiftly bottled up into a giggle. “No, no, not a god, dear. I am… Well, I am divine, but I am a mere fragment of my master’s holiness. He blessed me with the power to act in his stead, should the need arise. As such, I have been blessed with certain powers.” To demonstrate, she opened her palm. Some water from the bowl skipped out much to Poppler's dismay and begun to dance around in her hand before first turning into ice, then into steam, then back into water - all in the span of a few seconds.
“They can do that? And she didn’t?” Liana pouted for a moment before breaking out into her own laugh. She pointed at Xiaoli’s hand, “So you can do that, but you’re asking me for a heat source?”
The vine woman raised her eyebrows and chuckled, “That’s not fair!”
“Well, I do not know what I’m allowed to light on fire around here, so…” She grumbled. “Hermes, do you have anything we can burn?”
Hermes tapped her chin in thought, “all I have are clothes and gifts, but I don't want to burn any of those.”
The Dreamer took a seat next to Liana and swiped Poppler from the now empty bowl, “we could burn some of the-” she stopped and stared at Liana before cautiously reaching out and poking the vine-lady's cheek with an extended finger, “uh, if that's okay.”
Liana’s eyes widened and she stared at Hermes, “You’re not suggesting you burn me, right?”
“No!” Hermes huffed, embarrassed, “just the stuff that-”
“This!” She poked the vines.
“Oh,” Liana looked relieved. She glanced at the empty bowl of vines, “Yeah, I guess we could burn it. As long as it’s not connected to the forest. I’m not really keen to experience being burned alive, even in an roundabout sense.” Her eyes flicked back to Hermes and she playfully poked the Dreamers cheek before apologizing, “Sorry Hermes.”
Hermes smiled and poked Liana's cheek back, “it's okay.”
“Yes!” Hermes seemed a little more energetic, “let's burn the things and drink the tea.”
”CRACKLE!”
Xiaoli chuckled, though a little uncertain in tone. Regardless, with a simple snap of her fingers, the bowl caught fire and the kettle was placed neatly on top.
“Now, we calmly wait a little,” she said softly and begun fashioning a tea pot and some cups from nearby rocks. “The water will take some time to boil, so why don’t you tell us a little more about yourself, Liana.” She planted herself comfortably in one of the chairs around the table and gave the vine girl a wink. Hermes turned attentively to her new friend, Poppler on her nose.
“Me?” Liana scooched her chair away from the fire, “I’m not sure there’s much to say. Apparently, not that I remember, Asceal found my soul floating in the debris of her first home. After it exploded, I guess. She saved me from Katharsos massacre, made me a body, and gave me a name.” Liana shrugged, “From there we went to Heliopolis and met Aelius and Azura before returning to rebuild the Garden. I’ve been lounging around here ever since.”
She glanced around before adding, “I was getting pretty bored, honestly. I’m grateful Asceal saved me, more grateful than I can express, but she really could have told me she was leaving.” Liana smiled softly, “It was pretty lonely before you two arrived.”
“Wow… That is certainly a way to be created. I am glad Her Holiness Asceal saved you, dear. Still, though, I must inquire - Katharsos’ massacre?” Xiaoli raised an eyebrow. She put down the final cup and cocked her head to the side. “What has His Holiness done, if I may ask?”
“You don't know?” Liana looked surprised, “He gathered all the souls that came to this universe with the gods. Then he burned them. I don’t know how many original souls are even left at this point. Aside from us of course. Asceal said just saving me was difficult, so it can't be many.”
Xiaoli innocently tweedled her thumbs. “No, I knew… It’s just-...” She looked away hesitantly. She then snapped her finger quietly. Hermes’ crossed her brow but before she could ask her question the kettle suddenly let out a loud squeal.
“Oh, look! The water is ready!” Xiaoli reached for the kettle and first poured some hot water into the teapot, then into each of the three cups.
“This is the first step - heating the claywares. It helps retain the flavour of the tea. To really warm the cups, though, the water has to sit there for a little while.”
Liana glanced at the kettle and narrowed her eyes, but said nothing. Hesitantly she reached to poke one of the cups before recoiling, “Ow. That is hot. We’re supposed to drink that?”
“Oh, no. That water is just for warming the cups!” She grabbed each cup as well as the teapot and discarded the water off the side of the balcony. “Now we make the water we drink!” She took out the pouch of tea leaves, measured the correct number to use in the available teapot and put them in. She then submerged them in hot water and waited.
Zzt! Poppler suddenly whizzed off of Hermes’ nose and slipped into the teapot. Hermes’ eyes widened and she looked at Xiaoli with a sense of worry.
“Poppler,” Hermes hissed and a defiant crackle echoed from the pot. She poked the pot, but quickly snatched her finger back as it burned, “ow!”
The little cloudling suddenly slipped from the spout of the teapot and hovered over Hermes’ reddened finger, his little cloud body leaving bits of warmed moisture. Hermes looked back at Xiaoli sheepishly, “sorry Xiaoli.”
Xiaoli immediately snatched Hermes’ sore finger and stuck it in her mouth. Hermes’ eyes widened in shock and Poppler zipped around Xiaoli’s head crackling angrily. The Dreamer quickly pulled away, “what are you doing!?”
The girl recoiled as well, beads of water forming on her forehead. “I-... I just-... My body is full of cool water, so I thought I could-...” She looked around desperately, but found that Poppler was making concentrating on anything a serious task. “Poppl-! Poppler, please, you’re not being very-..!” She wafted her hand gently at the cloud. “I’m sorry, this is a smidge awkward.”
Poppler let out one final crackle before floating back to Hermes who still sat in shock, “Oh,” Hermes continued to stare, “I get it. I- I think my finger is fine now.”
“O-oh. Of course! Of course…” Xiaoli suddenly shot open her eyes. “The tea!! I left it in too long!” She swiftly picked up the pot and poured each cup half-full. The smell was strong - too strong. She let out a disappointed sigh. “I’m sorry, I didn’t really show my best right now…”
“It’s okay,” Hermes quietly reassured as she took her cup and held it to her lips, the radiating heat causing her to wait, “I’m sure it tastes great.”
Liana held a hand over her mouth, shaking ever so slightly. It took a moment before she managed to suppress her laughter entirely and even then she had to take a few deep breaths before speaking, “Yes, I’m- I’m sure it will be delicious Xiaoli.”
Hermes cast her eyes down into the cup and slowly took a sip. She swished the liquid around in her mouth, and then gulped it down. She shivered at the sensation of the heat and then smiled, “I like it.” She clicked her tongue a few times, shaking the bitterness from her palate.
Xiaoli’s downcast eyes immediately swung back up, fixing on Hermes with starry sparkles within. “R-really?! You do?!” She pushed up her cheeks with her fists and grinned so sweetly she could have dulled the bitterness of the tea.
Hermes nodded enthusiastically and held her cup out to Xiaoli, “I’m going to go with: yes.”
Liana’s eyes flicked between the two and she carefully sipped her own cup. “Hermes is right,” She concluded after a moment, “This is good, much tastier than normal water!”
Xiaoli’s pale cheeks took on a much pinker hue and she looked down again. “N’aaaw, girls… You are just saying thaaat…” She looked to the side, giggling.
“No, I do like it,” Hermes put her empty cup on the table which Poppler dipped into briefly before making a grumpy popping sound and leaving the tea droplets alone. Hermes eyed the cloudling briefly before her gaze bounced back to Xiaoli. Hermes flashed a cheshire smile.
“Definitely good!” Liana drank the rest of her cup.
Xiaoli clapped her hands excitedly. “Well, then you must have more!” She promptly emptied her own cup and refilled all three. “Please, drink up!”
Hermes happily reclaimed her cup and sipped greedily at her drink, having to stop now and again due to increasing pain. Liana eyed the dreamer with a worried look before grasping her own cup and sipping the steaming liquid more slowly. Xiaoli chuckled softly and had a sip herself.
Hermes and Xiaoli blunder into a gateway. Liana says hi. They drink tea.
