Flashback [Kova's Well] To Wish or Not to Wish

[Hadrian]

"It seems more important right now to get to the University, whether it's to study history or something else. Perhaps after I graduate, learning what he wants me to learn, I can get a job teaching, stay and learn more myself. I don't know. I have to get out of here, though." He sighed, rubbed at his brow. He realized he shouldn't be saying these things in Syliras, to a stranger, or, really, at all.

Trying to mitigate it, while still being sincere, he attempted a smile, which was always awkward, and said, "It's just time, you know? I need to spread my wings and grow up, and I can't do that here with my parents paying for everything and deciding everything, and three older brothers who can do no wrong, a younger brother vocal about wanting to become a knight..."

But he paused, and Thomas was asking questions, so he answered them like the teacher-pleaser he was.

"Queen Kova was descended from Eyris, according to legend. Alahea was founded by Kova's daughter, Avakalashi." He obviously already knew his history.

"I don't want to lie. I mean, I could... but I shouldn't have to. I could..."

[Thomas Cosa]

"No, I get it," Thomas nodded encouragingly, "Me too. My older brother and sister were always these shining examples, perfect children in the eyes of my father. My brother especially," he snorted, roling his eyes, "My father looooves to tell the story of how he finished his squirehood in less then three months. Of course, the time shrinks every time he tells it. Really, he finished in about ten months, still impressive though," Thomas made a pained face, as if it hurt him to admit his brother's acomplishment. "But I understand how it feels to live under someone's shadow," he sighed, glancing a Hadrian. Perhaps they had more in common then he had originally thought.

"But, I understand it. I can't be here much longer," Thomas said, adding, "I'll go crazy," with a nervous laugh. "I need to be somewhere where I won't be compared constantly against people I have almost nothing in common with -- I don't want to be a Knight. I want something more."

"Well," Thomas began, pushing himself off the well, "You should, if you really want something. I mean, obviously, it's not the only solution. But, listen, what your father doesn't know can't hurt him, right?" Thomas smiled, thinking about his brother and his precious Tvyeth. He'd have a heartattack listening to Thomas right now. "I would, anyway. If it meant getting me to where I needed to be. If it gave me my freedom. My independence."

"I would do it."

[Hadrian]

Hadrian had to think about it, of course, but he was nodding along with what Thomas said. Sometimes he could catch social cues, and so he didn't comment on the impressive feat of his brother's expedited squiring. He must have been very skilled or older when he became a squire. They wouldn't make a child a knight, after all.

After a moment's thought, he began to smile. It was still awkward, but sincere. He turned it on Thomas, wondering if this was what it felt like to talk to a friend. That was a pathetic thought, though, so he kept it to himself.

"Well," he said, "I'm going to Zeltiva for the Autumn term one way or another, and I'll be there for a few years. So... when you run, if you come to Zeltiva and need anything. You let me know."

That was appropriate, right? He looked down at the golden nilo in his hand, then held it out.

"Here. You can take it for the good advice, or you can give it to Queen Kova if you think that's a better use of it. But if you keep it, maybe it will help you get to Zeltiva one day." Maybe then pathetic Hadrian would have a friend.

[Thomas Cosa]

"Thank you," Thomas smiled in appreciation. The coin shimmered briefly, catching the light that fell through the windows. His father had shown him a coin similar, and although the name escaped him, Thomas knew the coin belonged to Zeltiva.

"Maybe one day soon," Thomas hoped, delicately tracing the line, feeling the intricate engravings, "I would like Zeltiva, I think," Thomas paused, looking back at the dark haired man, putting the golden coin in his pocket.

Biting his lip, Thomas briefly considered offering Hadrian his somewhat limited ability as a fortune teller. "If...if you want, I can try and See how you would do in Zeltiva. In life, " the younger boy offered, showing Hadrian his left palm. A dark purple lily graced the youth's palm, it's origin divine. "I am marked by the White Seer, Avalis. I am not so skilled, but I can try, if you want."

[Hadrian]

Hadrian nodded, considering whether he ought to admit outright that he had no real friends in Syliras and hoped that in Zeltiva he would find like-minded people, people who didn't recognize his name. Therein lay the fear, though. If he couldn't make friends in Zeltiva, perhaps there was something fundamentally wrong with him.

