The Charge

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

50th Fall 511AV Serrif was walking down the hallway to Lym’s Lab. He had become used to being there. It had become familiar to him after all this time. He knew the layout of the hallway and all its intricacies. Although even with all the rumors that Rak’keli was here somewhere he had never seen her roaming the halls. But that didn’t mean that it was impossible. Although sometimes he found it unbelievable that the Gods and Goddesses had human forms at all. That they would waste their precious time here in mortal form. As far as he considered all of those were just stories. Stories that he didn’t really care to believe in. That didn’t mean it wasn’t possible. Just that it isn’t seem probable to him. He was a very practical being. He didn’t take formal classes because he saw them as useless. What was he going to learn in a classroom that wasn’t taught by a healer while on the job? He figured practicality was much better than simple class lessons. He was taking a liking to Lym’s lab. He was familiar with how it was laid out, where she kept her books and the order they were kept in, he knew where the glassware was and how she liked it. In all he was finally becoming used to how everything was around her lab. Serrif made his way into the lab and Lym was standing on the other side of the table. “Morning.” He said as he entered. “Morning Serrif.” She said as she smiled and toiled over just how she was going to tell him all of this…How she would tell him he was given the opportunity of a very fine honor. “I have news Serrif, big news.” Those were words he had never heard before. And he could only assume they were neutral words. The news itself he had no details on. He knew not the origin of said news nor what it really meant. He braced himself internally for what could be the news. It could be good, he could be promoted, or even been accepted or offered the position of member in the Opal Order. He wasn’t sure how the news could be bad but it seemed that bad things had a way of finding him here. But he read Lym. She seemed excited but worried. Maybe excited because the news was good but worried for how he would take it. That confused him slightly. What kind of news could create such a response in Lym? He had been doing good work here so he knew that there was nothing but good things to say about his work here. He had created good medicine under the care and guidance of Lym; and helped plenty of people with that medicine as well. He watched her as he spoke. “Do you? Well I’d love to hear it.” He said as she then took a seat feeling like he would need it. “Every season a healer is selected to be sent outside to gather information from the realm. Medicinal knowledge, herbal knowledge and anything else that will benefit the order further.” “Have you been selected?” Serrif asked as he then waited for her response. “No, but you have.” Serrif was stunned, his world came into focus for him in an instant and he looked to Lym for a better explanation. He wasn’t even a healer here! People had hardly noticed him, or so he thought. Why him? There were plenty of healers here who were better versed than he was. He was still a little floored. What made them think he would take them up on this offer? Why would he ever leave Mura and venture out into the world which he had tried so hard to get away from. He was an escaped slave! Surely they knew this! Surely they wouldn’t ask him to go back out into the world and risk being caught and tortured again! No, he wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t leave Mura. He couldn’t even begin to bring himself to think about it. This place was peaceful. And set aside from all the chaos of the outside world. All that chaos that he had ran from. All of that pain that he had set aside; all because he was somewhere he was safe. Here in Mura he was untouchable. But out there…he was another escaped slave just asking to be picked back up and killed. “You seem to have impressed a few people while you were here. You aren’t a pretty rose like many of the other healers. You now how to survive out there. Ildin says she is impressed with your progress…This was taken all the way to the Mothers Circle Serrif. They give you their blessing.” She said watching him. She knew he didn’t want to leave. But sometimes the best things were the hardest things to do. Serrif shook his head running his hands through his hair while he took it all in. “What would this entail?” He asked, he was still far from fond of the idea. But he knew that if the Mothers Circle gave him the blessing…well he likely didn’t have too much a choice in the matter. He was going to have to go. “If you decide to do this Riverfall and Wind Reach are your destinations. You will document the knowledge you find and bring it back here whenever you feel like you are done or can continue no longer.” She said as she reached down below her desk and pulled four blank books out and set them on the table. Serrif sighed and spoke quietly. “I don’t very much have a choice in all of this do I?” He said as he looked up to Lym looking for an answer. He didn’t want to leave Mura. But if this was how it was going to be…well that was it. “You do, but if you do this I can almost guarantee entry into the Order, and you will have had a hand in gathering some of the needed knowledge for the archives.”