“ARE YOU CALLING ME A LIAR?” Guns suddenly whipped out of their holsters.
---
Hermes cast her eyes down into the cup and slowly took a sip, “YOOOO bitch this fuckin terrible. The fuck taught you to brew? The janitor? Aye I’ve seen this stuff before right after my mornin shat you dumb fuck face.”
“Huh?” Liana sipped her own cup, and immediately tossed its contents into Xiaoli’s face, “Steamingly filth you hag! I thought this was tea, not a fucking witches brew!”
---
“Wow,” Liana harrumphed, “You’ll suckle her finger? I see how it is.”
---
“TEA, MOTHERFUCKER; DO YOU DRINK IT?”
“W-what?” Hermes was taken aback by the outburst.
“Say what again, I dare you, I double dare you!”
---
“Nah I fucking called up Martha Stewart, you tripe hog.”
Xiaoli nodded in understanding, “I would have done the same, blud.” She proceeded to pull out a cigarette and stick it in between her lips, which immediately made it too soggy to light. She cursed a ‘fuck me’ and threw it away. “Got any booze around, weed lady?” she asked in a harsh tone.
“Booze? I’m a plant you dim trollop, are you trying to kill me?” Liana flipped off Xiaoli and put an arm around Poppler before whispering to the cloud, “Hows about we blow this joint and you water me real good baby.”
The voice was sandy with a highly inflected accent, giving it a suave and regal tone. It had come from a man dressed in plates of steel, the surfaces painted with charcoal to keep it from rusting. A sword hung from his hip and a heater shield was slung over his back. His face sported a jet black mustache over well tanned skin, the top of his head covered in loose curls.
“A Gjornenahabblestrjikn or two,” a much younger man answered. He wore the same outfit, yet his voice was very different, deep but youthful and energetic. His skin was a moon pool white, two blue eyes set in his face, his own black hair loose around his shoulders.
The pair of men stood, leaning over the railway of a small galley, the wash of the sea’s waves pushing up against the sides of the boat. Salty air whipped their hair behind them and billowed in the wide linen pants of the sailors that pushed the ship onward with long paddles. The brine coated their faces as equally as the two armored men’s suits.
“Yeah?” The accented one goaded, “I said ‘troll’ not Gjornenahabblestrjikn.”
“What’s the difference,” The blue eyed one didn’t bother to look up from the horizon.
“Not much,” The accented one picked at a loose fabric in the palm of one of his gloves, “but enough.”
“It’ll die,” Blue eyes nodded, “we’ll come back, there will be a party, I’ll dance with Swedren and you’ll polish your sword.”
He turned onto his shoulder so as to face the accented warrior, “just as always.”
The accented one raised a brow, “I don’t know about that… those Garthilian women, they can’t resist an accent.”
“It isn’t how you say, it’s what you say, and you’re better off a voiceless,” Blue eyes looked back over the horizon, “oh. You know what?”
“What?” The accented one turned from the horizon.
“Maybe you could ask the troll to the dance, as they frogs say, two birds one stone,” A small smile curved on the young soldier’s face.
“Oh yeah!” The accented one smacked the back of blue eye’s head, his voice mocking “as the frogs say, shut up and keep your tongue.”
Blue eyes gave a small snicker, “whatever helps you sleep at night.”
“Sirs!” A sailor pointed ahead, “right there.”
Following the finger of the sailor, the two warriors could see a small atoll breaking from the mist of the sea, it’s dark rocky shores uninviting, gnashing like teeth as the waves rose and fell around it. Though small, a mighty hill rose from the atoll, dark and craggy with very little vegetation at all, save a few green patches with speckles of white.
“Sheep,” The Accented one noticed them.
“Sheep… sheep, isn’t that more of a giants thing?” Blue eyes turned to the accented one who simply rolled his eyes.
“Lots of jokes today, huh, Renevin?” the Accented one accused.
“They say, they say,” The blue eye’d Renevin nodded, “but Hondros, how can I possibly not be in a good mood after yesterday?”
The galley shook as it hit a sandbar, planks creaking, “no idea,” Hondros grunted, “up and over.”
With that the two vaulted over the side of the galley, their boots splashing into the chilly waters. The water rose to their stomachs as they waded the rest of the way. It was a slow trudge, and more than once they worried about being spotted, as if the troll leap from its hill and chase them down into the sea. The warriors remained quiet regardless, their lips pursed as they forced their way onto the dark rocks of the shore.
“If it wasn’t for the midday breeze and sun,” Renevin remarked, “I’d really hate this.”
“Could be warmer,” Hondros complained as he took the lead, his blade ringing out of its sheath. The length of the blade was covered in old runes and engravings, giving it a fearsome look, Renevin’s own blade seemed to match the style, but held different runes.
Before the two men was a long winding path, or at least it could be called path-like. The stones of the hill gave way where it had experienced the most trodding, coupled with a distinct lack of what sparse vegetation there was and rusted stains of victims past. With all these factors tied together, the pair had a good idea of what its purpose was.
Hondros and Renevin began their trek up the hillside, the rocks clambering underfoot, and the sea breeze biting into their soaked britches and padding. Sheep bayed in the distance and some gulls hawked nearby, but other than that the atoll held a certain silence that caused a shiver to run up the warriors’ spine, their fists white under their gauntlets as they held their blades. Hondros slid his shield onto his arm, Renevin following suit, as the ground began to level, the path now curving inwards towards the side of a rocky cliff-face.
As they began to turn the curve, the two noticed a dark impression in the face: a great gaping cave. Immediately the two shuffled to the cliff-face, their armored backs pressing against the rocky wall in fear of someone or something staring out from the cave. Hondros looked back at Renevin, who gave a curt nod. Slowly the two strafed the rock wall, edging their way closer and closer, until they were so close that Hondros could feel the cold earthy air exiting the cave on his face. Hondros gently extended his right arm, his shield tapping Renevin’s breastplate. Renevin nodded and the two sucked in a large breath before suddenly exploding into the entrance of the cave, their eyes quickly expanding as the darkness grew around them.
It was only a second, but a terrifying one, as their eyes adjusted. Too slow did their vision return to them, and as far as the pair was concerned, they wished it hadn’t. Before them was cruel paintings penned on the wall of the cavern. They could only imagine it was penned with a thick gnarled finger dipped in fresh blood. The entire cave stunk of rot and piss, making Hondros wonder by what magic he didn’t smell it sooner, and causing Renevin to stifle a gag.
In the center of the cavernous atrium was a crude, and most likely stolen, cast iron cauldron, limbs sticking out of its bubbling brew. Past it the cave continued into darkness, the gloomy stones not helping their eyes discern the depth. The pair gripped their weapons anxiously, and thoughts of the troll having followed them, playing them for fools entered their minds as they circled each other, making sure to keep each others backs accounted for when suddenly there was a muffle.
The warriors skidded on their heels as they turned to the sound. A lump moved in the shadows -- much too small to be a troll. Renevin bumped his shoulder off of Hondros and the pair moved forward as one, shields up front and center. The figure shivered and backed up against the cavern wall as the two approached, causing them to slow down.
Renevin squinted, the figure of a ragged and beaten woman entering his vision. Her hands were tied together in a rope made out of ligaments whose origin he didn’t want to think about, but more pressing was her leg. He noticed a large dry stain of blood on her calves as well as a festering near the sides of her knees.
“Must be one of the women from Urryl,” Hondros all but whispered.
“Hamstrung,” Renevin croaked past the smell of the cavern. The warrior knelt down, lowering his weapon, the woman whimpered and he placed his sword on the ground, showing a peaceful palm. Hondros’ gut clenched and he kept his shield and sword ready, standing behind his crouched companion.
“Urryl?” Renevin coaxed as comfortingly as possible, inciting a rapid nod from the woman.
“We are the Praxian Storm Guard,” Renevin gave a small smile, “we’ll get you out of here-”
A metallic slam echoed throughout the cavern as a massive knotted club slammed into Hondros, sending the warrior across the floor, his armor grinding against the stone as he skidded. Renevin slapped his hand onto the handle of his sword and spun to meet his foe, sword and shield ready.
