Soothing the Soul (Open)

by **Nero Czan** on July 30th, 2010, 1:24 am

Nero smirked. He had always enjoyed acting against his nature, or at least, against his supposed nature. People always either assumed a vicious fighter from his toned build and Drykan tattoo, or a smooth womanizer from his naturally charismatic voice and flirtatious tone. He considered the 'honor' of knowing him better a step beyond the facade. Her smile once again filled him with a warm feeling, a sensation he had learned to enjoy at face-value, before his luck ran dry. "I'm glad you enjoy it. I try my best to Surprise." He chuckled as she sunk under the surface again, like a small fish popping up for air, only to swim their way back into the comfort of the deep.

However, once she had risen again, there was something different in her expression. Her contagious joy had been subdued by some unknown force. He almost asked her about the sudden change, but refrained from the possibly offensive gesture. It was also apparent in her voice, and a subtle frown ran across Nero's face as he watched her walk by. He sighed and let it be as she changed, wondering what went wrong this time. As she came back, her dried hair still as luminous as before, he still smiled gracefully as her thanks. "It was my pleasure, Ora. Your company is an honor in itself." Nero took a small gulp as he continued however, a tinge of concern entering his expression. "Are you alright though? You seem a bit... dismayed..."

by **Ora Sa'vina** on July 30th, 2010, 2:01 am

Ora sat in silence for a few moments, mulling over his question. Dismayed... Her eyes looked up at the tree before slowly moving to look at Nero. She studied his face for a moment before speaking. "I have never left my Isle... And while I have only been away for a few days, I know I will not be returning until I have found what I am looking for. Which could be many more seasons than even my own age." She pulled her legs in and stood up slowly.

The young woman moved gracefully next to the trunk of the tree, setting herself down next to Nero. "The Konti exist because of the love Laviku and Avalis have... We are their children. Laviku rules the seas... This freshwater is a sad reminder of how far from him I am. It was enjoyable to feel a small bit closer, but still, caused me odd sadness." She frowned and looked down at her own lap. "I do not seem to quite understand it."

Ora looked over a Nero, locking eyes with him. "I must confess something, an apology, I did not mean to do it." Her eyes darted away. "At the tavern I was pulled into your Chavi, which is how Konti access our gifts." A small sigh escaped the woman. "I apologize because it is not my place, even unintentionally, to see what others have been through without being invited. For this, I am sorry." Her eyes remained focused on her own hands.

by **Nero Czan** on July 30th, 2010, 3:45 am

Nero was not surprised by her first answer. Homesickness was expected from such a devout race as the Konti. That word doesn't even truly describe the experience, it's more of loneliness, loneliness from one's closest family, her Gods. There was nothing Nero could say to comfort her on that front, but Homesickness was one thing he had combated for many years, although, once again, of a slightly different kind. Nevertheless, Nero would not sit and watch this woman wrestle with the storm of feelings inside her, while he did nothing. With a slight sigh, Nero gently nudged her chin up, her eyes meeting his reassuring smile.

"It's okay to feel sad, for being homesick is nothing to be afraid of. But, why fret over this? The longer we remain away from our home, the Greater the return is. You Will go home someday, and if you're always looking back in sorrow and doubt, you'll eventually stumble and miss what's in front of you." Nero had also, due to his own experiences, drank some of this medicine of the soul, and hoped it would prove of some use to his companion. He was still hoping she would abandon her dreary outlook, in favor of a more positive philosophy.

However, Nero was not expecting this sudden seriousness, nor the frantic apology. It took him a few moments to even comprehend her words, before the full effect set in, like a missing piece in a puzzle. Her awkward sadness in the tavern, and strange behavior, was finally explained. He need not ask what she saw, for there was only one thing to see. The same thing he saw every night. "I see... Then Ora, I should be the one apologizing. I sincerely regret having to have you witness my horrors, for they are mine to carry. But, perhaps I can reveal the entire story. At 8 Years old, My family was killed, my Clan with them; their grave being our burning village. The other children I was with, our Teachers, and I, desperately ran off into the surrounding forests, hoping for aid. We were eventually caught, and as our mentors, whom we had known for our entire lives, fought for our sakes, all we could do was run, as far away from the horrors of our forsaken lives." His eyes closed, he leaned his head against the bark, facing towards the sky. His face carried no expression, which, in Nero's case, was an ominous scene. He opened his eyes to the sight of the tree's comforting canopy. "Be proud of your Home Ora, so promise yourself that you will Never abandon it. You will go home some day, and Until then..." He regained his characteristic smirk, his mood changing almost instantaneously, and gave the petite Konti a charismatic smile. "Stand tall and Enjoy the ride."

by **Ora Sa'vina** on July 30th, 2010, 5:00 am

Ora listened to Nero thoughtfully, he was reassuring and the woman found herself oddly relax next to him. A bright smile crossed her face as he spoke of the rewards of returning home. She believed they would be a great as he painted for her. "Thank you, Nero, I will not forget that."

