[Flashback] Shattered Glass and New Acquaintances (Veldrys)

[Shai]

Shai blurted out the first conceivable answer that came to her mind. “It had religious value. If you could help me locate a replacement it would be appreciated. I can pay for it, but I would need to retrieve the coins from my nest.” She hoped that didn’t give too much away but maybe it didn’t sound as suspicious as it seemed. She needed to get off this topic, it was bad enough that she had broken the glass but if it continued she would say something better left unsaid.

Shai completely avoided the discussion of surrogates this time. It seemed like a sensitive subject, especially for the first time they had ever met. However, she did take a moment to mention the Purging. “I have made deliveries to the Purging a handful of times, one of my friends once worked there. But I stay away now though.”

Moving on to a safer topic she commented on his cloak request. “Red is very fashionable, I’m sure it wouldn’t take more than a week to have it on your shoulders.” She tried to surreptitiously examine him as he put away the tools and tidied up the mess that had come from his aid. He acted much more mature than Shai did, but as far as she could tell from appearances he was probably her junior. She was also relieved to notice he had eyes similar to hers, amethyst. There was nothing wrong with the other colors but red eyes always made Shai tense. In large part this was because, excluding Shai, all of web Nerium possessed crimson eyes. In addition to his eyes, she took a quick guess of his measurements; he wasn’t all that much smaller than her elder brother. Most cloaks didn’t require very much personal tailoring unless something fancy was requested, for the most part she really only need to know his height from his shoulders to his feet and the widest part of his body. While the request was simple and even in a common color, she would personally make sure his cloak was made with excellent cloth. It was the least she could do to return the favor."I believe I can guess your measurements for the cloak, you're similar in stature to my brother. So you needn't worry about that, but if you would like to drop by you could be properly measured just to be sure."

She let her lips into a small smile as she answered his final question, “No you didn’t, but I did give it. I am Shai.” It didn’t bother her to have her name forgotten, she was frankly speaking unremarkable among Symenestra.

[Veldrys]

„Religious value?“ Veldrys asked and arched an eyebrow. „Are you a follower of Viratas like me? I’ve occasionally thought of serving in the temple, of doing more than just pray. I enjoy being a healer, but a part of me yearns to be closer to our god“, he admitted. He was glad to have met another person who seemed to share his religious interests. Of course nearly every Symenestra prayed to Viratas, but a lot of them didn’t do more than that. His Web went to the temple regularly as well, but they had no higher aspirations. He usually didn’t have a lot of opportunities to talk about that topic ...

„You don’t have to pay for it“, he told her as she mentioned that she’d need to her nest and retrieve the coins. Her offer to pay for everything made him a little uncomfortable for some reason. It wasn’t necessary to pay for everything. As far as he was concerned, his Web was rich enough that they could just give something away for free every now and then – even though his father likely disagreed. „You've already paid for your treatment, besides you’ve offered to make a cloak for me. That’s payment enough.“

As she remarked that she stayed away from the Purging now, he looked at her curiousy. “Why do you stay away from it?“ he wanted to know. „Did anything happen – if you don’t mind the question?“ He had never seen her at the Purging. It must have been before his time or maybe he had been in a different part of the Purging. „Anyway, I’ll drop by your house. I want to make sure that you really have the correct measurements.“ Visiting her to have his measurements taken would also give him the opportunity to find out a little more about her. The mention of religion had caught his attention.

As she reminded him that she had already given him her name, he averted his gaze, a little embarrassed. „I was probably too focused on treating your wounds“, he murmurred. „That or I’m getting old before my time. My apologies, Shai. That’s the downside of being a healer. When you are doing your job, you tend to forget everything else.“

[Shai]

Shai gave a slight smile, “Yes. My web is rather devout. Unfortunately my generation has no second son. I believe my youngest sibling really should strive to join the church. She’s truly brilliant; she could be so much more than a seamstress. I probably would have when I was younger if it wasn’t for. . .” She stumbled over her words a moment, “If it wasn’t for the reason I avoid the Purging.” She tried to laugh light heartedly but it tasted bitter even to her tongue. “My ‘friend’ was once a healer there. It was a scandal really, one I like to keep my name out of as much as possible. But perhaps you know him, his name was Dhalvasha. Or maybe he was before your time there. Regardless I prefer to stay away because it reminds me of him and his greed.” She shrugged trying to seem nonchalant and obscure the importance of the event. It was an event that had changed her life and she didn't like to dwell on it if possible.