There before him was a hulking beast of blotted skin, rope like muscle, and yellow stained eyes. It stood nearly twice his height and hefted a gnarled club stained a rusty red. Crude cutting tools were tied around its naked waist, and without missing a moment, the troll attacked.
Renevin ducked under the swinging club and brought his sword to bear, but before he could connect, one of the troll’s beefy arms slapped him back. The warrior managed to maintain his footing, his reactions just barely kicking in as he leapt out of the way from another swing of the heavy club. This time the soldier had enough space to quickly cleave his blade into the arm of the troll, the sword sinking deep into the fatty flesh, down to the white of the bone.
The troll howled and backhanded Renevin, the blade still stuck in its arm. The soldier was sent flying backwards, the impact lifting him off his feet. He slammed into the ground, his back cracking from the impact and his shield arm smacking into the wall with a loud clang. From pain squinted eyes he saw a shadow move behind the troll, and suddenly the flash of Hondros’ blade caught his attention.
Caught unaware, the troll never saw Hondros get back up, his blade cutting deep across the back of the trolls knees. Dark blood oozed out from the hamstring and the troll hollered in pain. Renevin jumped to his feet, ignoring the shocking pain throughout his body, and before the troll could react, Renevin expertly lunged his sword under the arm of the troll, the muscle snagging his blade as it slipped through the armpit and ribs, and right into the heart.
The troll roared, but it quickly turned to a gurgle as Hondros sunk his own blade into the back of the troll, piercing a lung. Renevin ripped his sword free and then slammed its point into the troll’s throat, forcing a gush of scarlet from the meaty beast and bringing it to the floor.
Renevin’s blade slipped out as the troll came crashing down, and for a moment or two it simply convulsed on the ground before turning stiff and still in a pool of its own. Hondros let out a long breathe and immediately glared at Renevin, “the ARM!?”
“Out of every part of this fat thing and you go for the arm?”
“It was in my wa-” Renevin shook his head, “-the girl!” Hondros snapped to and the pair rushed to the huddled over woman.
In the gloom of the cavern they saw her shivering form, a sense of relief washing over them. Renevin’s blade rasped as he shoved it back into its scabbard and slung his shield over his back. Kneeling down towards the woman he spoke softly, “we are going to take you away from here, bring you back home.”
Her chin wobbled, and the pair couldn't tell if it was a nod or from her silent sobbing. Renevin furrowed his brow and slide his arms under the ragged woman, dried ooze scraping against the metal that covered his arms. She was much lighter than he expected, but that was hardly a comfort as he hefted himself upright, his new ward safely in his arms. The trio made their slow retreat from the cave, Hondros taking a brief second to look back at the scene, the cauldron still bubbling. His nose scrunched and with little word the group exited the killing grounds.
Immediately the group was met with fresh sea air, their lungs expanding greedily and expelling the gruesome stink of the cave. The midday sun stung their eyes briefly as they readjusted to the outside world, Renevin’s gaze stuck on the woman in his arms. She was scrawny, the bumps of her neck and collar pressing against her bloodied skin. Her dress was in tatters and stuck to her in crispy wafers, and despite being free from the cave, Renevin couldn’t help but smell the bubbling cauldron in her web-like hair. Despite all this, her eyes were alert and open, her breathing quick.
Renevin looked up at Hondros who gave him a worried look, but without a word the two carried on, making their way back down the hill as swiftly and safely as they could. The sheep paid them no mind as they skidded across, no new threats emerged, and yet the soldiers couldn’t help but feel a well of anxiety grip their throats.
Her breathing seemed to slow as they approached the waters, and the pair’s pace quickened. The water bit into their legs once more, and her eyes closed. The waves lapped at their waists and they pushed as fast as they could. Renevin held the woman as high above his chest, suffering the consequence of getting a noseful of the stench, his own eyes closing as to avoid her bristled hair, only to open at the sound of the galley creaking against the waves.
Hondros grabbed the railing of the boat and with a few helpful tugs from the sailors, lifted himself over the side and onto the deck with a wet slam. Turning he offered his hands down to Renevin, “give her to me.”
Renevin looked up with a sad look, “She’s gone.”
Hondros narrowed his eyes, “what?”
“How? How do you know?” Hondros furrowed his brow, “hand her up.”
Renevin shifted her in his arms, bringing his gauntlet to his face and biting the leather finger, tugging it off his hand. Taking his now bare finger he pressed it into her stretched, limp neck. He sucked in a salty breath and waited, only for a darkness to take over his eyes. Shaking his head up at Hondros. The older soldier pursed his lips.
“Let her go.”
Renevin looked up at the soldier quizzically who answered, “she’s been enslaved in that cave for her final moments, she deserves freedom in death.”
Renevin peered down at the dead woman in his arms, expelling a sad breath. Gingerly the soldier lowered the body in the water, the weak form floating on the waves. Her hair expanded around her like a halo and Renevin looked up at Hondros, he opened his mouth to speak but said nothing before closing it again. The older soldier nodded in understanding. Gently Renevin pushed he body away from the boat, the new sea angel slowly making her way to a watery freedom. Without much else, the younger soldier heaved himself over the rail, landing on the deck of the galley.
He turned to Hondros who in turn turned to the sailors, “headway to Ylldyn.”
K’nell sighed as he peered into a strange translucent orb. With little fuss, the God of Dreams placed the item on a pedestal next to his throne, and leaned back into his seat.
“Interesting.”
Hondros and Renevin make their way to an atoll known to be the lair of a troll that has been terrorizing the fishing villages in the area.
The pair manage to find the liar, only to be surprised in finding a survivor.
The warriors slay the troll and rescue the girl, only for her to die later. They set sail for home, their quests long from being done.
THEN
It turns out the entire kerfuffle is the result of a dream trapped in a viewing orb.
1 MP spent and then discounted to 0 on the Orb of a Particular Dream
As Li’Kallas eyes slowly opened, she found herself laying on her side, a granite bench underneath. The rock was tepid from her nap that she didn’t even know she had begun, but otherwise not the most comfortable bed.
All around her was a dewey garden, fitted with dark green shrubs, well trimmed trees with gnarled roots and flowers that had yet to bloom. Strange birds tittered and the sky was a dark purple dusk. Cutting through the strange garden was a cobblestone walkway, wide enough for two but not much else, its destination hidden behind bends and rows of trees.
Dusk, huh... Li’Kalla thought as she shook her head and rubbed the sleep away from her eyes. She groggily sat up and yawned and stretched, letting out a high-pitched grunt of relief. I better get going… I don’t want to be late, right?
Right?
Li’Kalla sighed and slouched over a little. The moment of weakness didn’t last long, however, as she was quick to straighten up and stand. Without hesitation, or a spare thought toward her own feelings, she set down the cobblestone walkway.
Her attire was a simple yet luxuriously tailored white dress, designed with minimal frills and accents as per her Father’s request. It didn’t seem odd to her at the time that her feet were bare, and that her skin seemed a little bit paler than usual. In fact, being in the Garden reinvigorated her, and being near the young flowers gave her heart a feeling akin to a warm embrace.
And yet, she didn’t want to be late, so she walked on, eventually leaving the small, secluded area of the Garden behind, ladybugs and butterflies and caterpillars grieving silently as she left them to their own devices.
“Hinan,” a great voice rumbled. A large bullman suddenly walked beside her, only one of his hooved feet able to fit in the path, the other carefully stepping between shrubs and flowers. His face that of a bovine and was old and grizzled. Underneath was a large muscular body, now worn with age and wrapped in furs. Strapped to the great minotaur’s back was a book as easily as tall as Li’Kalla and perhaps twice as wide. He walked slowly, his guttural voice vibrating from his throat.
“How are you this evening, Hinan?”
