For Love of the Father [Jack Benefort]

by **Litani** on July 7th, 2013, 4:33 pm

She had to laugh, softly. It was too ironic not to. For all he praised her aid and spoke of gratitude, she felt so absolutely undeserving as to find it darkly humorous. She was no priestess, however much she might wish she had that regal dignity. She was only a homeless, kin-less healer, searching for where she belonged.

And he was crying, so she could not.

With her Gift, she felt all manner of signals from him, all depths of memory and longing and sorrow. Half of it blocked her senses, so strong it was... half of her forgot to feel herself, for feeling him. His body communicated what his emotions felt and she smiled somewhat sadly; she could relate, perhaps more than she could adequately say, but she felt that relating would not serve her here. With a deep breath, she pushed herself down and into a corner, steeling herself with serenity and smooth compassion.

"I am not..." she began, halting suddenly, perhaps too aware of a self-depreciative tendency that had begun to show itself. When she continued, her voice was more... flat. "I'm glad that you've gotten what you came for, then." As he stood beside her, she bowed her head faintly whilst watching him from the corner of her eye, as if to express gratitude in being a small part of his sought-after revelations. The rest of her was on lock-down, caged and calm, unwilling or unable to walk any farther down the intimate road they'd been sharing to this point. "Laviku's children are many, His embrace vast. If you are one of them, then I can only say I am grateful for the chance to speak with another."

The smile she offered then was simple - open and clear and soft. And almost without impact on her eyes. She learned long ago that her face reflected a great deal more of her feelings than she ever intended it to, so the edges of her eyes started to soften slightly because she made them do so, not because the expression naturally came. The end result was the same, however - a mask as believable as the sun, as real as the waves.

...you'd be proud. I hope.

by **Jack Benefort** on July 17th, 2013, 9:53 am

Jack couldn’t help but become lost in his own thoughts again after he stopped speaking. Much of the raw emotion, though still present, was changing. It was refining into something. A desire for actions that he had not felt. He had heard the word ‘Conviction’ once, and it sounded right for what he felt. He felt as if he should do something for Laviku. As if he would not be able to rest until he had in some way offered some of his own life to him in gratitude for what had been done for him- though even that was a vague concept when he pressed it. He knew so little about Laviku. What should he do? How should he act in his life now? He found himself full to bursting with questions, but at the same time calm about it. There would be time for them later. He became so caught up in these thoughts that he completely missed both Litani’s chuckle and almost missed her first sentence.

“... ‘ve gotten what you came for, then.”

It was a strange way to think about it in Jack’s mind, but that was true. ‘Gotten what I came for...’ He repeated it to himself in his mind. It made him sound like a customer at a shop. But he did get what he came here looking for. Truly, he had found something he had been hoping for when he left Zeltiva in the first place. Thinking about it again brought on a burst of joyfulness to eclipse most of his thoughts and other emotions. ‘Laviku cares for me!’ The idea ran through his mind like wildfire through a forest that had been too long without rain. It attached itself to every last idea, every drive, every want, and painted it with itself. Everything he saw in those moments, he saw through the lens of his love for Laviku. He didn’t care that he knew next to nothing about the God- he had to do with the sea and the Svefra and Konti and Charoda was about all Jack had to go on. He didn’t care about that, he only cared that he had discovered that he was not alone after all. The gods- or at least, this one- were with him. For the second time, he became so caught up in these ecstatic thoughts that he missed part of what his friend had spoken.

“...then I can only say I am grateful for the chance to speak with another."

Upon hearing her speaking, his thoughts took another powerful turn. He didn’t truly hear what she was saying- it wasn’t processing in his mind. But he did hear her. Turning his head to look at her- staring into the enclosure now with that same calmness that so defined the Konti- He began to think. Laviku had worked in his life through his races- The Konti, Svefra, and Charoda. People of the sea. And Laviku, in this grand plot, had chosen 1 Konti to be the bringer of this greatest message to him. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of Konti that could have been in the tower today, or any day that Jack decided to be there, but it was Litani who was. It could have been Tyral, the Svefra whose words set him on his course to this place. It could have been any Charoda. But it was Litani. Surely Laviku had in store for her as much as he had in store for Jack. She had spoken of Jack getting what he came for. He wondered....

Still looking at her as she stared into the wondrous enclosure before them, he spoke- now with less brokenness and without tears. “Litani, what you have said is true. I have gotten what I came for, not even knowing that I was looking for it. And I must thank you for the part you have played- Of all those who call Laviku father, he selected one child to be here today, and I will be eternally grateful not only to him but to you, though I suspect that, like me, you did not set out for Riverfall thinking this was what you would be doing. But still I am grateful, and so I want to ask you something. You have helped me toward such a great thing today. Have you also gotten what you came here for? Or do you even know? If there is anything that I can do to assist you in this manner, know that you need only to ask and I will do it.”

by **Litani** on July 21st, 2013, 6:33 pm

The human was tasting divinity. That much was clear enough without explanation.