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif was still fighting himself on the issue. He had fought so hard, SO HARD to get to where he was now. He was happy with here he was. He WANTED to be in Mura. He loved it here, the beauty was astounding. He felt like it was home, he felt at peace here on the island. Did they not want him here? Was this their way of getting rid of him? Sending him out into the wild? He sat his forehead in the palm of his hand as he toiled over this. He couldn’t believe it. JUST as he was beginning to feel at home somewhere safe he was told he was to go away. He felt betrayed; why did they want him gone? Yes couldn’t they just get the knowledge off traders! Couldn’t they? Why send him out to retrieve the information for them. Why? There were plenty of Konti here who could manage the task, especially with their Ivaski counterparts. But he would be alone, just him in this journey. Him and his skills; nothing and no one else. He would have to rely on himself completely…again. “Do you know what you ask?” He said quietly not even looking to her as those words slipped from his subconscious out through his mouth. “I am aware Serrif…but I think if you really think it over you will find you need this.” She assured him. Serrif shook his head some side to side slowly speaking to her again gently. “I NEED…” He sighed and just brushed it off. “Serrif you are not the same man who came here to me three seasons ago. That man was confused and had no idea where he was going. But you…you are driven. You know what you want Serrif. You want to do good where there has been so much pain and suffering.” She moved over to his side and looked down into his deep emerald eyes. This had to be horribly difficult for him. Humans weren’t like Konti, and Serrif was so very different from her kind. He was looking for solitude and had found it here among the Konti. He wanted to stay. He wanted to just relax in paradise forever like many Konti did. But Serrif had a calling Lym believed. Even if he didn’t know it he had a calling greater than he even imagined. He could do good where no Konti ever could. He was stronger and more driven than almost any other Konti she had ever met. Ildin had said those very words about him. And coming from her those were indeed high compliments. Ildin NEVER said those words about any of her students before him. Serrif was a unique individual. Driven to the very end, steadfast in his values and quick to learn. He wanted to make a difference; however he wasn’t going to make the difference he wanted to here in Mura. No, he needed to go elsewhere. This was only an opportunity for him to do so. An opportunity that would offer him further opportunities in the future; how could she make him see this. A Konti would jump at this opportunity, and to tell the truth any healer here in the Order would find this a great honor. But humans were different, they didn’t have a Call like her Konti sisters did. No, humans were content on roaming the great wilds forever. But not Serrif; no he wanted a greater purpose. She had seen that in him. That was why she had suggested and pushed so hard for him to be the healer chosen. She had to fight for him though. Because even though he wasn’t a marked member of the Order he was still a healer by all means. He had demonstrated himself time and time again to her and the Order. He had the capacity to heal, and the understanding of just how important healing was. That was why he was a fine choice. And Ildin spoke wonders for him to the Mothers Circle. “I…Lym, I am still unsure if this is right for me.” He confessed as he looked to her. She smiled and spoke sweetly to him. “I believe you were the perfect choice Serrif. Because you exhibit everything a healer is. You are strong, unwavering in your morals, and above all you have a gentle healing touch. Serrif we send you only because we want to send our very best. “ She said trying again to challenge and comfort him all at the same time. He pondered that over, he supposed he was the best chance for them to get the information. He was likely to survive out there; because he did after all come from there. He had suffered more than most, and there was nothing that was going to stop him from achieving what he wanted. He was driven; even he knew this. He sighed again slowly coming to terms with leaving the isle. He knew any Konti would simply take the task without a further question. But he was no Konti…he was…he still didn’t know. He still hid behind the name he made for himself. As far as he was considered he was Serrif Von Chatlyn, that was the name he gave when he entered Mura when he remade himself. When he cast that slave camp aside; when he discarded the three years of torture. Serrif was his name; HIS name. He was a new man, he knew when he set foot in the port he was a new man. He had fought through his past and made this for himself. He knew that he was going to be a different person. He was stronger, skilled, and above all a healer. Knowing this he knew that the Order wanted to test his resolve. He couldn’t say no to this chance. Not with the trouble Lym and Ildin had to go through to get him here. They had trained him, nurtured him and challenged him. Now they offered him a charge…to show them what he was. To show them what he had become. To prove that all the training hadn’t fallen on deaf ears. EVERYTHING up to this point was only a precursor to what he was facing now. Serrif composed himself. Stood and nodded slowly but surely. “You can tell the Mothers Circle I accept. I will do as they ask.”