Li’Kalla’s eyes shifted to the Great Bullman beside her and after flashing a look of anxiety for a split moment, they showed an absolute calm. ”Uncle, how great it is to see you, I see you’ve added to your collection of furs,” Li’Kalla asked with a warm smile while her heart threatened to pound so intensely that it could jump straight out of her chest. She couldn’t let anyone know how she truly felt, that was true. But her Uncle? Maybe he… Just maybe…
What could be described as a hearty yet soft laugh echoed from the bullman, “Oh, while flattered, I am not your uncle.”
The minotaur looked over at the woman with his elderly eyes, “I am Freg Gerntef, Hinan. I hope I do not disturb your walk, but I think we are going to the same place and simply wished for some company.”
Li’Kalla’s eyes glazed over, and then she shook her head, smiling sheepishly. ”... Oh, my apologies. I must have seen the furs and heard the voice and mistaken you for someone I know, Mister Freg.” She looked at the darkening skies for a moment before gesturing down the path, ”It’s getting late, isn’t it?”
“Late is just the beginning of being early for something else,” Freg grunted. The great bullman stopped suddenly and shifted away from Li’Kalla. Bending slightly forward the minotaur let out a graveled gasp, “speaking of, Hinan.”
Waving Li’Kalla over, there stood on a tiny bush a single bloomed flower of cyan and gold. At first she had tilted her head curiously at the bullman, but once she saw the familiar shape of petals and the bright, living colors, she had to walk closer and get on her knees before the flower. She bent over and took in its scent with closed eyes, a scent that reminded her of peaceful days playing around with her cousins in grassy plains.
A few moments passed.
”What does Hinan mean, Mister Freg? Is it something pretty, like this flower?” She asked while she gently caressed its petals.
“Many generations have I walked, and many more have I called out Hinan, and yet very few have ever asked me what it meant,” Freg mused, his eyes bouncing off of the flower and to Li’Kalla, “Hinan,” He began, raising a finger to one of his horns, “is hornless, as I am Harnian, or with horn.”
He paused, “however you bring up a point, now that I know you a little better I can see there is more to you than a lack of horns, and so Hinan is no longer appropriate.”
The bull man thought for a moment, “perhaps I can call you by your given name?”
Li’Kalla smiled sadly, her eyes focused on the flower, taking in its every detail as if afraid it might vanish at any moment. ”My given name? Of course, it is Laina. Perhaps you’d like to give me a name, Mister Freg?” Freg stood up straight, thoughts flickering in his eyes, “Dova-bo, a graceful dawn.”
”Dova-bo...”
Suddenly a tiny droplet fell from the sky and struck Freg’s cheek, then another, then one on top of Li’Kalla’s head. With a loud jangling of straps and clasps, the great minotaur released his mighty book from his back and held it high above the two, “Shall we continue our walk, Dova-bo?”
Li’Kalla watched in a mix of amusement and confusion as Freg used his book to shield them from the rain. However, before standing she had one last thing she wanted to do. She bent down and gave the flower a gentle kiss which left her lips tingling pleasantly. She smiled at it and finally stood and began walking down the path, with Freg guarding the both of them against the rain.
”Mister Freg, are you afraid of the Rain?” She asked while sparing one last sideways glance at the flower, now basking in the fresh rain.
“Mmmm,” Freg’s throat grumbled, “I can’t say that I am. Fear is rather expensive at my age, to spend it on rain would be rather poor of me, Dova-bo.”
”So it is,” Li’Kalla said, and after a long while, continued, ”I enjoy the Rain, Mister Freg. I would feel guilty if you ruined your precious book because of me.”
“Do not worry, Dova-bo,” Freg let his book fall from above them, clamping it under his arm, “my book, too, enjoys the rain.”
Rain was Li’Kalla favorite weather pattern, that was true. However, as the rain grew stronger and she became soaked, her expression turned from serene to sad, and an almost palpable change had washed over her demeanor.
“What bothers you, Dova-bo?” The minotaur suddenly said, as the pair passed a roofed gazebo amid a sea of shrubs
”O-Oh, it’s nothing Mister Freg,” She said as she wiped her face and walked past the gazebo, ”I can’t help but be relieved for the flower now that it’s raining, that’s all. I-I was afraid it might not make it if it didn’t rain...”
“Oh,” Freg hummed, “it will always make it, every flower here will. Unbeknownst to the tiny plants, diligent gardeners are always at the ready, much like in life.”
”Then, Mister Freg,” She sniffled, ”Who cares for the gardeners?”
What could only be described as a bull attempting a smile formed on Freg’s mouth, “who does indeed. Then again, perhaps our own gardeners are as unknown to us as we are to the plants. I suppose all we can do is bloom, Dova-bo.”
Li’Kalla clasped her hands close to her chest and sighed, ”Then I suppose that’s all we can do, isn’t it? Bloom...”
”Please excuse me if it seems incompetent of me, Mister Freg, but-” She bit her lip for a moment, ”I-I seem to have forgotten our destination.”
“I believe we have already made it, Dova-bo,” Freg hummed, “I was looking for a flower, and if I remember correctly, you were looking for-”
He waved his hand in front of him, the path ahead ending at the steps of a grand palace that was colored like the night, yet sparked with life and tiny glowing orbs, “-here.”
Li’Kalla stared in awe at the palace, admiring its strange qualities and most of all, the glowing orbs. She recognized them! So without a single moment of hesitation she started making her way towards the palace’s front doors. A few paces before reaching her destination, she turned towards Freg and waved. ”Mister Freg, thank you for accompanying me, I hope your search was fruitful.” She said with a nod of her head and a curtsy, before going up to the doors and knocking.
“Don’t forget to bloom, Dova-bo,” Freg answered as he turned around, and as he did, the door to the palace opened wide. A flock of hovering orbs of light greeted Li’Kalla in the doorway. Behind them a great stretching hallway pushed onward into the palace, countless doors on either side with a myriad of decor and paintings between. A sweet nostalgic scent permeated from the familiar walkway, and the carpets, though old held a memorable charm.
Li’Kalla smiled and poked one particular orb of light -- an orange, citrus smelling one. ”Hello there, little stars,” She said softly while petting another one, this one green and smelling of grass. The orbs danced happily around her and she giggled, a light blush coloring her cheeks, ”Oh, you make me feel welcome. Come, let’s go inside.”
Once inside, the doors closed behind her, but she didn’t mind. Instead she walked down the hall with a flock of orbs following her. Some went into doors and others played with her hair or her dress’ frilly hems.
Many different melodies played in the hall, sneaking out from the cracks under the doors and bouncing off the walls. Paintings of faraway places and familiar homesteads were showcased on the walls, alongside busts of unknown people and beings. Eventually the hallway came to a stop right outside a mighty door, and despite all its pomp and size, it was easily pushed aside by one of the tiny dreamweavers eliciting a subtle gaze of admiration from Li’Kalla.
As she entered the great ballroom, she saw thousands of the weavers spinning and dancing, all to a single tune being played by a lone figure in a strange throne that centered the room. The smiling gentleman blew softly into a pipe of many lengths and sizes, little toggles on the sides allowing him to control the airflow as he did. The tune was light and magical, as if a spirit of the forest had written the notes especially for Li’Kalla’s ears. The melody flowed into her body and seemed to become a part of her, and she could swear that the very air in the room was saturated with music, beauty and art. The height of life.
Li’Kalla, however, didn’t move an inch. While her whole body wanted and desired nothing more than to join the swarm of dancing dreamweavers, in her mind she knew something deeper was happening here. For this figure, the entity sitting on the throne in the centre of the room seemed familiar. Indeed, this entity had the same air about him as the gentleman from her previous dreams.
Slowly, Li’Kalla remembered her waking life. Bits and pieces of information popped up as she racked her mind for any hint or clue as to who this entity might be.
The first things that shocked her were when she noticed her different physical appearance. Right before her eyes, her skin went from fair to deathly pale. Her dress went from white to blue. Her skin was as soaked as it had been under the rain outside the palace, and her hair became shorter and blue, like the color of a lake in a cloudy day.
After that, she remembered her old life, her old death, and finally her new life and all those that had come forth at the same time as her.
