[Festival of Illusions] Just as lost as you are! (Nira'lia)

[Bob Barton]

It took some typical religious madness for Bob to realize the error of his ways. For nearly the entire season he has been trying his best to get out of praying at the temple, to a god known for a lot of strange things but none any good. It was hard but well worth it in his opinion. Even if what is like a second home to him, the base of his employment's operations being located right below the temple, he has been able to avoid the place entirely. It was normal for worship to the god of Illusions to come out in even normal conversations from some of his peers especially the zealots, and those have been adamant in trying to get Bob to follow him if only to keep up appearances for the rest of Alvadas to follow. If not them then who would lead the people down the correct path?

But despite all their skills and experience to force people to do what was needed, it took one of those beautiful konti women to get Bob into the temple. Bob's protests to "w-w-wait! Its alright, you can have your quick prayer and I'll wait out here for you while I watch" were completely ignored as he found himself being pushed in. If this was done for a completely different reason that Bob would want, he definitely would not be trying to drag his feet but there was no stopping it. He was in. Hopefully none of those people he knew in their stupidly bright uniforms will be there or they would expect him to continue coming in but there was no such luck for the gambler was there? Good luck or bad, they were only two sides of the same coin and Bob already had his good.

Bob was not an optimist to realize that all the stupidly bright and colourful uniforms may be performers or people who are enjoying the festival. His worries that he may have to be here again had his eyes jumping all over the place looking for anyone he might know even if he was in the company of Nira'lia and had his chance. There were a lot of men, women and children who are enjoying the loot and food they have gotten from the festival and none of those attention hogs were around them. "Thank Kelwyn!" for his luck. Maybe he should offer up a quick prayer and get Nira'lia somewhere else before he was recognized by... "uggh..."

He did not mean to moan like that but that gold uniform got Bob's attention easily especially when he was looking for it. Running up the arm he saw the patch which said to him just like all the others that he was done for. Perhaps Kelwyn has not abandoned him yet and Bob was not yet spotted. Turning, he tried to grab Nira'lia to the other side where "there is less people, so why don't we give our prayers there?"

Well a lot of people come to a temple to pray with others but she was with Bob now and it should not be too much of a problem. If she was still not too convinced maybe she would believe him when he said "Ionu doesn't like mixing up someone's prayers with others so we might have more chances for him to listen there" just like when he said he was a regular. Why would Ionu find fault in Bob with that? He was only doing what the god does and that is concealing the truth.

[Nira'lia]

Bob was acting in an odd manner. Nira'lia knew that much. Truth be told, she didn't know him, but it was evident that he seemed uncomfortable at being dragged into the temple. Nira'lia realized this too late. She had paid no heed to his complaints, simply assuming that they were baseless. However, now that she could see that he seemed to be avoiding something, the Konti felt guilty for forcing him inside. "I apologi—" Caught off-guard, he grabbed her to pull her elsewhere. She had been so careful not to touch him, but the effort had turned futile in the end. Nira'lia's eyes turned to a daze as her surroundings flooded with his memories. It was a vision that was set in a suspicious looking place. A man had just cut off Bob's fingers, and then a man and woman were speaking to him and helping him, and then a cloud of cards turned into giant wasps. Soon enough, the two people had put a mark on his hand. Nira'lia could vaguely recognize the feeling. It was the feeling of being touched by a divine being. Since she had no way of recognizing Kelwyn, she had no idea about who they were. Finally returning to the present, Nira'lia quickly pushed away from Bob. She had been wondering about his lost fingers, and now she knew why. The Konti now realized the rudeness of her action—nobody liked being pushed away from, but she had done it unconsciously. He had been saying something, but she hadn't heard it. With a sheepish grin, she proceeded to apologize profusely, "I'm sorry! It's just, uhm... I..." Since she had no way of explaining her predicament, she quickly changed the topic. "Over here!" she suddenly said, taking a seat at the closest bench. Before he could even react to her strange behaviour, she closed her eyes and bowed her head, praying to Ionu. Nira'lia didn't know Ionu either, aside from the fact that he was a trickster God. So she prayed that he'd help her learn about how to traverse through the city. Once she was done with her short prayer, she turned her head to see if Bob had offered a prayer as well. "Are you ready to go?" she asked. Now that she knew he didn't like staying in the place, she thought it would be a favour to leave immediately. Unconsciously, she eyed the hand which was missing fingers. Without realizing, she was staring at the hand obviously and quite rudely.

