[Soothing Waters] Count the Scars (Aselia & Dusk)

[Rythern]

Spring 2, 510 AV
Location: Soothing Waters

It took Rythern some time riding along the Syliras streets before he found Soothing Waters Bath and Massage, which was apparently attached to Stormhold Castle, and which he hadn't realized until his horse had nearly trotted past it.

"Whoa," he said, stopping Aeyo. The young Vantha dismounted the mare slowly and looked up at the place. Now that he was again on his own feet, the cutting pain in his left arm seemed to sharpen, and he cradled the crudely bandaged arm as he took a step forward. Around him, a steady trickle of people was coming and going, presumably for the public baths or the attention of a masseuse. This was where the guards at the Syliras gates had directed him when he mentioned his injury, and it certainly looked inviting enough. He grinned.

Rythern also realized that he had no idea where to put his horse, and in a city like Syliras, he was reluctant to leave her outside the building on her own. Aeyo was close to him. She was relatively intelligent too, but anyone could steal a horse, right? Particularly a healthy windrunner. Right?

At any rate, he'd heard passing mention of the Windmount Stables but had yet to find out where in Morwen's name they were, so on impulse he left her near the Syliran Knight he had noticed patrolling the adjacent corner. The traveling performer told the knight his name and situation, explaining that anyone else trying to take the horse was a thief - not, of course, that he was too worried.

Now to resolve the irritating problem known as Bleeding Gash In Left Arm.

Rythern patted Aeyo with a reassuring grin - he didn't expect it to take long, or at least he hoped it wouldn't - and entered.

[Dusk]

The knight who was asked to watch over the horse just looked at the man like he was insane. "Look, do you really think I'm able to take time out of my patrolling the city and protecting its citizens so I can babysit your horse?" he snorted, rolling his eyes and pointing - literally - to the end of the block. "Stables are over there, five silver a day," he said, indicating the illusive Windmount Stables, which were actually right next to the entrance to the castle closest to the Soothing Waters. Once he'd gotten Aeyo settled and made his way into the castle, he likely had to follow a few signs and ask a few strangers for directions to the Soothing Waters, which was - like everything else in Syliras - deep within the bowels of Stormhold Castle. A ten minute walk, assuming he didn't get lost, would lead him to the gilded double doors that opened onto the Soothing Waters Bath and Massage. As he entered, he would immediately be met by a wide staircase leading down into the Fourth Tier of the castle, and at the bottom was a beautiful reception area teaming with chattering guests who were either just arriving for a bath or just leaving from one. A man with dark hair and a delicate build was waiting to greet him. "Welcome to Soothing Waters," he said with a warm smile. "I am Ivis Balak. What can I help you with today?"

[Rythern]

OOCOops! Sorry, I did a terrible job. I wanted Rythern to give the nearby knight the heads-up without actually expecting the knight to sit there watching it ("not that he was too worried"), and then just leave Aeyo outside the building. I tried to show how he cares about the horse, but since he's also horribly laid-back about these things, ends up showing only cursory concern toward the fact that she could actually get stolen. Sorry about that, though! It was not very clear and I promise I'll get better at this.

Rythern had not lived in a large city for some time. He thought about this as he walked, reflecting on the years upon years he'd spent traveling with a circus. What had he been doing before then? He noticed with some - but admittedly not very much - interest that he always thought about his previous life carefully when he did, like he was avoiding things. Stepping around precious secrets.

Except there actually wasn't anything to his childhood except old glowing memories of Avanthal life and his family and his pranks, and there wasn't some black, sordid history he was trying to hide from himself - but his thoughts were still careful, just for that first seven-year window of his life, even though the young Vantha was rarely careful about anything. It was like holding memories on a pane of glass.

Even his thoughts on being careful, he realized, were careful. For the love of Morwen.

He dragged his mind back to square one. He hadn't lived - actually lived, not just stopping by and packing up again in two weeks - in a large city since Avanthal or the Spires, and though he'd finally gotten accustomed to navigating alone through wilderness, he hadn't yet gotten accustomed to navigating alone in more populated areas.

In Syliras, that was a problem.

Coming from the stables, Rythern paused a few more times for directions, and after perhaps half an hour, his wanderings brought the young performer to the magnificent double doors previously described to him by some passersby.