Ora watched her hands carefully as Nero thought about what she had confessed to him, about seeing, only fragments and broken images, of his childhood. She listened to him thoughtfully as he spoke, her eyes closed as she thought back to the images which slowly fell into place when he told his story. The yelling, the feeling of fear, she understood and began to feel what he had felt once again.

Once his tale was finished she opened her eyes and looked over at Nero, he was looking to the sky, his face was blank as he began to talk again. "Be proud of your home Ora, so promise yourself that you will never abandon it. You will go home some day, And until then..." Ora smiled, his sentiment brought her a great deal of joy, she was endlessly proud of her home and her people. The young woman never thought of abandoning her true home. It took the Konti a moment to realize, this man had lost his home, but then again, was it really where he truly belonged?

His face changed suddenly and Nero looked back towards the Konti, smiling at her he finished his thought. Ora didn't quite understand Common slang, but she guessed by "ride" he probably meant adventure or something similar. Ora reached out and took his hand in her, squeezing it lightly. She smiled at him and bowed her head. "Thank you, Nero. You are a gift that graces this earth. You are much stronger than most could ever imagine. Never apologize for what you went through. While it is hard to see and remember, you are who you are because of that," She let go of his hand before she continued to talk. "And I would not prefer you any other way."

The woman shifted slightly, sitting up straight, her hands resting on her knees outstretched before her. "Thank you, for letting me close." She said, her eyes tracing over the shape of the lake before her.

by **Nero Czan** on July 30th, 2010, 5:27 am

Nero, his soul lightened by her cheery acceptance of his advice, had considered it a job well done. Sadness? Gone. Homesickness? Vanished. Optimism? Reborn. Hell, he had even gotten thanks out of it. He could only smile at that, as he listened to the words that he himself had said countless times. If only she knew the Irony... He had lost his home, family, and Life, but he outright refused to see it as a frightening memory to lament and despair over. Regardless of how many times he had make mockeries of Fate and Luck, it was the truth that his Home was not truly where he belonged. If it wasn't for Sipher, Nero himself would've left, Raid or no Raid. Instead, he promised himself to always be as optimistic as possible, and starting with that incident, he declared it not the death of him, but his Rebirth. A New Beginning. A sort of exaggerated catharsis. He smiled to himself, his small revelations meaning nothing at this moment.

But what really took him by surprise, was when she held his hand. Her compliments were things no one had ever said, nor probably even Thought to say. There was only one that came close, but that memory would not trouble him any further. He had sealed it away in the recesses of his mind, and refused to even recognize it until things had become clearer. A smile of utmost kindness graced his expression as his voice, resonating like crystal, came through. "I'm glad. Not many people have reason or mind to give me thanks, let alone call me by such grand titles. I truly don't think I am worthy of your praise Ora." He laid his other hand on top of hers, gently brushing her soft, ivory skin for a moment, as a glimpse of his smirk returned to him. "Although, I'm flattered that you prefer me at all." With a chuckle he retreated his hand, sincerely touched by her words, and the feeling they conveyed. The simple act of human contact was a sign of high-trust with this woman, and he would be sure to uphold it.

Nevertheless, he found it slightly adorable at the way she fell back to her serious and calm state, almost as if she was afraid to let her inner self be exposed for too long. For all he knew, that could well be the case. His smirk beaming with charismatic sheen, he laid his arms behind his head, the thick bark smooth enough for contact, and gazed over at Ora, her radiant eyes scanning the landscape, or perhaps simply looking for a diversion of conversation. And more Thanks! One thing he would remember about this woman was her sense of politeness, which went beyond all human bounds. "It was my pleasure Ora. Thank You for letting me glimpse through that thick shell of yours." He chuckled, not sure what, or rather why, he was mentioning it, but decided it would end well enough. "You're a truly beautiful woman." He patted his chest, right above his beating, passionate heart, hoping she would understand his true meaning. She was a kind, sincere, and exotically calm woman, but always held at a distance. It felt nice to have been within her grasp, if only for a moment. This should be a fun ride...

by **Ora Sa'vina** on July 30th, 2010, 6:17 am

Ora smiled softly. "By being so humble is what makes you so worthy of my praise." Ora was fond of the strange man, he wasn't as bad as her mother made men out to be. On the other hand her mother was quite different from Ora in many ways. San, Ora's mother, was loud, talkative and forward, the opposite of most Konti. If San didn't like you, you would know.

Violet eyes flashed back to Nero, confusion covering her face. "Thick... Shell? What do you mean?" Ora didn't understand, she never was close to anyone mortal but her mother. Ora's confused face suddenly and quickly flushed as he spoke of her appearance. No one had commented her appearance before, she just was Ora, nothing special about her physically except for her odd ability to dance.