[Bob Barton]

Besides their reputation of beauty, Bob also knew a little about how the konti were great healers and seers but he did not know anything about those unique gifts of theirs and how he inadvertently exposed one of those things better left unknown about himself to Nira'lia through it. After all it was one of those moments where he tried to be the hero and lost something irreplaceable for it. Two fingers! That was a costly lesson for Bob Barton to learn that he should never again care about other people. The only person he should be looking out for, was himself and he was very happy to leave with his life then. Maybe even more happier than looking at Nira'lia and getting her to trust him somewhat.

Or maybe not as he felt when the konti pushed him away but...he has been acting quite suspiciously but that was not his fault! Bob looked around the temple again at their new site, trying to get a glimpse of that bright uniform that either brought happiness or gloom and he really did hope that for him it would not be the latter. Even while he was facing Nira'lia during her little incursion, his eyes were looking beyond her. Hopping from colourful freak to colourful freak, before looking for the telltale patch of those he really felt apprehensive of. He really should pay more attention on his companion instead of that other woman in that heavy makeup and colourful hair. She may not have a patch but Bob knew it was not rare to have the strange sword at her hip but figured that she might be a performer with the lack of the symbol and considered to watch her later.

However he was so distracted that he did not really realize that Nira'lia was acting even stranger and asked "uhhhh...wh-?" right before he was interrupted and the konti went for her prayers. "She must really like Ionu..." he thought to himself before following suit since he "admitted" he liked to as well. To do something else will make him a fraud but what exactly was he supposed to do now? Bob looked at Nira'lia before looking around the rest of the temple again this time to see what the other worshipers were doing. Some, like Nira'lia assumed a seat quietly with a bowed head doing...something while a lot of others were prancing around screaming out praises like nutjobs. There were even a few showing some works around to empty spaces if not random people, shouting claims as "Ionu!"

Well Bob did not want to do anything too strange and embarrassing so he took a seat with Nira'lia like the quiet ones and tried to remember what some of his other peers say they used to do at the temple. A lot were just boasts about how they "thanked" Ionu in bigger boasts about their successes but somehow he remembered the advice Alric gave him so "if you're listening Ionu, make my dice rolls right, my cards better and maybe my ball predictions correct. Also make me taller and better looking so that I'll have better chances with the ladies. If I get to live long enough you definitely will be entertained." Ionu can get his better and interesting Bob, but he better help him with that.

Seeing that Ionu was some great god, Bob said all this in a whisper of course. Nira'lia already knew more than enough about him and he did not need her to know anymore. She did have plenty of time later if she really wanted because it seems like she did not want to waste any time with it when "you've finished already? I'm sure that you didn't come all this way for just that" Bob said with a smile. A smile that lasted until he saw what she was looking at. Of course! She was rushing through it so that she can get away from the freak who not only did not have height but also enough fingers. Bob had a mind to just leave her or maybe find out some dark secret of hers for a speaking.

But then, maybe he could use this to his advantage if Nira'lia was so interested about it. After all, maybe Ionu would let him get lucky after his prayer so "this? Nothing as bad as what your healer friends would see...just something I got from trying to help a friend." Yes, for once Bob was telling the truth but in this instance it was because the truth can help make him seem like something more. What he wanted here was a "friend" because "friends are important" and often provide the opportunity for something better "don't you agree?" but enough about that. Bob only wanted to have some fun with Nira'lia and not in a crummy temple so "how about we get back to the festival?" he asked in the most jovial tone he could get out of him.

[Nira'lia]

The Konti nodded absently, though his words stuck to her. He was right, friends were indeed important… though she didn’t know if she would ever find the courage to lose her fingers for someone else. In a way, she admired him for it. “Just… you know, taking care of yourself is important too,” she chided in. As a healer, she disliked brash actions. She believed that taking care of one’s body was one of the utmost importances. What would have happened to Bob if the two strange people had not helped him? She didn’t know that he wanted to come off as a hero, and while most people would have focused on that, Nira’lia instead found herself mentally shaking her head at his decision to voluntarily give away his fingers. The Konti also wanted to tell him that gambling was a good way to lose a lot of things, but she stopped herself. He didn’t know that she knew that part about him, and she also didn’t want to offend him. Nodding, Nira’lia smiled and stood up. She walked towards the temple doors. It wasn’t too far away and soon they were out in the streets again. Music and dancing once again enveloped her surroundings, and she immediately forgot the troublesome feelings she just had seconds before. Enthusiastically, she turned to Bob. “What now?”