She enjoyed the rain. However, the feeling of cold rain pelting her soft skin even when there were no clouds… Of being abandoned to soak under the tears of the heavens… The feeling that she had been feeling every single moment since grasping life for a second time. That feeling? She hated it.
Feeling her stomach churn and her heart grow heavy, Li’Kalla’s ears stopped registering the melody. Her eyes ignored the swarms of beautiful dancing orbs. She walked past it all, past everything, until she reached the bottom step of the throne in the center of the room. She looked up at the figure, so blissfully playing his odd instrument. Pretending like a simple melody, a simple dance could wash away all the pain, all the filth that her soul had become.
It felt like an eternity passed by the time she finally spoke. It was a soft, meek thing, her voice. ”K’nell?”
The Gentleman let go of his instrument, the many pipes floating away from him without ceasing their song. A grainy voice echoed around the pair, “yes?”
”Oh…” Li’Kalla took a step back and looked around, at the dance and the joy around them, ”What’s this? Why am I here?”
K'nell leaned forward, his voice hanging between the pair, “this is the Palace of Dreams. You are here because you sleep.”
The God of Sleep raised a hand and from thin air an oaken chair fitted with a plush crushed velvet cushion appeared next to Li'Kalla. He motioned for her to sit and so she did, making sure to do so in the most proper way she knew. Perhaps it was the music or the decor of the place, but she curtsied and sat slowly and deliberately, hands clasped on her lap. After a moment, she looked up at K’nell, her eternal blush somehow seeming more intense.
”... How much did you see? In that dream, I mean...”
“I see everything,” K'nell answered, “from the first dream to now.”
“The irony of it all, is in some dreams I see more than the dreamer,” He paused, letting his voice fade away into the echoes of the ballroom.
It was a long silence. Li’Kalla didn’t know what to do. She didn’t remember dreaming of anything too bad, but…
It was sudden. A single sob pierced through the veil of joy and entertainment in the room, and everything seemed to freeze. More were quick to follow as Li’Kalla desperately tried to wipe her eyes and hold herself together. She failed, and soon she was bawling like a lost child.
Some dreamweavers approached her, perhaps out of curiosity or maybe annoyance, but she ignored them. She felt sad, indignated, she felt violated, but most of all, she was ashamed.
”W-Why- I don’t- I don’t want y-you to… No one… So shameful- To see me like- Like t-that...” She muttered amidst sobs and whimpers, her tears mixing with the rainwater on her skin and dripping off her chin onto her dress.
A low hum seemed to cover K'nell as he thought and then finally the God's voice returned, “Shame… insists that in knowing, one would despise you for it.”
“I perhaps know more than I should,” K'nell continued, “and yet my respect for you grows.”
The dreamweavers seemed to cover her, almost like a soft blanket as the God spoke his grainy words, “I admire your strength.”
Li’Kalla shook a bit each time the dreamweavers tried to cover her body, and after a while had calmed down enough to respond to K’nell.
”Y-You… You do? But...” Li’Kalla took in a deep, shaky breath and, after a moment, exhaled. ”I see. You must have not… Seen all there is to see. I’m glad. However-” Li’Kalla paused, stood up, grabbed the cushioned chair and started climbing the steps up to the throne.
”You may know that I...” She grunted as she reached the same level as K’nell and set down the chair in front of him, taking a seat in the same formal way she’d sat down before, ”... Am in fact rather weak. Letting myself be deceived, enduring lies and abuse, being just… Afraid. I am not worthy of your admiration, Master K’nell.” Li’Kalla said gloomily.
omeThere was silence, and then all at once K’nell stood up, his throne flickering out of sight as he did. The God extended his right arm perpendicular to his side, his left staying stiff against him. There was a soft rumble and suddenly two emerald green stalks gently grew from the floor. The one to his left grew unfettered and quickly reached his shoulder, the bud at the end blossoming into a quaint red.
The stalk to his right grew gently, up until it was blocked by K’nells hand. The plant was forced to divert, only for K’nell to block it once again. The plant swerved but eventually made it past the God’s hand, reaching his shoulder, the bud standing ready atop it’s squiggly body.
“There is but one thing left for this plant to do,” K’nell echoed, “to show the world that despite its journey, it is strong.”
He looked directly at Li’Kalla, “It just needs to bloom.”
As his words faded the flower blossomed, it’s colors radiating the ballroom in a wash of beauty. Colors from all over the spectrum glossed it’s pedals, and as K’nell sat back down on a sudden reappearing throne, his voice hung between the two Gods, “without a little rain, there can be no rainbow.”
”I… Suppose you’re right.” Li’Kalla pursed her lips as she took in the sight of the new flower, ”Thank you, I’ll try, but-” Li’Kalla bit her lip.
”What is it you want from me? You’ve been too nice to someone like me. You must desire something, right?” “What could I possibly desire,” K’nell answered, “but for the world to see what I do.”
Li’Kalla tilted her head curiously and scooted her chair closer, now sitting on the edge. ”There’s one more thing. Hermes. You are her creator, right?”
“I am,” The voice answered, “and she’s shown me the great kindness you’ve showed her. For that I am grateful.”
Li’Kalla frowned and looked away, ”She is too innocent, she’ll be trampled and soiled like a flower in the path of a herd when the time comes… Like me. You know this, don’t you?”
Another silence conquered the ballroom, only for the grainy voice to reappear in time, “She is on her path, freely, and she is not without those who care.”
The Goddess took K’nell’s hand in hers in the blink of an eye, stared at him with narrowed pupils emitting an anger that could rival Sartravius’ Muspellheim in heat. The intensity and touch causing K’nell to shift towards her as she spoke, ”I care for her, and I will destroy anyone who dares lay a finger on her. She’s-” Her intensity faltered, ”She’s… Special, and important,” Li’Kalla said with a small dreamy smile sneaking onto her face. The aggressiveness with which she’d grasped K’nell’s hand turned to gentleness, ”And I want her to have fun. That’s it. And, you know, I was wondering if you were bad or good, what with basically violating my privacy, but-”
“Then it would appear,” K’nell began, shifting in his throne to the position of a thinker, “she has four Gods who care for her.”
The God hummed, “As for whether if I am good or if I am bad, I cannot say. I see myself for who I am, and to contrast my life against another’s never brings good tidings.”
Li’Kalla slowly let go of K’nell’s hand and clasped hers on top of her lap once more, ”... I wouldn’t call you bad. You did create Hermes after all, so… And well, that dream was… Nice. All things considered. I wouldn’t mind having more dreams like that… Back in my old body, wearing my usual clothes. How did you find out all of these things? I’ve never told those things to anyone.”
“Even a God’s mind sings loudly in the land of dreams,” K’nell answered cryptically, “I listen. I listen to thoughts, memories, things forgotten and things that never happened. I take it all and then I create with it. I make truths, lies, possibilities and endings as well as beginnings. Anything can happen in a dream, and anything can be used for such a dream.”
“And only after all this, does the dream happen,” The God leaned back in his throne.
”Can you create dreams upon request? Custom dreams. I-I’d like to try one of those one day.”
K’nell sat in thought for a moment, “I suppose I could.”
“It could be interesting,” The God of Sleep slowly stood up, circling around his throne in a thoughtful pace, “yes, I think I rather like the idea.”
“For you,” K’nell turned to Li’Kalla, placing his hands on the back of his throne “I will allow a custom dance to be orchestrated in the palace.”
Li’Kalla perked up upon hearing the words, wide-eyed and with a sparkly look to her gaze. She grinned widely and brought up her hands to her chest, ”Yay- I mean, Yes! Not right now, though. Later! You’ll know when, I’ll make sure to think really hard of it before going to sleep next time. You have to make sure I don’t realize it’s a dream, though. Maybe distract me with cute animals or children when I start getting too nosy!” At that, Li’Kalla jumped up from her seat and smiled smugly.
”Don’t get all weird about it though, Master K’nell! It’ll be a fun dream I promise. We’ll be doing things I always wanted to do back home!”
“You have my word” K’nell tilted his head ever so slightly, “I look forward to the experience-”
”And now, I wake up!” She shouted energetically, pumping a fist up in the air.