Litani's eyes caught the words that he offered, drug themselves to his gaze, smiled softly at the sincerity she saw in him there. For all the honesty she'd given him, for all the openness she'd tried to display, the Konti was stretched thin and a great weight had squared itself securely on her shoulders. Weariness but peace displayed itself in her gaze - whatever was upon her, she held it as dearly as breath and kept its secrets. Alone.

"I haven't done anything," she said with a gentle chuckle, shaking her head in graceful dismissal. "If Laviku has called you, I was small issue to it... I am only pleased that you have found your way."

He has found his way, but who am I to say so...? Who am I, but as lost as when I came here.

She took a deep breath and turned aside slightly, finding herself wishing for a patient to treat, for a book to lose herself in, for a pair of familiar eyes. She'd come here to find peace for herself yet, in her usual fashion, she'd helped another instead. To his credit, he asked her what he could do for her but... what was there to tell him? Bring my father back from the dead? Make the mind of a certain Akalak balance itself, take back the harsh words that had passed between them? Make Alder send for her...?

Her thoughts wandered, turning far from Laviku and far from the temple that housed those who served Him. She wanted it to remain - she tried to make it remain - but the time was coming soon and she knew it. She had to be gone... it was only a matter of time. Only Jack's presence held her to the present moment, anchoring her to their conversation. After a brief pause, she cleared her throat and said softly, "There is nothing, Jack, thank you. Your offer is kind and appreciated... but I have no need of anything at this time. Is there ought else that I can do for you? Some question you have, perhaps?"

by **Jack Benefort** on July 22nd, 2013, 6:28 pm

She responded by stating that there was nothing she needed from him, even offered to answer any further questions he might have. But he could think of nothing. He wanted to be of service to this woman, but she would not have it. And she was probably right when she said that she had not truly done anything, that if he was called to Laviku, she was of little significance. But that was neither here nor there. Any other time, Jack may have pressed the issue. He may have taken notice that she seemed to be trying to repel his interaction in her life. He probably wouldn't have interrupted her meditation in the first place at all. But he felt it best now to think on this himself. He would take his leave.

After a short pause, he responded to her question. "... No, I don't believe so, no. If there is no service I may render to you, I think you have done more than enough, no matter what you may say of it. I'll be leaving now, I believe I have some things to think about." And with that, he walked- not too slowly but not too quickly, either- out of the tower, and made his way back along the beach where he had begun this journey.

As he walked along that beach, he reflected on what had just taken place. He had found something that he had been searching for ever since his father had died- it was peace. It settled his soul and calmed the storms of youth within him. He had been filled with so many emotions, so much turmoil. As he thought of it all, he was nearly overwhelmed. It was as though he was back in the moments that had defined his life for so long.

"You are my son, and you will not waste your time on idle play!"

"We don't want to play with you!"

"The gods do not define us, we choose our own paths in this world."

"I am not truly your father..."

"Your parents are dead."

"This way of living will kill you one day!"

"Stop this madness before you lose yourself..."

"He's dead. He was so healthy just a year ago. It's like he gave up."

"Yeah, I'm a teacher."

"I'm a swordsman."

"I'm just a traveler."

"I'm a storyteller."

"I'm trying to learn as much as I can."

"I'm trying to honor my father's life."

"I'm trying to experience everything."

"Don't worry about me."

"I'm just trying to make the world better."

"So this is Riverfall."

"It's quite an amazing view, isn't it?"

He fell on his knees, unable to restrain the strange combination of sorrow and joy that coursed through him. He was so sad. His birth parents were dead. His father, the man who gave up his latter years for him, was dead. He had no true friends. He had no true calling. He was just a liar, fleeing responsibility, fleeing the truth. But the joy. The joy. Because all these things were so true. But it was finished. He had found peace in Laviku, in knowing that the gods to take interest in us, and that they can care personally for us. Peace, knowing his life could have a real definition, a real purpose. That through love for the gods, he could know true life for the first time. It was as though a sack of rocks had been lifted from his shoulders. It was as though he was a slave set free.

As he sat there, on his knees, tears flowing freely down his face, he looked out to the sea. He laughed. He cried. He marveled at the beauty of what had happened to him, and of what he had seen, and of all that was to come. And he prayed to Laviku for the first time. And nothing would ever be the same.

by **Magpie** on August 28th, 2013, 11:58 am

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Litani :

Jack :

Notes :

If you have any questions or concerns about what was awarded, please don't hesitate to PM me.
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Completed For Love of the Father [Jack Benefort]