[Bob Barton]

Taking care of himself is important? Well he knew that, now anyway but it was too late for a comment like that unless she was suggesting he was going to do an encore but once was enough especially and, she already saw it for herself. He could choose to explain further about the twins that saved him so that people will not think he is some reckless nutjob but he knew that if he had not seen what happened for himself, he would not have believed it either what more someone he just met. She would run off thinking he is some crazy person. Sure he could choose to lie and say the possibility of what would have happened if the twins did not show up, that he would have caused some chaos with his glibness or magic but that would not help his appearance too much either.

Maybe Kelwyn was helping him again because it seemed that Nira'lia did not want to pursue the matter further although if Bob had known that she already knew, he would not have been so happy. However in order to maintain the pleasant mood, Bob who was following NIra'lia out the doors still kept an eye out for the people he wanted to avoid and thankfully succeeded without any incident. He was back out into the streets where people were enjoying the festivities. Of course, he was going to be one of them. Already he was looking around for the next big performance using the crowds to gauge the most popular of the lot.

"What now?" Good question. "Plenty to see and listen to here" but it was getting way to crowded for Bob. He could if he wanted to try and go to less crowded spots but the fact remains that the crowds only go for the good stuff unless somehow the good performers started off late and did not have a chance to get a good place or generate enough of a reputation for people to find them. "Maybe..." they should just walk around until they find one of those but if Bob suggested wandering around aimlessly how long would the konti stick around?

Which meant Bob had to come up with another brilliant way of saying it without saying it outright like "...we'll find something interesting while we look for that garden or tree?" That should keep her around for a while since women only liked doing whatever they wanted to Bob's knowledge and Nira'lia already admitted earlier on that she was into plant...stuff... Just like what Marny wanted to teach him in the past. Maybe he should have paid more attention to the old man.

But he did not which meant Bob had to stick to what he knew and that meant keeping them on the move as they looked for the garden and tree which may or may not be "that way" if they continued on to the side of the temple. It was not really a lie when he said that we'll see the plants there" because what he spotted a lot further down the path was a really bright performance. Some dancers in reds, greens and yellows with their plant motive that Bob could identify after looking harder. He could even see cloth in the shape of leaves and petals that needed no plant knowledge to identify as the dancers spun around their grass green stage. What was Alvadas if it did not have its cheap theatrics as clues for how it wanted to toy with people as it led them to their destination?

[Nira'lia]

“Oh, I’d love that!” Looking for the garden, or the tree, was high on Nira’lia’s list of priorities. Aside from that, she was also enthusiastic that someone wanted to accompany her. It was quite unusual to find such an accommodating stranger, and she momentarily wondered why he was being so friendly. “Do you like plants as well, Bob?” she asked absently as they walked along the side of the temple. Up ahead, there was a stream of dancers who seemed to be dressed with the motif of plants. The Konti thought they looked quite silly, with their painted faces and strange clothes, but their theatrics were amusing. They spun around in a well-practiced dance, and they gave the illusion of what seemed to Nira’lia was a moving forest. One by one, the dancers hopped off the stage. They continued to dance in circles, and then they bowed and pointed towards the North. With that, they threw their headdresses in the wind. The headdresses turned into millions of tiny, colorful petals that were swept away by the wind. They all seemed to be going to one direction—and Nira’lia watched as the petals entered a place that seemed to be fenced by a tall, grassy hedge. As they walked closer, Nira’lia saw that there was a sign that said ‘The Garden of No Return’. A huge smile spilled over Nira’lia’s lips as she happily turned to Bob. “It’s the Garden! Fantastic!” For the second time that day, she forced him to come along. The Konti pulled the man against his will. In her head, she thought he was interested in the plants as well. She also had no idea what she was getting them into—she didn’t even stop to think why the garden was named that way. She pulled him towards the garden’s entrance. They went past the grassy hedges, and her eyes were met with an amazing sight. Everywhere, there were plants and trees, and most of them were new to her eyes. Curiously though, there were also grassy hedges on the inside. She realized that they seemed to be acting as walls as she turned corners and walked through paths that had tall hedges on both sides. The place resembled a maze. “Well, that’s strange,” said Nira’lia as she spun around to look at Bob. She started to backtrack, since she knew she wasn’t too good at directions, and didn’t want to get too far. That was when she noticed that the ‘entrance’ was gone. Where there had been an opening that led to the city, there was now a tall wall of greenery. Nira’lia blinked and turned to Bob. “I… I may have done something bad…” she said sheepishly as soon as she realized that she had caused them to get lost.