Nothing happened.
A moment later she cast a ‘help me’ glance at K’nell, not wanting to be embarrassed in front of the dreamweavers. A low rumble came from the Sleep God, his eversmile making it difficult to discern what it meant, but in a mere moment he was snapping his fingers and-
Li’Kalla’s eyes opened.
She was lying on her side next to a moss pond. A lone ladybug was crawling over her neck and she went to swat it away when she noticed she was holding something in her hand -- A flower with petals of every color. At the same time, the top of her ear itched and she found a gold and blue flower neatly perched on her ear.
”Mister Freg and Master K’nell...” Li’Kalla muttered to herself after sitting up.
K’nell materializes a dream flower, discounted to 0
Li'Kalla finds herself in a strange garden and decides that she is late.
On her journey from the garden she bumps into a bullman named Freg and they chat for a while.
Later Li'Kalla comes upon the Palace of Dreams where she interacts with K'nell. The two agreeing in the end to do a custom dream.
The world was pins as it stretched past Hermes. Her sandals fluttered, but any sounds were long behind her as she continued her journey, Poppler in hair and spear on her back. Her eyelids were slightly pink, having just woken up not long ago, a big smile conquering her face as it usually did after a meeting with her God.
Suddenly her eyes flickered downward and at an impossibly quick angle, her direction changed. Ashalla’s blue stretched around her vision, but a unique and new color centered in her vision: gold. In mere seconds the figure of a golden boat emerged, and a second more, she was standing on top of it. Her sandals padded softly as she walked across the deck of what was a marvelously massive boat fitted with thousands of decorations and engravings. There was also the strong smell of herbal teas and extracts to greet her, and despite not knowing exactly what those were, she thought it smelt a lot like one of the Tendlepog meadows after a warm rain.
The boat seemed abandoned at the moment, with the only indicator of life being some distant ruckus under deck. There was evidence of recent activity on deck, with a few footprints and some strange peels littering the immediate area around a small table, which itself had some crumbs and leftovers on it. However, shortly after Hermes’ arrival, the ruckus below was complemented, or perhaps contrasted, by a sweet, gentle tune coming from the spires above - specifically the very top of the middle spire.
Kalmar isn’t gonna be too happy about this, Hermes thought to herself as she stared at the left overs and rinds. With one quick motion she swiped up a handful and shoved it into her mouth; she was nothing if not a helper. While munching on her compostable snack she decided to see what the pretty noise was all about and launched herself to the top of the middle spire in single wink.
As Hermes landed on the ornate, gilded veranda of the top floor, the music stopped. There was a pause, followed by a strange, elongated shuffling noise, as if the planks on the floor inside were being sanded with exquisitely fine sandpaper. Then, slowly, the white-papered, rosewood-reinforced slider doors slid apart in a gentle motion. The agitator of the doors set a pair of silver serpentine eyes upon the mortal and flicked its forked tongue. There was a soft, pensive hum in a voice that could grease chariot axles.
“My… Another visitor?” said the snake with an ever-widening grin.
Hermes studied the snake man, swallowing her gritty snack and flashing a cheshire smile to match her new acquaintances’ when suddenly she remembered Narzhak's sage words. Her grin turned sour and she hefted her club over her shoulder.
“Friend or foe?” She asked sternly, her voice nonetheless betraying her gregarious nature.
“Rather direct, aren't we,” the snake said, surprised. “Who are you?” He eyed the club. He sniffed the air around Hermes and lashed around with his tongue. “... mortal...“ He let out a ponderous hum as he let his eyes scan every detail of the woman.
“Are you a gift, by chance?”
“I'm Hermes,” The dreamer answered, confused. Poppler zipped out of her hair and spun around her head, “and this is Poppler.”
”Zzt!”
The snake craned his head and folded his hands softly. He leant closer. “My, my… The first mortal guest in my home. This warrants a toast!” The snake slithered into his room. Meanwhile, a young girl turned the corner of the wall and gave Hermes a smile. She silently stepped a little closer and carefully reached out to pat Poppler.
“What an adorable little thing…” she said.
Poppler whizzed around the woman while Hermes watched on perplexed, her eyes flickering between where the snake man was and where the new girl is. She wasn’t used to this, two people at once, and while she normally would be quite excited about it, there was a new pit of anxiety in her stomach. Her brow furrowed, pinching the spiral on her forehead.
“Who are you?” She suddenly asked the newcomer.
The girl stopped fruitlessly chasing the little clump of clouds and regained her formal composure. She bowed before Hermes, albeit not too deeply, and smiled as she rose up.
“Forgive me. I should have introduced myself first, perhaps. I am Xiaoli, First Counsellor to Shengshi. You were… Hermes, correct? What are you doing here?” Xiaoli asked sweetly.
“Experiencing,” Hermes said slowly and admittedly cryptically, “What are you doing here?”
The girl nodded, humming affirmatively. “I serve my lord as he wishes. So you are a traveler, then.” She grinned from ear to ear, making sure to hide the grin behind her sleeve before too many of her colourful teeth showed. “Can you tell me about the places you’ve been?” she asked almost desperately, completely ignoring Hermes’ second question.
“I don’t know,” Hermes brow furrowed, “are we friends?”
The girl looked to the side, then up and down Hermes’ admittedly much taller and developed form, and then shyly down at her own feet, which she shuffled nervously. After a quick moment, she glanced back up at Hermes.
“... I… I do hope we are,” she said warily, blinking once or twice.
Hermes stared at the girl with increasing intensity, her knuckles straining as her fists tightened around her club, and then all at once her shoulders relaxed and she let out a happy sigh through a wide smile, “oh good, because Narzhak was telling me that there are friends and foes and nothing else and to be honest I want to make more friends than I do foes, I mean I’ve only smashed one thing and while I liked it, I feel really bad because I don’t know what the worm did to deserve a smashing but it got it, and I didn’t even eat it because Narzhak said it was okay, but don’t tell Kalmar because I made a promise, but to be truthful the promise was just about fish and not about worms, but still I don’t want to upset him, I like him a lot, he is my friend too...”
Her words were endless as all the happy things that she had wanted to say exited her mouth without ending, her mind racing with new things to share, “... and also I caught four new fish and ate each on of them, but not the scales because they cut my mouth…”
And more, “... she touched my cheek and I really liked her food…”
And more, “... then I ate the stuff I found on the table down there but it tasted like soil…”
And some more, “... he is my God and he really cares, it makes me feel warm in my chest…”
And a little more, “... I don’t know how I feel about his mustache but so far I really like this house.”
As she told her story, Xiaoli appeared to pay attention to every single detail, her face shaping all manners of emotions from anger at Narzhak’s warlike tendencies, to fear at the mentioning of Kalmar’s name. Luckily, no thunderous ruckuses came from inspire the chambres, so the snake likely had not heard.
“I would really like to meet Her Holiness Li’Kalla one day… She sounds so sweet,” she mused.
“Wait, you ate the peels? You are not supposed to eat those!” Xiaoli raised a finger and shook it at the taller lady. “If you want food in a house, you ask the owners. It’s better than eating what is left over, okay?”
Poppler settled on Xiaoli’s nose with nothing but a soft popping sound as Hermes soaked up her words, “I didn’t want to eat anything, I was just helping.”
Xiaoli sighed. “That is really kind of you, but we would not want a guest to get herself a tummy ache just helping us clean up!” She tried to maintain the strict motherly demeanour, but it soon gave away to a giggle that became an uncontrolled laugh, likely due to the cloudling tickling her face in addition to the absurdity of the situation.
“I cannot believe you actually ate mango peels!”
“It tasted fuzzy,” Hermes added, “but more importantly, I made a promise -- but.”
She looked at Poppler and smiled softly, “if you’re saying I don’t need to do that anymore, I’m okay with that.”
The girl patted the fuzzy thing on her nose and crossed her eyes in an attempt to look at it. As it strained her eyes, she winced and gave them a soft rub. “Yes,” she added, “there is no need to eat fruit peels anymore.”