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Ildin smiled and seemingly grew happy that her student was going to take the charge. He was going to venture away from Mura and gather knowledge for the Order. She was sure he would gain all kinds of wonderful knowledge. And above all she was sure he would be able to return to them and not perish in the wilderness outside the isle. He had survived so much already. This helped her make her decision even more. She knew he could hold his own. She knew he could survive in the wilderness alone. But she also knew it was not going to be an easy road ahead of him. He was going to toil, he was going to struggle. But she knew in her heart that he would make it through. Which was one reason she wasn’t so sad to see him go. Because she knew she would see him again someday. Konti…when she sent one of her Konti students away many times she worried. Because so few of them knew how to survive in the outside world. And once they got there they faced a harsh realization of just how terrible and harsh the rest of the world was. However Serrif was callused to the outside world already. He had survived terrors that would break and torture almost any Konti she knew of. Serrif had pushed above it all. He had proven that the world wouldn’t and couldn’t keep him down and out. She handed Serrif her three blank books from the desk. Serrif nodded and in return reached into his pocket and put nine gold mizas on the desk. “No need to pay me Serrif.” She said almost as if to refuse the payment. The old Serrif would’ve taken the books, however he didn’t want to just take them. “You will need to replace the books Lym, you fill them at an alarming speed.” He said referring to the many tombs she had filled with knowledge already. He didn’t want her to be out three fine books just because she wanted to gift them to him. “I suppose you are correct Serrif.” She said with a smile as she scooped up the coins and put them in a drawer. She would keep them for a rainy day. “I suppose I need to gather supplies, and tie a few loose ends.” He said as he looked to Lym. “The boat will leave end of the season Serrif you have plenty of time. And I have much I want to teach you before you go. But today…today reflect and get what you need. Riverfall is brutal in the winter, and Wind Reach will be cold as well. Plan accordingly.” She suggested as he nodded and spoke again. “Thank you Lym, I will plan adequately.” He said as he then left the laboratory and began thinking to himself. He supposed it made sense why they wanted to send him. He was skilled and above all he believed he was the most likely to survive outside Mura. And well…he never felt like he really belonged here with the Isle of beautiful women. He was a sore thumb among these women. They would remain youthful forever. And he would age and die far before they did. And he couldn’t put that pain on anyone who would dare to love him. He couldn’t put them through the pain of living without him. And he didn’t want them to go along remembering him like that. No, he didn’t belong in Mura…The more he thought about it the more it became apparent to him. Mura was not his place…Mura couldn’t be his home. It was merely a starting point for him. Somewhere where he could get his feet under him before he set out into the world again. He had a feeling when he got here that it wouldn’t be forever. Blythe was right, eventually everyone left Mura. Reasons differed but it seemed like humans weren’t meant to be on Mura. He kind was to prone to action, his life was short and he needed to do something with it. Unlike Konti his life was compressed. And only conviction of action would drive him to have a fulfilling life. He had to do something with himself. He had trained his skills…and now it was time to use them. Really put himself to the test and see if he had really learned anything at all. He wanted to prove to his teachers that the skills they infused into him had indeed become part of him. He had learned in leaps and bounds from where he had been when he first came here. But there was a sneaking suspicion that it was possible that they just wanted him gone. That for some reason he upset the order on the Island. He didn’t know why this suspicion was there. He hadn’t done anything to his knowledge that would constitute them making him leave under the guise of gaining knowledge. But he had played nice while he was here. And he had only done good in his eyes the entire time. So to say they were sending him off on purpose seemed illogical to him. The reasons he had received for them wanting to send him made sense to him. And in his mind, deep inside his mind he knew he didn’t belong. That sneaking suspicion caused his heart to sink…would he ever find a home or would he just wander the realm gathering knowledge. A man without a home…but not without a cause. He supposed he would find home eventually…somewhere. He didn’t know where. But he knew he would find home. He hoped he would find home; this place…it was too perfect for him. Everything was too good for him. He sighed and his heart sank a little lower…it was time to get himself together.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

He couldn’t help but think that he just wasn’t meant to be here. That this place was just…too good for him. He didn’t belong here. But then where did he belong? Where could he settle down and call home? He sighed as he exited the temple grounds. He knew that it was useless pouting about such things. He had just been handed an honor! But still it seemed to him like a punishment disguised as an honor. How well could they have thought this through? Did they really know how much he had fallen in love with Mura? Did they know the sense of relief and safety that Mura brought him? How much this had changed his every day operation? How could they? He couldn’t expect them to just know how he felt about this. How he much this serenity had made its way into his every catacomb. How this peace had become one with him since he had finally decided he was going to embrace it. But now he was going to go away from it all. He was going to travel to places unknown to him. Places he had never heard of, places he had never been. He didn’t know what to expect; and it was somewhat exciting to him not to know. He had become accustomed to his daily routine here on the Isle. And now he was going to have to create something totally new for himself. He was unsure what he would do with himself. He knew he had to travel off island. He knew that there was little for him here now. But he would bring a little piece of Mura with him everywhere he went. He knew that no matter where he went he would remember this place. This fabled isle of peace and tranquility would always be with him. It had enacted change on him unlike anywhere else he had ever been. And he knew that if he hadn’t ended up here in Mura he wouldn’t be who he was now. He would be full of spite and revenge. He wouldn’t be looking to heal…he would have blood on his hands. He would be a killer and likely be dead as well; a product of his own out of control rage. He knew that Mura was where he needed to be. But it was no longer where he needed to stay. He was a different man now; ready to face with courage and conviction the world outside Mura. He knew he had the skills needed, and he knew that he could act appropriately. And he knew he could help countless people before his time was over. But he couldn’t do that here on Mura…he had to leave. He had to enact change on the outside world. And to do this he needed to leave here. He had to leave his sanctuary and venture out to the world he had left behind. He could always come back to Mura. Maybe spend his last days as an elderly man here or something…if he lived that long. requests : Skills I don't know of any besides social ones Lore Leaving Mura Missing Home Already Receipt : three blank books 9hm

[Archelon]

Thread Award "Awwwww yar' moving? Can I come too? Look I got my own box!" And the Results!!!!: Serrif : SkillName 1-5 How/why? Rhetoric 1 Socialization 1 Philosophy 1 Lores: Leaving Mura Missing Home Already Courage to face the Unknown Future Sorrow of Isles Note= Receipt approved , please mark them on your CS when you get the time . Would you like some extra turtle sauce ? : Awww... this makes me sad Poor Serrif.