PM to join The Strangest Animal(Nix Mao)

[Richard Burke]

Winter 20, 512

Richard woke at his usual time. He didn't know what time it was, but it was several bells until the sun would rise. He streched and did a few light exercises to get his bdy warmed up from the chill of the morning. He did this quietly so that he wouldn't wake the other squres that were packed into the room. He quietly donned his day clothes, and his light blue cloak, it was lightyl stained with the blood of Shiress, but most of it had came out. The day still haunted Richard, the memory of the young women was fresh in his mind still. Richard then quietly left his room and headed for the Temple. Most gods didn't ask for such worship, but he believed that they should be shown reverence. Each one was indeed real, and each one was immensely powerful.

He would never share this with a fellow knight, but he often would give due deferance to all the gods, even the less savory ones. It was less a matter of faith, more a matter of practicality. He thought of his life so far, it was mostly thanks to Eyris that he had came to where he was, knowledge and wisdom was all a knight had at the end of the day. The streets were empty as Richard slowly made his way to the temple. It was a nice walk, the city was beautiful in the dark, and the only sound. He heard was the metal clicking on the belt to his arming sword rythmicly clicking, it echoed gently through the streets. As turned his thoughts slowly outward he could hear others strring in the city, not many people, but some workers, and gaurd strolled quietly.

Richard hardly noticed reaching the steps of the temple. He loved the building, like the gods themselve inspired man to build such a masterpeice. He paused on the steps to take a breath of fresh morning air, before the iron works began to work at full blast.

[Nix Mao]

[Richard Burke]

Richard was in the middle of his breath when he felt the bump, it wasn'thard enough to hurt, but it did roughly bring him back into reality. He muttered half a curse under his breath, and realized it was his fault. He was the one who had decided to stop in the middle of a set of stairs. He whirled around quickly, almost apologeticly, and was met with the blushing face of a young woman. He had never seen her before, what was she doing strolling the streets so early? And why was she following so close? He was disarmed by her embarasment. He couldn't hide his smile, and was lucky it was so dark.

The woman was unusual looking, but in the dark of the night, the features were dulled. But, they were pleasant features, he secretly thought to himself. He was looking at her, for what seemed like an eternity. She was unusually pale, in the dark he did not notice how feline her eyes were. He almost immediatly noted the half sun on her hand. He had seen that some where, or heard about it, the meaning behind it escaped him at the moment, it must not have been too important. She adverted her eyes, and it almost made Richard sad, that she had falled.

He finally remembered his manners, and reached out a hand to help the fallen woman. Knights were, afterall, supposed to be the protectors of the citizens, in all walks of life. He didn't really have much of a chance to help people, not as a squire, it wasn't much of a rescue he admitted, but he would help where he could.


"You must be more careful." he started choosing his words slowly and carefully, "though, I apologise for stopping in the middle of the stairs. I didn't hear you behind me." it really, was his fault and he was starting to feel bad about the whole thing.

He then breifly thought, he never had company in his morning ritual, maybe this person had come here to pay her respects to one of the dozens of gods that influenced the world. Maybe praying with her would make himself feel better about knocking her to the ground. "Would you care to join me?" he asked, trying not to be overbearing, or offensive. And maybe, it would be pleasant to share this ritual with another.

[Nix Mao]

[Richard Burke]

The squire quickly realized that this woman was not from the city, she didn't seem to be any sort of threat to Syliras, so he syated relaxed and friendly. He was slightly more surprised that that the woman had never prayed, or even seen a temple like this. He turned around to look at the massive building, it was a remarkable building, for sure. "That doesn't concearn me, the temple is also for meditation, and quiet discussion."

He was curious as to why people didn't have faith in the gods, they were as real as any other creature walking the world, but he didn't want to ask such a question, it seemed very rude, and intrusive. Maybe the other knights enjoyed such brazen disregard for the opinion of other. "It would be my pleasure to show you around, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city."

He motioned for her to follow him up the stairs, and into the building. The high arching room was dulled by the dimness of the morning, candle stands illuminated many of the pews, the light was warm, even though it wasn't strong enough to light the whole church. There were a few other people in the church, mostly by themselves, but there were a few groups, quietly discussing their various faiths. Their quiet whispers echoed, and echoed, making it impossible to pick out what they were saying.

"I visit the temple each morning, and the beauty of the building always amazes me." he whispered to the woman, it finally dawned on him that he didn't know her name. "I'm Richard" he whispered, extending his right hand in greeting.

[Nix Mao]

[Richard Burke]

Richard cautiously eyed the mark, he had seen it when the woman feel on the stairs, a black half sun, it looked like it would have been painful to get such a brand on your wrist. And while the squire liked to think he was a learned scholar, he wasn't, the orgin and meaning escaped him. It couldn't have been religious, she already mentioned she wasn't, and she was covering it up, he couldn't tell if she did this from embarrasment, or because of a more malicious reason.

Richard stopped himself, he always let his imagination get ahead of him, and it would cause problems one day. Nix, she called herself, it was a simple name, but it was a beautiful one. Richard repeated the name in his head, and made eye contact, the eyes were easiest way to know a person. They held the keys to a person's soul. He broke eye contact, and admired the building, and then he bowed his head, he still did have a busy day, Arkale's armor wasn't going to clean itself. He never really knew if the gods could hear him, or even if they cared. He liked to think they could, and as a knight, he was not only supposed to be a pillar of strength, but also of humility, and faith.

"Do you know any of the gods, Nix?" He asked, he enjoyed talking to people about their faith. It was the second fastest way to know their soul. This woman was a stranger, and though she didnt seem it, she may be dangerous, her eyes showed no malice however.

"Also, where are you from?", she didnt have a Syliras accent, and stated she didnt know her way around the city. He didnt want to ask about the brand, not just yet.

[Nix Mao]

[Richard Burke]

Nix stood, into the soft glow of the fire, the light flooded over the woman's features, the cat like eyes, and fangs. Richard vaugley remembered a race of beings that looked human, but were much more, but the name escaped him, 'kelvin, Kelver, Kelvic? That was it, Kelvics, he didn't know much about them. He remembered that they could change into an animal? It seemed like a useful skill, but he didnt want to dwell too much into that fact, the knights did teach a little racial blindness.

His main concern was that she knew of Rhysol, she show obvious fear at the names, and that was good, Rhysol was on of the truely evil gods. The god of Chaos and Evil was opposed to everything the Knights stood for, and Ravok, and Syliras were mortal enemies. The brand on her hand, must have been one of slavery and servitude. Richard's blood boiled, he despised Rhysol, and Ravok. Slavery is such a dispicable practice. Luckily, there are no slaves in the city.

Richard calmed himself, and looked at Nix, the kelvic, "A Kelvic, huh?" He did think it was pretty unique. He hadn't ever met one before. He decided to let the brand go for now. He needed some air, and his prayers were all done.

The Squire stood, "I need to get some fresh air, would you care to join me on my walk? It is much less stuffy than the temple." He hoped she would join him, he hadnt had much company in the early hours and meeting someone new was a refreshing change for the squire- who mostly just spent his days with other Knights and Squires.

[Nix Mao]