As the girl finished her sentence, there was a rumbling call from below.
“Xiaoli! Where did…” It was muffled by another ruckus. “...the wine?”
“In the cellar as always, my lord!” Xiaoli called back over the railing. She gave Hermes a sheepish smile. “Pardon me for a moment. My lord requires my presence. Feel free to explore the ship as you’d like or to wait on deck.”
With that, the girl tipped her torso at Hermes and gave Poppler a pat before speeding downstairs, the small cloudling trailing her.
“Poppler!”
”Pop pop!” The cloudling whizzed back to Hermes and zipped into her knotted hair. Hermes sighed and plopped onto the deck of the ship, “Poppler, I have a problem.”
”Zzt?”
“Everyone else seems to know so much more than me. I can’t even tell friend from foe, it’s all very confusing.”
”Pop.”
“Well, yeah I know thaaaat”
”Pop!”
Hermes smiled, her toothy grin reminiscent of her creators, “I just need to assemble all the new experiences, I think.”
Poppler emerged from her hair and rested on the palm of her outstretched hand, “thank you, Poppler.”
The small cloudling crackled happily in her palm and she poked it with her nose, little dew drops forming on her skin.
The pair sat together in a cheery silence, each thinking about their perspective purposes. Slowly time drained into a small happy buzz, causing the Dreamer to close her eyes, her muscles relaxing. The next thing she knew, she was napping on the sun soaked deck of the ship, her mind dancing with her creator as her body released all the stresses of traveling. A content smile formed on her lips, she could hear his excitement at her words--
Suddenly, the doors of the palace swung open with such intensity that they buffeted everything on deck. “Welcome!” the snake boomed in a voice that could have caused quakes.
Hermes’ eyes shot open, her dreams washing away rapidly to the back of her mind. Poppler swirled up in surprise, circling Hermes defensively with small crackling bursts of static.
”Zzt zzt!”
Hermes rubbed her eyes as servants zoomed past both the god’s flanks, carrying plates on plates with exquisite dishes and trays on trays with exciting drinks. The servants placed them down in an alternating pattern from left and right on a suddenly manifested longtable between Hermes and the now-clapping water god.
“This is a magnificent day - our first mortal guest! Congratulations, little, uh…” He paused for a moment. “I want to say… Burmese?”
Hermes sat up, her vision still blurry, “B-burmese” she blabbered, not quite awake, “Hermes.”
She pinned her elbows on the table and propped her head up, attempting to grasp at her sudden awakedness, “what--” a small yawn escaped her,“--what’s your name, again?”
The snake’s smile quivered a little. “Muh-... My name?” He took a deep breath, paused and cleared his throat. “Why, who else would I be but Shengshi, lord of the thousand streams currently your host!” He leaned forward and gave her a somewhat malignant wink.
“Do not make me remind you again, please.”
“Oh,” Hermes forced a smile, something about Shengshi unsettled her -- and she was best friends with a titan of iron and violence. Her eyes darted all about looking for something in particular, “where is Xiaoli?”
The snake raised an eyebrow and leaned in a little closer. “You are a curious one,” he said in a deep, oily voice. “You are captivated by a river nymph, yet pay little attention to the actual host… Your bravery is…” He flicked his forked tongue. “Fascinating…”
He recoiled and straightened himself up. He turned his face to the side and called, “Xiaoli!” A moment later, the girl came out of the gates carrying a tray with two small flasks and two small cups.
“Did you want me here already, my lord?”
“I always want you around, my dear,” the snake teased and gave her a wink, at which she giggled sheepishly. “However, it was not I who summoned you.” He pointed a clawed finger at Hermes.
“She did.”
“Yes,” Hermes said with a level of uncertainty, her eyes on Xiaoli, “since we are friends, I was wondering if you wanted to sit with me and Poppler. We also need to seal the pact,”
She extended her index finger, “it’s a very important part.”,
Hermes looked at Shengshi with a certain hesitancy, “and then maybe we can be friends too.”
As she spoke, Poppler floated over to the unstoppered flasks and suddenly disappeared inside of one with a small pop! This solicited a genuine smile from Hermes as she sat on her words, finger still extended and eyes focused. Xiaoli looked dumbstruck and stared into the flask in a fit of confusion. She picked it up and gave it a gentle shake, but found that nothing came out.
The snake furrowed his brows. “Friends, you propose? How direct…” His lips curved into a smile. “Who taught you how to form bonds of friendship, if I may ask?”
“A lot of different people,” Hermes announced, her usual energy returning to her voice, “also myself. I like it a lot, and it was easy to figure out, at least at the start.”
A proud smile stretched across her face, she could feel her experiences culminating, not to mention that she is pretty sure that that was the most articulate sentence she had ever created to date, “I’m still learning about foes though, so don’t ask me about that yet.”
The snake’s smile grew more genuine and he let out a warm chuckle. “Do not worry, little Hermes - you will not learn about foes here. Tell me, are you hungry?” He gestured to the long table. The scents were indescribable: Spices unforeseen throughout creation coloured the air with thick, fantastical fumes; the selections of meats and fish were almost too perfectly prepared, to the point where their tenderness had transcended the quality of texture and become an aura; the sides, if one could even call them that, produced a near unnatural image of deliciousness that seduced the pallet to the point where the tongue ought to take a cold shower.
Before Hermes could even answer, Poppler ascended out of the second flask and zipped on over to the food, submerging itself into a small bowl of hazel-coloured sauce. The Dreamer smiled, “my stomach is a little bubbly from the peels from earlier, but if it would make you my friend, I could eat some more.”
She looked over at Xiaoli, “can you help? There is a lot, much more than a worm for sure.”
Xiaoli looked over to the snake, who, after a pause, gave her a nod. The girl grinned and brought the tray over to the table in a few giggly skips. She sat down and patted the seat next to her, winking at Hermes. The snake slithered over to the far end of the table, where a glorious golden throne flanked with two ruby-eyed, amber-scaled, ivory-clawed gold dragons manifested.
“Please, eat your fill,” he said.
Hermes clamored over and sat down next to Xiaoli, dropping her heavy club and spear beside her. She quickly poked Xiaoli’s sandy cheek, keeping her finger in place and waiting for Xiaoli to return the gesture. The girl seemed confused and sheepishly returned the poke, soliciting a cheshire grin from Hermes.
“We are friends now,” She let her finger fall to her side and began to reach for some of the food; however, Xiaoli reached out to stop her, shaking her head swiftly at Hermes.
“Wait until he has eaten some,” she whispered. “Trust me… My friend.”
As Hermes pondered Xiaoli’s words, a suspiciously poofy Poppler left a perfectly clean bowl and quietly plopped into another one, filled to the brim with sugary glaze. Hermes nodded after a short pause.
The Dreamer turned to look at Shengshi, her eyes studying the mysterious snake-man and his bounty, “did you kill all these yourself?”
The snake, who appeared to be examining a fried shrimp, hummed absent-mindedly. “Nnnno. All of these were created in the kitchen, already prepared. I bet one could not find half of these creatures on Galbar.” He picked up an eight-tentacled creature and gestured to it. “Look, it’s a miniature Anzillu! I bet those do not exist yet,” he snickered. “By the way, go ahead and eat,” he repeated.
Xiaoli once again gestured for Hermes to wait. “He is testing you,” she whispered softly. “He has been waiting for a mortal guest for so long - he wants to see what you can and cannot do.”
Hermes suddenly chuckled, her vibrating laughter causing a tiny crackle to sound from inside one of the bottles. Her gaze met Shengshi, a playful glint hidden in her black eyes “do you want to know what I can do?”
The snake raised an eyebrow and took his eyes off the shrimp, placing them instead on Hermes. His lips parted in a smirk and he put the shrimp in his mouth.
“Certainly, Hermes, my dear guest. Do share with us your talents.” Xiaoli, as a way of gesturing to Hermes that they now could eat, put some food on Hermes’ place and poured some funny-smelling yellow water into her cup.
Poppler crackled happily as it left a bottle and whizzed over to the drink, dipping itself under the liquid. Hermes smile grew, “I can beat you in a foot race!”