The young Vantha opened them and ascended the wide staircase into the friendly - and rather beautiful - reception area for Soothing Waters Bath & Massage. People were coming and going; guests were chatting amiably with one another; the atmosphere itself was one of warmth and ease.

Relaxing somewhat, he glanced around and was greeted by a friendly, dark-haired man.

"Welcome to Soothing Waters. I am Ivis Balak. What can I help you with today?" The man's smile was warm.

"My name's Rythern, and I seek medical assistance," the young man said with a meek grin. He glanced again at his arm - overnight, the wound at least had clotted somewhat, so that blood no longer seeped through the crude bandage. On the other hand, now he was a bit nervous about taking off the bandage.


OOCRegarding the tardiness of this post, I also apologize for accidentally missing your post in here. Won't happen again.

[Dusk]

"Ah," Ivis said quietly, holding out his hands in a question before he gently examined the bandage that wrapped Rythern's upper arm. "Well, it doesn't look immediately life threatening, but it's best to get it seen to before it catches infection. You've come to the right place," he said with a reassuring smile and a careful pat on his shoulder. "Basic medicine will be four gold mizas, to be paid ahead of time," he said, waiting to be paid before he continued. He turned and looked for a particular neophyte to the Soothing Waters, only hired the day before and - in his opinion - not quite ready for some of the specialized services that the therapists offered here. This should be a fairly easy task for her. One more moment, and then he spied a flash of white. "Aselia!" Ivis said, smiling warmly to her. "There you are. If you would please escort Mister Rythern to one of the medical rooms and see to removing the bandage. Soak it first, and start cleaning it, and I'll have someone come in and see if it needs stitching." He turned back to Rythern, and waved him to follow the Konti girl. "Please, follow her," he said. And nodded to someone just to one side of the room - and as the two began their walk through the halls, one of the security guards followed discreetly behind, ready to intercept at the slightest indication from Aselia.

[Rythern]

"Ah," said the man Ivis.

Rythern coughed meekly as the man examined the bandage. "It's a bit makeshift," he said, to explain its decidedly haphazard condition. "Beyond just staunching bleeding, I'm no expert with medicine, unfortunately."

The man was reassuring. "Well, it doesn't look immediately life-threatening, but it's best to get it seen to before it catches infection. You've come to the right place. Basic medicine will be four gold mizas, to be paid ahead of time." Ivis finished speaking, so Rythern nodded and retrieved the specified amount from his bag of coin.

After payment, the young entertainer watched as Ivis summoned an employee, a rather beautiful Konti woman. Rythern smiled in friendly greeting and listened as the man Ivis gave her brief instructions.

[Aselia Timandre]

Aselia had been around the Soothing Waters since the earliest hours of the morning, not because she waited for first customers, but because Summer, a more experienced masseuse, had promised to show her a few tricks about massage. Since Aselia wanted to learn everything required for doing a good job, she also practiced massage with great enthusiasm. There was so much to learn! And she already knew that feeling skin relaxing under her hands was something she liked.

When Ivis called out to her, she was just on her way towards a small chamber to stuff the oils they had tried out away. Each and every masseuse had their own materials, but there were a few things provided in said chamber to practice with and in case something unexpected happened and someone was without any materials. Upon hearing her name, she quickly put the vial back to its original place, closed the door and casually made her way towards the reception. A young, tanned and lightly muscled man stood there with Ivis, both apparently focusing on the customer’s bandaged arm.

She approached the couple with a raised eyebrow, but soon that expression molted into a friendly smile. Velvety violet orbs switched back and forth between the receptionist and the customer – who towered over her by a few inches – and settled with the latter. With a welcoming mix between bow and nod she replied: “My pleasure, Mr Rythern. I’m Aselia Timandre, one of the resident … masseuses.” A teasing side glance at Ivis indicated that he had probably gotten her profession wrong, but she left it at that and gestured for Rythern to follow her.

Snow white hair cascaded down her back when the practical ponytail was dissolved. She led the way past the big public bath and several closed doors behind which private baths were situated. Eventually she held the door to said medical room open for him to enter. It was dominated by an elongated table for patients to lie on and several simple chairs arranged around it. In one corner a bucket with fresh, clean water and a couple washing tools were provided. Everything was colored in bright pastel hues or white. The Konti, with scales glittering in the light intruding through a big glass window, fetched the bucket and a sponge and soaked the stiff bandage with warm water. Then she started removing it with careful, slow hands.