Shai tried to ignore his refusal of payment, she could tell he only meant well. The wealthy rarely understood a poor man’s pride. Her family lacked riches but they were beholden to no one and there was great worth in that.

“Please don’t worry about it, I understand. I’m prone to focusing too much as well.” Shai should head for her meeting, she was beyond late at this point but it wouldn’t do any good to show up without the chalice. She would need to replace it before then, but how to convince the young man to expedite his offer of help without being rude? Perhaps by increasing the speed of her own offer. “If it’s convenient we could go now and get your measurements. Or any time that you have available really, any Nerium can do the job fairly well.” Honestly, she could probably have done it but she didn’t have a tailor’s tape on hand. With a gentle rustling of of her cloak, Shai stood and looked to Veldrys inquisitively.

[Veldrys]

„There is no second son in my Web either“, Veldrys admitted. „I’m the first born and according to our traditions it is my duty to find surrogates for those around me. Sometimes I wish I were the second born so that I could devote myself to Viratas without having a bad conscience.“

A sigh escaped his lips. His sisters were much better suited for those slightly problematic aspects of their society. They didn’t seem to particularly care about the surrogates, while he always thought too much about them and preferred to lose himself in religious or medical texts rather than abducting unsuspecting women.

He wanted to say more about the issue when Shai suddenly started talking about the reason why she avoided the Purging and he listened with interest. As she mentioned a familiar name, he arched an eyebrow.

„Dhalvasha?“ he asked, surprised. „I met him when I was a boy, a mere apprentice. I stumbled across the room where he was operating on a surrogate by chance. I was fifteen or sixteen at the time, and he taught me a few important things. I didn’t have such a bad impression of him. He was different, to be sure, but he was a brilliant doctor. Do you know what happened to him?“

He didn’t know what she had meant when she had talked about Dhalvasha’s „greed“. The man hadn’t seemed particularly greedy to him, in any way. He had been very intelligent. They had had a few things in common. Veldrys had quickly come to the conclusion that he wanted to be just like him when he grew up, that he wanted to be such a dedicated doctor as well.

As Shai told him not to worry about, he nodded curtly and gave her a light smile. „Let us go right now“, he decided. „I’d prefer if you could do it. Lead the way. I’m not sure where exactly the Nerium Web lives.“

[Shai]

Nodding Shai headed for the exit, “Allow me to be your guide then.”

Back on the silken streets that led to Veldrys’s home, she waited for her newly met neighbor. It wasn’t terribly far back to her web, but most things were close in a city so sparsely inhabited. When he joined her on the rope she would continue their conversation. “Dhalvasha left Kalinor one night and to my knowledge no one has seen nor heard of him sense. Yes, he was once brilliant but he had an episode of mental instability and was never quite the same afterwards.” She gave him a gentle smile, careful not to reopen the scraps on her mouth. As far as she would divulge that was the end of the story, any further information would illuminate her involvement in the events. Her pupils dilated as they left the enclosed space, expanding her vision against the darkness of the cavern.

“You and I are somewhat in the minority I believe Veldrys. Not many seem to have true faith in Viratas anymore, it is sad really. May I ask what draws you to his worship? ” Waiting patiently for his reply, Shai gathered her own thoughts on the subject in case he should ask the same in return. At one time, Shai had worshipped as a social tool, a way to elevate herself in the eyes of her family. But since she had grown into an adult, her beliefs had engrained themselves upon her and became a permanent facete of her personality. Now she clung to the connectivity blood could give her, to those she had lost but still lived and to those that nourished her body by their sacrifice. The chief connection blood could give her was to her god though. In her groups bloody rituals she always felt safe in the embrace of Viratas’s power. It was a phantom emotion, she knew that there was no true power protecting her at those times she stood drenched in the life’s blood of a sacrifice but the belief was strong enough to sustain her most of the time. The safe answer would be to focus on the connectivity of the lost though and would be her answer if he asked.

