Flashback Randomness in Endrykas (Cadicus)

[Leto Sunsinger]

Timestamp: 43rd of Summer, 500 A.V. It was Leto's birthday. Today, the boy turned seventeen years old, and had just finished drawing up a few glyphs for the Reimancers for his aunt and uncle. Having walked to their tent, carrying the bag of glyphs, he entered, and traded the glyphs for the payment that they usually gave to his aunt and uncle. It was enough to get them food for the days, as well as provide for them throughout the year. Leto had learned how to glyph a few years earlier, and in doing so, had been assisting with his aunt and uncle in trading the glyphs for money throughout the year. Once his business was finished within the tent, the young boy, whom was not yet a man, as he didn't have any windmarks to show for himself yet, made his way out of the tent. As he was heading out of the tent, he noticed another drykas sitting down by the tent. Tragedy had struck Leto's family a few years prior, and due to that, he wasn't very social. Originally he intended to ignore the person that was sitting there outside of the tent, playing with an animal... but then he turned back to look towards him, wondering what exactly he was doing with the animal at that point in time, an then something struck him as odd. That man has horns, he thought, i've never met anyone with horns before, and he's so... oddly handsome. Leto began to blush a bit and chose to watch him briefly, and if the other person with horns wanted to say something to him, Leto wouldn't mind. It wasn't everyday he got out of his pavilion to see Endrykas, having spent most of his time simply making glyphs, summoning memosites for knowledge, or delving into the web...

[Cadicus]

Cadicus sat on cross-legged on a barrel, his back straight, his skin shimmering and his bone white horns sweeping back from his temples like the wind on a Summer's day through the Sea. The sun beat down upon his flesh, warm and hot, scalding his skin: he took comfort in the warmth, like a blanket from a mother. Syna had let him fall to the ground, yes, but it was on days like today, when everything was relaxed and lazy in the heat that he could forgive Syna for letting him go, and offer up his thanks to the sun goddess. Sending up a smile and a thought to the heavens, Cadicus turned his gaze to the ground again, picking up a stick from the ground. Scampering outside the pavilion was a little hunting dog, still a pup, it seemed. Still young, it was excited by the breeze and the grass, running in circles and yapping happily. Cadicus grinned, watching the dog take pleasure in the sunlight. Everything was new and wonderful to the pup. Cadicus could remember when he had felt like that most days, back in Anhatep, and his earlier days in Cyphrus. Lately though, the blackness took him more and more, souring his gazes and his heart. But on this rare occasion, the Ethaefal smiled, and there was not a trace of irony in his visage. The day was gleeful and that was that. He threw the stick towards the pup, who, frightened by the sudden movement through the air, yelped and jumped back. Light laughter filled the air. Yes, today was a good day to be. Behind the Ethaefal, the tent flap opened, pulled aside to reveal a young boy of the Drykas. Cadicus assumed he was Drykas, anyway: he could not see windmarks anywhere on his body. His hair was dark and streaked; much like Cadicus, though the Ethaefal's was streaked with Syna's gold. His eyes were sad and his movements quick. He walked straight by the Ethaefal, and the pup ran around his feet as he moved, looking for attention. Cadicus saw the look he shot back at the Ethaefal, his eyes wondering, a light pink across his cheeks: though that could have been the sun. "Hey, boy," Cadicus called. His voice was commanding. Surely his strange looks and older appearance would entice the boy to come back. "How are you this summer day?" Perhaps it was a strange way to meet someone new, but the boy seemed sad and silent, and Cadicus thought that today was as good a day as any to reach out to the vulnerable. Picking up a stick from the ground, he weighed in it his hand, and the pup perked up. Laughing, he threw the stick to the eager dog, and watched him scamper after it, trying to bring the prize back to Cadicus. He turned his attention to the Drykas boy, smiling easily, his frame relaxed and his eyes welcoming.