[Bob Barton]

Plants were pretty and all, some even being very tasty but they were not really as interesting as what they performers have been trying to portray. Anything that Bob knew about plants was only because "my uncle is a doctor so he tried teaching me a little about plants but" it did not work out too well since "you can't make thing interesting for kids when its for work in the future." So the answer? Bob was not really interested in plants. If anything the only thing that he got interested from his lessons was how to make poisons since it has very interesting effects on people and how to use plants to make his food taste better. It was more the result than the plants itself for him.

So "even if I am showing you the place I hope you don't ask me what is what?" Bob declared quite proudly. Maybe he might know a little about the plant based on how it looked like but anymore of the finer details would have been lost on him. And the Garden was quite "fantastic..." because the details that Bob knew about it was that anyone who wanted to go in it had to be prepared to get lost for quite some time. Not wanting to miss out on the other things the festival had to offer Bob wanted to say that "we should be car-" eful from that point on but he was not able to say anything when he was suddenly pulled into the maze. "Wait!" Bob squeaked out to the konti but she was already quite far in front of him.

The only thing he felt that could be worse than being lost in the maze was being lost in a maze alone. Bob could have hatched some crazy scheme yet again but he did not want that to happen to him so he chased after Nira'lia around the bend. Big mistake. The wall suddenly closed behind him and he knew that the Garden was just as bad as anything else in Alvadas. Then he saw it. The space in between him and the konti was beginning to close as well. Not as fast as what just happened to him but slow enough to produce that dramatic effect to panic Bob. "Petching Alvadas." Its mischief is on a completely different scale than anything Bob would do and at least his always has a purpose in it. All this is just frustrating.

And being frustrating, "strange?" has nothing to do with it. She did not see what just happened? Bob felt it. A quick walk had to turn into a frantic jump when the Garden for some reason sped up in its growth. It was when Bob saw the branches and leaves going around the sight of Nira'lia in front of him that he knew he had to jump. Three quick steps and one giant leap Bob was in the air in the middle of the opening like a trained animal from the circus, the difference being he was no animal and the branches scratched him and tore a hole in his clothes. He should have known better than to try and hit the oncoming branch away with his arm to try and keep his position in the middle. It did not help his flight anymore than it could have if it was free to hold him up from the ground when he came crashing down.

"No, its the Garden being bad" Bob said in almost a snarl as he patted the dust off himself and looked around. With the back being closed off to them "we might as well keep moving forward until we find something else" since from his experience with Alvadas a person can never get to where they wanted to unless the strange powers of the city allowed them to. It might take more time but at least it is a lot better than never reaching the destination. Thinking that the konti might be feeling as anxious as he was in their situation he asked that "you can try teaching me about some of the plants we see here on the way" so that at least the plants she likes can keep her attention off panicking.

[Nira'lia]

“Uhm, are you okay? Are you hurt?” The Konti felt embarrassed at the situation she had sent them running to. It was clear that the maze had a life of its own, and this both frightened Nira’lia and fascinated her. He seemed agitated, especially since he had just went through lengths to not get separated from her. Well, of course, who wanted to be alone in such a place? Nira’lia mused on apologizing, but she decided against it. No, this was a good thing. It was a chance for adventure, and a chance to learn new things. “Well, let’s go then!” said the Konti with a wide grin. She hid her agitation as she started to walk forward… to nowhere in particular. The greenery around them was mostly strange to her eyes, as if they were local to Alvadas and nowhere else. There were the more common plants, but they were much too mundane for her to talk about. Besides, was he really interested in the plants, or was that just something to uplift her spirits? “Oh, look! Yarrow!” she said quickly, pointing at a row of yarrow plants. The stems, or leaves, of the plants stood around a meter tall and resembled thin, barren pine leaves. There were disc flowers as well with small white petals decorating them. Since he had asked her to tell her about the plants, she said, “Yarrow is a healing herb… I want some of those!” She started to gather some of the yarrow in her hands. They had good medicinal properties and she wasn’t going to give up a chance of taking some for herself. To make it manageable to carry, she broke the stems into shorter pieces. When she had a handful, she looked back at Bob with a silly smile, and they continued on their way. The two of them came upon a path that led to two ways, and Nira’lia looked at Bob quizzically, wondering where they should go. The two paths looked similar, except that… “I… I think that’s poison ivy along the sides…” she said, gesturing at the path to the right. The other path, on the other hand, had more yarrow along it. Nira’lia couldn’t tell if the poison ivy was an indication that they shouldn’t pass there, or…? In the end, she was utterly confused. She held a frustrated expression as she waited for Bob to make the decision.