OOCyou're a saint for your patience Vel <3. I've finally managed to nail down the story between Dhal and Shai so no further delays! XD

[Veldrys]

„Something must have happened to him“, Veldrys murmurred. „Dhalvasha didn’t seem like the kind of man that leaves without a trace back then. He enjoyed his work.“ Had it finally gotten to him? The fact that he was surrounded by surrogates day in, day out? No, he hadn’t appeared to be particularly sensitive. Dhalvasha had always seemed like a typical Symenestra to him and not the kind of man that lost his mind because his people needed to kill innocent women in order to survive. Regardless of what had happened, Veldrys realized that he missed him, their work together and all those conversations about medical treatments.

For a moment he considered asking Shai if she knew more, but she didn’t seem to be particularly interested in talking about the issue, and thus he decided to let the matter be. Maybe he would go to the Purging later on and see if he could find out what had happened to his former mentor. But for now he simply followed her along the rope, to her home. As she asked him about his worship of Viratas, he stopped and furrowed his brow.

„Minority? I don’t think so. The worship of Viratas is still strong in Kalinor, and the temple is often full during mass. But you are right, a lot of people don’t have true faith in him anymore. They have forgotten what Viratas and the Viratassa are really about.“ He said the last bit carefully. He didn’t know what exactly Shai’s views on this were and was reluctant to reveal what exactly he thought for that reason. „I don’t know what draws me to his worship. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t pray to him. He was always there.“

„Maybe it is the blood, the fact that we are all connected through it. Those that follow Viratas worship the essence of life. There is no purer kind of worship. What about you, Shai? Why do you pray to him? What does having true faith mean for you?“

[Shai]

Shai simply let the conversation regarding the Hysalv fade off. It wasn’t an appropriate topic for a new acquaintance by any means.

“I apologize; I’ve allowed myself to be misunderstood. I meant in the minority regarding true faith. There is no doubt the ceremonies are still observed.” Shai corrected quickly, although she had high suspicions regarding the belief of her fellow Symenestra she frequented the temple and knew well that her kin still observed the rites. Delicately placing each step she led Veldrys, all too aware of her earlier stunt that had brought her face to face with the darkness of the chasm beneath. At the time it hadn’t alarmed her but looking back she should have been terrified.

“I can see their reasoning some days, how dismally they view our people’s future.” This was one topic she had always agreed with Dhalvasha on; something must be done. How long until the surface races caught on to their surrogate operation? And their reaction wasn’t difficult to fathom. “But if we haven’t got hope, we’ve got nothing.” Shai murmured mostly to herself although certainly loud enough for Veldrys to hear.

The female Symenestra kept her features trained as she explained her reasons for her devotion to Viratas. Over her years growing the reasons had changed but it had been dozens of seasons since then and she had become set in her thinking. “In my highest regard lies the promise of connection. It is our proof, our link, to those who aren’t among us. Such as the harvesters.” While the harvesters were by no mean her reason for her need for connection it was a perfectly acceptable excuse in her mind. “How could faith be anything but a wish and dream that what you believe is true? That is how I have always understood faith.”

Catching sight of her home Shai briskly informed him of their arrival, “Oh, we’re here already.” The spider stepped in and then motioned for Veldrys to follow, “Please come in. I’ll retrieve the tailor’s tape and get your measurements promptly.“

[Veldrys]

„I see“, Veldrys replied as Shai explained what she had really meant when she had talked about a minority. He fell silent for a while as he followed her through the city. After witnessing Shai’s near accident, the healer was careful as well, even though he had never fallen off the web himself.