But Thomas kept speaking, and Hadrian was surprised to see the seer's lily on his hand.

"Oh." That surprised him, then made him nervous. "Yes, well. If you think it's wise." Best to defer to the seer in such things, he thought. Was it the coin, a calling, or was Thomas perhaps to be his friend in Zeltiva one day?

"Do I, ah, give you my hand or...?"

[Thomas Cosa]

"Yeah," Thomas nodded, grabbed the offered hand, his fingers exploring.

"This," Thomas began, his finger lightly touching the line that arched smoothly a ways the thumb, "Is Kihala's line. It reflects major life changes, important events like marriage, relocation, as well as the general well being," he paused briefly, tracing the line, feeling for any breaks or ridges. "Your Kihala's line is really close to your index finger," he said, tapping the line in question, "So your ambitious? Maybe have high expectations for yourself and those around you?" Thomas asked, glancing at Hadrian's face, watching for any reaction. "I suppose ambition is good for schoolwork, so you'll be fine there," he added, his fingers moving delicately across the student's palm.

"Cheva's line," he muttered, lightly passing a wavy line beginning between the index and middle fingers, "dictates a person's relations, both romantic and familiar. Your's is wavy, generally signifying an unease or lack of confidence regarding new relationships. Perhaps trouble making friends? Like, maybe you don't connect with others as easily as you'd like to?" Again, the novice searched the subject's face for any reaction. "It also ties together with Eyris' line, meaning your very logical regarding your relationships. Of course, that would suggest you have a very logical approach to life as well, or so I'd assume." Thomas shrugged, "But, like I said, I'm not the best at this," he grinned bashfully, his fingers already moving to a different line.

"Lhex's line," Thomas said, pointing to a deep line spliiting Hadrian's palm, "Declare's Lhex's plans. "Yours is deep, meaning you've recieved and will continue to recieve from beneficaries. Here," he said, pointing to the intersection of Kihala's and Lhex's line, "Is where your Lhex's line seperates from Kihala's domain, meaning you will no longer be subject to family wishes," Thomas nodded, "But it strengthens as it leaves Kihala's domain, meaning you'll have greater success with the more distance you put between what you want and what your family thinks you should want,"

"So, in short, your ambition and logical way of thinking will lead you to your own success, as long as you stick with what you want, and not what your family says," Thomas smiled, hoping he had helped Hadrian in any way, "But, like I said, I'm new to this. Take my advice with a grain of sand."

For a brief moment, Thomas wondered if Hadrian had expected something like a vision, not entirely confident he had done a good reading.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian wasn't very good at receiving readings. His expression didn't change much from curiosity and worry, but Thomas had done well enough from what he had picked up from conversation and whatever intuition he had. His dark brows beetled toward the end, and he didn't even know what he had expected. That didn't seem like a Vision granted by the goddess, and as his mind analyzed what Thomas had said, he began to pick up where the other lad had just been fairly perceptive and had, if anything, actually listened to what he said.

"You're very perceptive," he said finally. Or Hadrian had been too open, a book to be read by someone so perceptive, but it would be rude to claim the latter so he let it be the former. Ultimately, Thomas had taken what he heard and given back sound advice. To Hadrian's mind, he had earned the gold.

Whether the lines in his hand were truly writ by the gods in the Ukalas, though, he didn't know. Though his mind sought for answers and understanding, though he had an empirical mind, he was also open to the fact that he did not know everything, that the very bases of his understanding might be flawed. He always had to allow for that.

So perhaps Avalis had guided Thomas' reading, whether he had actively sought Her help or not.

"Thank you."

[Emblem]

Congratulations! You Get Glorious Experience! Thomas Cosa Skill Points Earned Fortune Telling 3 XP Lore Earned Commonalities Between Strangers Advice and Fortunes Living in Other's Shadows Hadrian (partial) Other Shenanigans: Nothing here. Hadrian Skill Points Earned Lore Earned Commonalities Between Strangers Advice and Fortunes Living in Other's Shadows Thomas Cosa (partial) A Wish for the Future Other Shenanigans: Nothing here Comments : Sorry for the wait on this one guys, but great social thread guys with awesome interaction between you two! I enjoyed the read! Hopefully skills and lores make sense, and if not, shoot me a PM