While working she shot occasional glances at Rythern in order to create eye contact. Making conversation and establishing a friendly atmosphere was important, but she was also interested in the story of this particular customer. “How did you get this? From what I’ve heard, most people either stay out of trouble or get killed immediately out in the wilderness.” Accompanied by a light chuckle, that statement didn’t sound frightening at all. It was just a matter of fact.

[Rythern]

Aselia Timandre had introduced herself as a masseuse, Rythern noted with some surprise. He'd been expecting a healer. Perhaps it was the same thing.

He nodded his thanks to the man Ivis and then followed the young woman down the hall into the medical room. Inside, following her gesture, Rythern crossed the room to push his light frame up onto the elongated table and, uncertain whether or not he was to lie down on said table, he drew up his legs and sat cross-legged. It was the position in which the Vantha was most comfortable. He actually didn't enjoy lying on his back much, to be honest.

Aselia was friendly and gentle when she soaked the blood-encrusted bandage and began removing it from his arm, though the Vantha still winced from the mild stinging. He tried to hide it.

"How did you get this?" Aselia asked. "From what I've heard, most people either stay out of trouble or get killed immediately out in the wilderness."

Rythern laughed, rubbing the back of his neck with his good hand. "I was, well." He considered briefly how much he cared about making a good impression (Aselia was quite beautiful, he admitted to himself). He realized, however, that inventing a convincing excuse for his injury was something he didn't much feel like doing at the moment. "Practicing," he finished with a wry grin. "I work with knives, and I also tell stories. I'm a traveling entertainer. I'm just arrived in Syliras, actually. Just spent a couple weeks in the wilderness and it's good to be around people again."

The masseuse worked with sure hands. Rythern looked on with interest, because he liked watching hands, and because he valued the use of his own so highly. The young man's own hands tugged idly at the hem of his trouser leg, looking for something to do.

"Have you been here long?" he asked her, curious.

[Aselia Timandre]

Aselia was surprised by the little noise escaping his lips, but she did notice it and tried to be more careful. Men tried to be strong all the time … but there had to be a place where they were relaxed enough to forget their ambitions and principles. “Sorry”, she whispered and bit her lip. Her hands were slower and more careful now, touching the Vantha’s skin to tear wound and bandages apart at the worst spot. Inch after inch she worked her way through it, concentrating at her actions while listening to his explanation. It was comfortable, being able to work and listen at the same time. The words helped her hands not to tremble while instinct made sure that nothing went wrong with the wound.

Then the worst part was over and her movements returned to the previous pace before she lowered her arms and kneading the dirty and wet bandages into a tight ball. Returning Rythern’s grin, she replied: “Things happen every once and a while, right? What you do sounds very interesting though. I’d love to see your performance one day. As for the stories, I remember some epic myths and ballads of my people. We could exchange!” Excitation lit her dark violet eyes.

A nod was given. Good to be around people again. That she didn’t understand. Perhaps he had family or friends in Syliras, but mingling with people just to be around people again … Aselia enjoyed solitude much more. Nobody could criticize her singing when she stood at the highest tower of Mura, nobody could touch her and hurt her. But then, she was just a single person and there were many other individuals and unique opinions in Mizahar. So she simply nodded and didn’t comment.

Suddenly hearing the echo of his previous question, she looked up. “I’m quite new to Syliras as well. I’ve arrived around the 60th of last season, coming there with my sister and friends. She’s on the Call, and I … well, I thought I’d accompany her to get out of Mura and see the world.” If that had been a good decision she still didn’t know. What she could be sure about, however, was that she enjoyed talking to that knifethrower. Rythern.

Suddenly she saw something. Flashes of recognition told her that she had seen that before, in his eyes. Apparently the healer needed some more time, so she leaned forward, bringing her face quite close to Rythern’s. “Why are your eyes changing color?” she whispered, eyes wide and voice tingling with awe.

[Rythern]

Rythern watched with curiosity and mild admiration as Aselia continued to work gently with the wound. The dull, consistent pain in his arm made the young man slightly uncomfortable, but it was tempered by the smooth movement of the Konti's hands. Having just about zero expertise in medicine made him especially interested in the way she worked. Funny how he'd never bothered to learn about these kinds of things before. There just... had been so much else to do.