[Bob Barton]

Maybe Bob should give a big yell of pain so that she will think he is hurt. Get some of that gentle konti treatment that every man wants but then...maybe he should not since he wanted to appear dependable and reliable here. Of course since he was not good at plants he did not need to act and risk being found out. At least if acted and interested in whatever Nira'lia pointed out, maybe he can make her more likely want to go out with him again next time. Maybe getting stuck in the Garden was not so bad after all. He will have plenty of time to imprint this as a fact whenever she remembers him.

"Oh Yarrow!" he said feigning excitement as he tried looking for it among all the other plants because it was a fact that he neither knew what they were or "what do they do?" Of course they were healing plants which was still pretty useless information to him because he still would now know "what do they heal?" Fortunately he knew what to ask after his time in Zeltiva and watched as Nira'lia picked up the thin, white, disc plants that did not look like a Yarrow to him at all since when he heard the name he expected it to be yellow, and big. Like a combination of the colour and a wheelbarrow.

But at least now that he knew they were thin, discy and white he might be able to use it if he needed it for whatever healing once Nira'lia explained it. Since he was also supposed to act interested, "how do you prepare these Yabarrows?" which he was now trying to pick up so he could try it out for himself if he bothered to in the future. Either there was no special way to pick them or Bob could not identify any technique the konti used so he just broke them up with their bare hands and completely mimicking her, broke the stems into shorter pieces as well. From what he could tell since she did not discard them they were the important parts for the medicine.

His uncle always told him that every part of a plant had its uses but with his mind fixated on stems he started to pluck out the petals once by one whispering "chance, no chance, chance, no chance" over and over until Nira'lia pointed to the right. Thinking that she wanted those as well, Bob kept his bunch of yarrow away and headed over to the ivy to pluck them out. He was not really paying attention when she said poison ivy and Bob never saw them before even if he had saw their effects. So he still asked when he grabbed two handfuls and asked "so what are these and what do they do?"

[Nira'lia]

The Konti was enthusiastic at his reaction. He seemed happy to learn more about these plants, and the silly grin on her face said that she was zealous to teach as well. “Lots of stuff! For one thing, it's a healing herb so it can be put on wounds, cuts, abrasions, and… uhm, it’s yarrow,” she said quickly, correcting him. However, even that was not enough to make her realize that he was so obviously feigning interest. She continued to chatter about the plant, completely lost in her own world. The Konti just kept talking and talking up until they came before the two paths. And she watched him walk over to the poison ivy and yank it with his bare hands. “W-what are you doing!?” she squeaked, rushing over to him. “Let go of those!” She went pale in the face, and that was when she realized that he had not really been paying attention… not in the slightest! As if holding the poison ivy wasn’t punishment enough, she slapped his wrist and forced him to drop the ivy. It was impulsive, but she just wanted him to let go of it as soon as possible. “Weren’t you listening…? I said… I said this was poison ivy…” The Konti had an expression that was a mixture between disappointment and hurt, although the latter was mostly feigned. She couldn’t tell why he had pretended to be listening, but she hoped that she could guilt him into not repeating it. Surprised, she saw that the rashes were already starting to appear on his hands. That was oddly quick! She knew that they didn’t usually appear until a few hours later, and she decided that this was yet another thing that they could blame on the strange city. Without really waiting for his consent, she took his hands and closed her eyes, and she let Rak’keli’s power course through her. The power emitted from the mark on her shoulder, and it travelled to her hands and unto his, slowly making the rashes vanish.