„And I agree, if we don’t have hope, we don’t have anything. The situation may be desperate, but we cannot simply sit there and wait to die. Something needs to be done. The status quo is unacceptable.“

For a moment he almost considered saying more, but then he decided not to. It seemed as if Shai was a kindred spirit, but one could never be completely sure. Many of his colleagues at the Purging disagreed with his views. So he just nodded as she told him how she understood faith and remarked, „I see it the same way.“

„This is it?“ he asked as they stopped in front of a house. „Thank you“, he said as she opened the door and followed her into the house.

[Shai]

Shai gave him a nod in response and walked in, “Please come in.” She added as formality. The interior of the structure was not vastly different from any of the other similarly sized buildings. What might set it apart was the readily evident profession of its occupants. No partitioning curtain was left unembroidered or designed and every piece of furniture was adorned with a cloth or cushion. Beneath the coverings the furniture was well taken care of but certainly aged. “I would offer you a seat Veldrys but such posture isn’t precisely conducive to acquiring measurements.” She offered him a quick smile and then strolled across the room.

She knew exactly which nook her sewing supplies were stored and she took no time in opening the compartment. As soon as she did the numerous little cubbies became visible several spewing out colored ribbons and bits of lace. Shai pulled open a small drawer and began pawing around looking for the tape she so rarely used. She hadn’t lied when she said she wasn’t a tailor, but she knew a small degree of the craft and had taken to the hobby as a way to pass time when she had been watching over her son. Shai shook her head slightly to dispel the memory and snatched up the tailor’s tape. “I didn’t tell you the full story of Dhalvasha, it would be rude to leave some of it out I suppose. The rumor is a couple of years old now; I forget how fast such things fade from memories.” She gave Veldrys a conspiratorial quirk of her lips, as she attempted to mask her own involvement with a rumor and seem nothing more than a busy-body. “You see, Dhalvasha didn’t just leave Kalinor. As you recall I mentioned his episode of insanity?” She moved back towards the male Symenestra. “Well, following his break down he stole his son from his wife and fled the city.” Shai flicked open the tailor’s tape slightly dramatically to punctuate the phrase. “The rest of what I said is quite true though, he has not been heard from since.”

She circled around the Veldrys once getting a good look at him, before picking up the loose end of the tape. “Would you please place your hands on your hips with your elbows bent outwards?” She indicated how he should stand. The purpose of the first measurement was to make sure he would have some maneuverability within his new cloak. Few pieces of clothing were more cumbersome than an ill-fitted cloak.

[Veldrys]

The interior of Shai’s house resembled the interior of his own house. Even the arrangement of the rooms was similiar. But while his furniture was functional, and the curtains in his house were all made of simple silk, all in the same colour, hers were covered with embroidery and interesting designs. Even though it was different from what he was used to, he decided that the overall effect was quite pleasant. She had good taste.

„I don’t mind standing“, he assured her and watched her as she walked across the room and rummaged through the drawer. He had very little idea about sewing or weaving and didn’t know what she needed all those ribbons for. Did she intend to put them on her clothes? Decorate the room with it? He furrowed his brow a little.

As she admitted that she hadn’t told him the full story of Dhalvasha, he looked at her. „What kind of rumor? Our first meeting was a couple of years ago, and I don’t remember hearing anything, but then I was just a boy and occupied with other things.“ A somewhat embarrassed smile was visible on his face for a moment. „And yes, you mentioned his insanity.“ Did this rumour have to do with it, with his supposed insanity?

„I didn’t know that he was married or had a child“, he admitted. „What happened to the boy? Did they ever manage to find him? Is his wife still in Kalinor?“ he asked, a little worried. Of course he had no idea that Dhalvasha’s wife was standing right in front of him. It seemed as if he had been wrong about his colleague after all. How come he had never noticed anything? You would have thought that a man that was willing to abduct his own child and disappear without a trace would act a little suspiciously every now and then.

As she asked him to, he placed his hands on his hips, even though it made him feel a little ridiculous.