[The Lyceum] Chance (Seodai)

[Xelhes]

Winter 2, 511 A.V. Despite it being only midday, Xelhes was situated in the Lyceum, reading a book on herbs and the various ways they could be used as a medication. Many of the citizens already were unsure of how to view Xelhes now that his personality had taken a shift. Since his night with Veldrys, the Ethaefal had slowly become more open and warm with people; startling many who thought he was cold and antisocial. It had taken some time, but the memories he had gained from the night were far clearer than before. His mind had been briefly confused, unsure of what to make with the memories he had obtained from Veldrys' magic as they were memories of the woman from his past life, yet also that of a man; a prophet. With the memories gained from that one night, more had appeared; glimpses of various moments from that life that brought about a change in Xelhes' old mind. From there, with a clear mind, Xelhes had begun to try and regain pieces of that life and slowly acting more like the individual from that past life. People were not something to be feared, but loved and protected. Even if they might abandon him, there were surely others who would not; others who loved him. The thing that brought about the biggest change internally however, was the moment of his death. Leth had not abandoned him to this world, but instead had simply done what Xelhes asked for. Xelhes himself had asked to be given time to rest, and when his strength renewed to be returned to the mortal realm in order to find that Stone. However he could not be sure of anything about the Stone, even with Veldrys as a possible ally. For now he was just simply to wait, until an opportunity arose. Bettering himself at the skills he already had; to try and make it so he was not a liability. Finishing the chapter in the book he had, Xelhes looked around the room to see who was around. It was still odd seeing so many people here compared to when he came at night. So many bodies in one space, and all for knowledge. While it no longer took effort to be friendly and open with people, he still had problems with people getting too friendly with him, simply because he found it odd. Very few people actually knew Xelhes' opinions or thoughts, so them acting as if he was their best friend was simply out of place. Actually, sometimes it even upset the Ethaefal, though not as much as the accusations he had received. At least one or two men and women had asked Xelhes if his change was due to him 'becoming a man' or going to the Temple of Nikali for a few visits; instantly souring his mood and opinion of them. Not once would he ever use that places' services nor consider the whores that worked there equal. They were disgusting to him, simply giving themselves to those who entered; the people using those services almost as bad. Shaking his head the Ethaefal rose to put the book away, replacing it with one similar but instead focused more on the medicinal application of the herbs. It was interesting to learn how only a certain part of the plant could be useful. Sometimes only the root could heal, and if the leaves were used it would become a poison. The plant life had changed from the life he once lived, so learning it all over again was a rather special thing. Glancing around the room again an individual caught his attention. The man looked familiar, like someone he had seen on various occasions, yet he could not pin a name on. Unknowingly, Xelhes stared at him for a moment, before realising what he was doing. Sighing, he walked over to the man with an embarrassed smile on his face. It was only up close that he realised that the man was rather attractive, but had no desire to give a false thought on his actions. Attractive meant nothing, not when someone could be disgusting under it. "Hello," Xelhes said, his embarrassment replaced by a warm smile. "My name is Xelhes. You look familiar, but I cannot come up with a name for you...Sorry to ask, but would you mind telling?" Now that Xelhes was up close with the man, he knew he had seen him somewhere at least once. But where? It seemed like he should know who this individual was, yet his mind kept drawing up blanks. He wanted to blame his new found memories on that, as even now after all the time that had passed the memories of the prophet still invading every so often. It was an odd feeling, having memories one knew did not belong to them in any way; or had any rite to. Still, he had made astounding progress and this was proof. Giving the man another smile, Xelhes waited for his answer. Somehow he knew that when, or if, the man answered he would feel like a total fool. An embarrassment is probably what it would become, but those incidents no longer affected him the way they did; not with the new individual he was trying to become. He would have that life back, and be happy once again, no matter what tried to oppose it.

[Seodai]

To say that the few days before had been crazy for Seodai would have been an understatement. After a swim prompted by stress-induced near insanity, Seodai had kissed an ethaefal, remembered things he wished he didn't, and ended up under Caelum's care. The healer, or physician, or sunsinger, or whatever he was, had saved him from his own stupidity, the cold in his limbs, and eventually helped Seodai find himself again. When he'd at last slipped out of the confines of the clinic, in the dead of night, the Lyceum had been the first place he'd come. Not for the books though, not that. It had been only a few hours since he'd willed himself to crawl out of the bed he'd slipped into. Syllke had other responsibilities, and Seodai was starving. He thought to stop and see if he could find a few books, first. He was hardly an avid reader, but this time he was searching for something. Something specific. The something he was looking for already existed inside his mind. He could see it every time he closed his eyes, feel the heavy warmth of it in his palm. Most of all, though, he could see the reflection of it in Kova's wide eyes when he had given it to her - the gift that had cost life and love, and nearly killed him in its acquisition. That damned stone. He felt as if he could read about it... well, he wasn't even sure why he wanted to read about it. Everything just felt so disjointed and surreal, and sometimes he wondered if Melchior wasn't all a dream. He knew, intuitively, that such wasn't true, but still. His mortal mind was struggling with the onslaught it had been placed under in the days prior. It was during such a search, in the general vicinity of all the information about the Valterrian, that he was interrupted. Seodai glanced up and then over his shoulder, one way, then the other. As if he thought Xelhes must be speaking to someone behind him. Who approached him, after all? When he found no one else to blame the attentions upon, big blue eyes blinked once, then twice at the dark headed young man addressing him. "Seodai," he said, at last. The book he had in his hand snapped closed more loudly than he intended, and Seo glanced down at it. "I'm Seodai. I live on the farm..." He really had little else to offer. It was unusual to find a stranger in Denval; those who came to the isolated town were all too quickly known. And so he simply tried to smile, and half succeeded, towards this Xelhes. "You're new to Denval?"