The snake’s enthusiasm visibly dimmed. He laughed dryly and rolled his eyes partially. “Clever girl,” he mused. He tapped his claws on the tabletop. “Anything else?”
Hermes’ eyes darted for something else, she wasn’t expecting her joke to fall flat, “uh!” She looked down at Poppler, who now sat in an empty cup, “he can drink a lot.”
This appeared to arouse the snake’s attention, as the god craned forward and planted both elbows on the tabletop, placing his chin firmly on his intertwined knuckles.
“Is that so? Well, I suppose that is a hypothesis that warrants testing.” He snapped his fingers and the servants brought ten barrels, all marked with the same symbol. Meanwhile, Xiaoli had her face in her hands and was muttering quietly to herself. Upon the barrels’ arrival, the snake got up, grabbed two empty bowls from the table and filled them both from the nearest barrel. He held one close to his head and reached out with the other.
“Come hither, then, little gasling, and let us see whether a cloud can match a god in tolerance!”
”Zzt! Poppler zipped onward, cheered on by Hermes’ clapping. The cloudling quickly submerged itself into the bowl. In a few moments the liquid had all but disappeared, the cloudling no worse for wear, save a little whiter and slightly poofier.
The snake smirked slyly. “Not bad…” He swallowed the contents of his own bowl and refilled the two. “... But can you keep this speed up, little one?” He emptied his bowl again.
Meanwhile, Xiaoli turned to Hermes with a wry expression etched on her face. “My dear friend Hermes, this is all a fun spectacle, but…” Another drink was had by the two, followed with empty challenges and “zzts”. The girl continued, “But this may not be such a great idea, after all.”
“Why?” Hermes looked at Xiaoli,” Poppler really can’t lose.”
The girl put on an anxious frown. “That’s what I was afraid of…”
The last barrel revealed its contents to the world as the snake god sent his scaled fist through the top, breaking half of the top off and causing several litres to spill out. As the god groggily attempted to dam up the hole with his hand, seeing as he could not let the wine go to waste, he dropped his bowl on the floor, shattering it.
“Gah, cu’shd wosshname…”
Xiaoli let out a cold, emotionless giggle. “It had to happen again, didn’t it…” She groaned and turned to Hermes. “I am sorry you got to see him like this…”
Hermes leaned into Xiaoli’s ear, “maybe he should just pee, when I get full of drink, that’s what I do and I feel a lot better right after.”
Poppler crackled greedily, its form mighty and puffy. Suddenly there was a tiny clap of thunder and a bit of cloud broke off from the cloudling’s engorged form, then another, and another, and another until the cloudling was back to its original size, except now it was surrounded by new cloudlings. The tiny swarm popped and crackled excitedly, making their way to the sugary desserts that had gone crusty and stale during the competition.
The snake, having keeled over and crashed into the floor, raised a shaky fist. “Buh-... Urp! Buh-heaten buh a fart…” A tear ran down the snake god’s cheek. “Beatun by a faaa-ha-haaart!” He let out a long wail that was occasionally interrupted by burps.
Xiaoli groaned again. “Oh, I told him to take it easy, but nuh-hooooo!” she whispered loudly to herself. “Just had to be stupid and challenge an actual cloud. Why does he have to be such a...” The following words were unintelligible for the sake of Hermes’ innocence.
Hermes pursed her lips and gave a worried look, “Should we go?”
”Zzt!”
The girl shot her snoring master a furious scowl. He turned back to Hermes and sighed. “That may be for the best. I am terribly sorry it had to end like this.” She grabbed Hermes’ hands and squeezed them gently.
“I really hope we can see each other again soon!”
Hermes’ flipped her hands around so that she was holding Xiaoli’s instead, “but why don’t you come then?” The Dreamer smiled wide, “we can go see Li’Kalla and Narzhak, Kalmar, K’nell, and everyone else.”
The woman suddenly stopped, her eyes widening, “we can be friends with everyone. I can show you my home too!”
Xiaoli suddenly appeared dumbstruck, her eyes darting between Shengshi and Hermes. “I-... I…” She looked over to Shengshi again. “I…”
Xiaoli cleared her throat, looking downcast. “I… Want to…” She took a deep breath. “I want to join you! Please, take me away!”
The Dreamer gave her one of her cheshire grins and quickly organized her items into loops on her back. As she tidied herself, Poppler suddenly zipped into her hair, with nothing more than a content crackle. Hermes sighed happily and faced Xiaoli, her playful gaze dancing with glee.
“Shengshi is with K’nell right now, anyway.” She reassured the woman as she suddenly wrapped her arms around her. Before another word could be spoken, there was a thunderous clap, and the entire ensemble turned into a blur. The world turned to pins as they darted over endless tracts of land.
“So where do you want to go first?” Hermes asked, her scream turning into a whisper that had to be said directly into Xiaoli’s ear.
Xiaoli looked utterly slack-jawed at what had just transpired. She looked at Hermes with a glistening shine in her eyes. “Wh-... Wherever you would like,” she said dreamingly.
There was a long silent pause as Hermes thought, the group ascending ever higher. Quickly wisps of clouds enveloped the group as Hermes continued to think. There was so many things to show her new friend, she had no idea where to star-
Suddenly there was a brief flash of gold, but only for a split second, and then suddenly, everything changed.
Hermes zooms over the sea to Istais, spots Jiangzhou, boards the ship and eats fruit peels.
Upon hearing music from above, she hops up to check it out. She finds creepy snek, who immediately invites her to dinner. Xiaoli shows up and immediately falls in love with Chad Poppler.
Xiaoli hid Sheng’s booze and has to help him find it. Meanwhile, Poppler and Hermes wait around and eventually fall asleep, only to get wakened the fuck up by Shengshi soloing “Be Our Guest” to the melodic rhythms of heavy metal and cats in heat.
The food is served. Sheng wants to test Hermes’ Chinese manners and sees if she will eat before him, which Xiaoli advises her not to do. Hermes cracks a flat joke and later claims Poppler can outdrink Shengshi, which the snake disagrees with.
Chad Poppler drinks Sheng under the table (and then has babies, Poppler, not Sheng). Meanwhile, Xiaoli and Hermes share a moment and Xiaoli decides to join her on her adventures. The two head off to the Lustrious Garden shortly thereafter.
No Might or FP spent. Lots of self esteem broken.
“Friend or smash?” She asked sternly, her voice nonetheless betraying her gregarious nature.
“Now you speakin’ my language, babe,” said the snake.
Meanwhile, a young girl turned the corner of the wall and gave Hermes a smile. She silently stepped a little closer and carefully reached out to pat Poppler.
“What an adorable little thing…” she said.
Poppler craned his neck to look around her backside, “you aint so bad yourself, toots.”
The snake’s smile grew more genuine and he let out a warm chuckle. “Do not worry, little Hermes - you will not learn about methamphetamines here, that’s Anz’s job”
I'm not really a bird.
[center]-0-
Where did I play,
A land of twisted branches,
A kingdom of clay,
A swamp of memories,
A never-ending day,
Where did I run,
Across the dawn,
Through the sun,
Across the sky,
Through laughs and fun,
Where did I walk,
Pristine grass green,
White cliffs of chalk,
Pools of sky so blue,
Orchard stones that talk,
Where did I sit,
By the gates of silver,
Near endless pit,
By forever horizon,
You may remember it.[/center]
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I'm not really a bird.<br><br><div class="bb-center">-0-<br><br>Where did I play,<br>A land of twisted branches,<br>A kingdom of clay,<br>A swamp of memories,<br>A never-ending day,<br><br>Where did I run,<br>Across the dawn,<br>Through the sun,<br>Across the sky,<br>Through laughs and fun,<br><br>Where did I walk,<br>Pristine grass green,<br>White cliffs of chalk,<br>Pools of sky so blue,<br>Orchard stones that talk,<br><br>Where did I sit,<br>By the gates of silver,<br>Near endless pit,<br>By forever horizon,<br>You may remember it.</div></div>
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