[Leto Sunsinger]

"Er... uhm... okay," said Leto, trying to regain composure as he slowly began to approach the handsome man that sat before him, trying to ignore the fact that the dog was looking for attention. He'd rather give his attention to the man than the dog, although, it was a fairly good natured puppy, so he wouldn't mind providing some attention to it as well, so long as his main focus was upon the man. Brushing a hand through his multi-hued hair, Leto looked towards the man as he approached, cautiously, still wondering what exactly he was, that he had... horns. The boy had never met somebody like this before, and he wasn't exactly the most social of drykas. Not to mention he had some quirks to him that most drykas frowned upon. "I... I'm doing fine today, it's my the day of my birth actually," he admitted, looking towards the man sitting before him. "But I was just running some glyphs to the Reimancers... and running errands for my aunt and uncle..." he then said. Turning his head up to look towards the sun that was overhead. "I... I don't mean to offend, but i've never seen anyone like you before... You don't exactly look drykas, I mean, with the horns and all..." He gulped as he said that last part, realizing how offensive that might have sounded as it came out of his mouth. "I mean, well, I just guess i've never seen anyone like you before..." he then finished, restating what he had stated before, watching the man. There was something about him, something that drew Leto in towards him, whether it was how handsome he happened to be, or the nature of his commanding voice, Leto just didn't think that he could deny the man the pleasure of speaking with him that day...

[Cadicus]

Cadicus could not help but smile at the pup, while the boy walked slowly back to the Ethaefal, hesitating. Tapping the side of the barrel with two fingers, Cadicus whistled, calling the dog to his side. The pup didn't move. Scowling slightly, Cadicus tried again: again, beating against the hollow barrel, and again, the pup only flicked his ear in the Ethaefal's direction, still jumping around the Drykas boy's feet. Whistling once more, to no avail, Cadicus sighed and shrugged, relinquishing the pup to his enjoyment of the day. Perhaps he could be trained when he was older. For now, let him seek adoration and attention from young Drykas men. Turning his attention from the pup who was now rolling in the long grass to the boy he had hailed over, he took a long look at his physique, taking in his cautious eyes and the scars that adorned his tan forearms. Cadicus quirked an eyebrow, but chose nothing. The sun was too warm to sully it with awkward questions. The boy approached, if a boy he could be called. "Ah! A birthday!" Cadicus unfolded his long lithe legs, standing from his barrel, walking over to the Drykas youth. He towered over his smaller form. "How old are you today, then? A man yet?" Cadicus could not see the windmarks, but that did not mean he did not have the tattoos that made him truly adult in the eyes of the Drykas culture. His stance relaxed, Cadicus kept his arms folded lightly, his fingers resting along the insides of his elbows. "A glypher, at your age? Already dabbling in magic?" Cadicus shook his head. For one who was of the sky, he did not have any skills in the arts of djed and the power that lay latent within blood. He had no magical skills to speak of, and had the highest respect for those who did: the webbing system fascinated Cadicus endlessly. And yet, for one so young to be involved seemed strange. Magic was a dangerous thing, as was anything that could not be seen in the physical world. Nothing that was not straightfoward and honest was to be wholly trusted, Cadicus thought. "That's fairly impressive. What was the purpose of the job, if I can ask?" Cadicus laughed, a gleeful sound, at the youth's awkwardness and apologies. "Not a problem, boy, not a problem. You wouldn't believe how many times I get told the same thing." Sighing, he ran his hand through his hair, wondering if the youth would believe him so easily. "I am Cadicus, of a people called by some the Ethaefal. We're the fallen. We once resided with our goddess and our god, Leth and Syna, in their heavenly realm. But the skies are not as strong as they once were, and many of us have fallen back to this world, slipped through the cracks, as it were. We are the chosen of the gods and that's why I look different to you ... now, at least. Beneath Syna this is my form." He smiled, spreading his hands wide. The boy would either accept what Cadicus said as truth, or not. Cadicus found it ironic. By day he inspired such awe and such glances, and yet by night, he was just another Drykas, just another man in the crowd.

[Jackalope]

Leto

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Observation	+1	Cadicus: Good Lookin' Eth
		What An Ethaefal Is: As Told By Cadicus

Cadicus

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Animal Husbandry	+2	Animal Training: Teaching A Dog to Come...Or Not
Observation	+1	Leto: Dabbling In Magic From A Young Age
Teaching	+1	What We Ethaefal Are: A Brief Lesson

Witty Remark Here

Sorry to see this cut short. If you two pick it back up, let me know and I'll be happy to grade the next part. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.