His eyes lightened noticeably when Aselia spoke of exchanging stories. "I'd really love to," the Vantha said with a wink. He was inwardly surprised to hear her mention the stories of the Konti; it made him realize how little he actually knew about that beautiful race. The circus had never gone to Mura. And anyway, he was more used to being up close with the lowlifes. It wasn't like he'd had much excuse to associate with the upper-class members of their audiences, after all.

"Why are your eyes changing color?" Aselia whispered, and he thought he could hear a hint of awe in her voice.

Rythern blinked. "Oh," he said with a slightly embarrassed grin - he was used to attention, but typically it was attention because of his antics and not because of his physical appearance. "I come form the north, where that's pretty normal. Mine are blue usually, but they shift with moods like watercolors. It's a gift from Morwen shared by all People of the Aurora."

He wondered briefly what color they were now. Eyes of the aurora were beautiful, but also made it hard to keep secrets - though admittedly, in that regard Rythern was practically an open book. He kept few secrets. And the ones he did, he did not know he kept.

"Anyway," he offered excitedly, "if you share something about the Konti, I'll share something about the Vantha. We can trade."

[Aselia Timandre]

She watched his mild embarrassment, yet without commenting it. Apparently Rythern wasn’t used to being asked that question which made Aselia suppose that he usually kept people well entertained. After all, she could imagine him standing in the center of a crowd with a couple knives and a quick tongue very well. His body, his way of speaking … Not that Aselia had enjoyed the pleasure of circus often. In Mura festivals were common, and the attractions provided by the Konti gravitated more towards craftsmanship, art and fortune telling. Maybe that was the reason why Konti Isle was popular with mainlanders – it was different.

But this wasn’t about Konti Isle, not anymore. He said that the change of eye color was normal for his people and Aselia could accept that. A very interesting fact nevertheless. People of the Aurora … She wondered how living with those people was like, wondered if her gift was useless among them. After all, keepings secrets was no longer possible with eyes giving everyone’s true feelings away. A personal paradise for a Truth Seer like me, which made Aselia smile.

However, she mused, first one would have to find out which color symbolized which emotion to truly understand Rythern’s people. The next second she made a mental note to study his eye color more closely.

His suggestion was met with an eager nod. “Sounds like a deal. We like to share tales about the Gods and Goddesses a lot, because we were originally created by Avalis, the Great Seer. Prior to the Valterrian She was a mortal bard whose songs were infused with future visions … Laviku used the power of the Valterrian to raise Her to Divinity so they could be together forever. Their first child also was the first Konti, and since then we’ve looked up to our patron deities. They guide us and care for us. But that’s a whole different story … So we like tales about the Gods very much, and I’d like to retell the story of Leth and Syna. Of course, if you don’t already know it …?” Blinking, she awaited his reaction before continuing.

“In ancient times Leth was a mere minion to His sister Dira, an ugly and violent beast under Her command. However, when He first met Syna, He immediately fell in love with Her. It is told that She was everything He was not, that they complemented each other. Before both had felt like something was missing, but together they felt whole and at peace. So when Tanroa asked for a volunteer to mark the passing of time during the nights, it was obvious that Leth would take on that role to be together with His beloved. Because of that relationship He had changed a lot … from the beast of savage beauty to a more thoughtful and virtuous being, although He still retained His fair share of darkness. He was fiercely devoted to Syna. So when the Valterrian washed through the celestial realm, He immediately protected Her from the worst and got some serious injuries in the process. After the Valterrian Mizahar was plunged into darkness for a long time during which Syna tended to Leth and made sure of His recovery. Then, however, both went back to their duties and brought light to the days and nights of the mortals again. It is also because of these happenings that the moon assumes a blood red color at the Anniversary of the Valterrian.”

Exhaling deeply, she went silent as the tale was finished. For a while her gaze wandered through the small room aimlessly. The story of sun and moon touched her every time she worked with it. A love so strong that it changed Leth’s personality and endured the terrible events of the Valterrian … Sometimes she prayed for something similar to happen to herself.

Aselia was the first to break the silence again when she cheerfully suggested: “It’s your turn! And I’d very much like to hear a story about how this colorful light has been locked into your eyes, if you don’t mind.” Grinning and leaning forward, she waited for whatever tale Rythern would choose.