Ora watched his odd movements, unsure of what he meant when he beat his chest. Ora was sheltered, not immature by any means, but she never understood common human interactions. "I am not sure what made you say such a thing, but thank you, I have never been told that." Her eyes were pointed downward away from him.

She felt slightly off center, and embarrassed. "Would... Would you like to go for a walk? I think seeing more of this land would be pleasant." She stood up, gathering her things together, her dress was still damp, but it wasn't dripping.

by **Nero Czan** on July 30th, 2010, 3:28 pm

Nero only smiled at her responses. As expected, the cultural divide was a bit too much for conventional symbolism, but Nero felt he had done well enough. His words meant nothing if one could no decipher them. Nevertheless, he simply chuckled and left things bee. He was not particularly worried by it, and even slightly excited. He was reminded of Ora's especially unique heritage, and by that account, she was even more unique than them. He doubted many Konti had the strength to leave their homes in the Isles as she had done, and more importantly, leave their Gods. But once again, his semi-productive thoughts were interrupted by the beautiful sight of her ivory cheeks, tinged with the red of her emotions. She most likely never expected the same treatment she gave to others, given onto herself, which she deserved outright. He couldn't help but notice a small beginning of a smile as her face retreated down, her face reddened by his words. That itself was something that gave him some joy, but that however was a usual routine for him. She was different, She was Unique, and Nero was going to make sure she never forgot it.

A smile across his face, tinged with the playful nature of his smirk, he began by quietly clearing his throat. "Well Ora, It is my pleasure. It's any man's honor to spend a day with a majestic beauty such as yourself. But let me say one thing before we change the subject and try a diversion." Her bashfulness was obviously becoming predictable, but he enjoyed a bit of fun, and so, with a smirk, resumed. "You are different than anyone else in this world. You are a kind, sensitive, caring, and beautiful woman. Not to mention Very Polite. Besides, you're a Konti who left their home, one thing that their zeal for is Legendary. That makes you the strongest women I've met." He slightly chuckled after his last sentence, which, now that he thought about it, rang true. All of this is a part of you. You are Ora, as Unique as every star in the sky. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, and don't let anyone try and change you themselves. I wouldn't prefer you any other way." He smirked as he got to his feet, His muscles stiffening over time. "Oh, and Another thing." He took a knee, his face only a foot away from hers, "Try to loosen up a bit. Life can be Pretty exciting if you're not always worried about your composure."

And so, as he had expected, he graciously accepted her proposal for a change in conversation, and gathered his things. He started themselves walking down a path, if it could be called that, that ran parallel to the main road, but was deep enough in the forest to retain it's Natural charm. Every so often however, he would gaze over at Ora with a smile, and basked in her radiance.

by **Ora Sa'vina** on July 30th, 2010, 8:46 pm

Ora felt her cheeks burn a bit brighter as he continued to compliment her, she wasn't use to such treatment. Hearing that she had done something right and well was something she was more use to, but hearing that she, as a person, was right and well was very uncommon, perhaps even unheard of. The young woman listened to the man, her eyes and face pointed towards the grass beneath her, she wasn't one to argue, so she let him continue.

The young woman was startled by how close the man got, she looked him straight in the eye though, even though she appeared startled. The Konti smiled at the man and nodded slightly. "I do not think I know how to... 'Loosen up'," The end of her sentence was stated awkwardly, she understood what that slang meant, but she was not one for slang. "But I will try to."

As they began their walk Ora observed the trees and plant-life around her. It was calm and cool under the shade of the canopy with only the occasional beam of light breaking through. As Ora looked around she smiled. "It is sort of funny," She started glancing from Nero to the trees around them, her feet slowly gracing the ground. "Back on the White Isle, we are surrounded by coniferous trees," She motioned with her hands, "The big pointy ones..." Her fingers touched together in the air as she drew the general shape of her trees. "While here there are so many deciduous trees, I never realized how different they all could look."

Ora went silent again, her eyes moved to the ground beneath her. She focused on the sound of her own breathing for a moment before she continued to speak to her companion. "What was it like when you lived with your clan?" Once the question escaped her lips, Ora felt a surge of worry. "You do not need to talk about it, though. If you do not want to. I would understand." Her violet eyes rested on Nero, she did not want to upset him, but curiosity seemed to get the better of her.

by **Nero Czan** on July 30th, 2010, 10:04 pm

Nero chuckled, her coy and apologetic nature overwhelming any possible emotion from the question. "Relax. I'm all for questions, so no need to worry your cute little head about apologizing in advance. I'll have to teach you how to truly "Loosen Up" later..." His awkward emphasis on the phrase was nothing short of playful mockery, but he felt confident enough with her now to be a bit more humorous. Her face was still contained a tinge of pink from earlier, and he wondered if she had ever truly been treated as a genuine person... Nevertheless, he focused his mind on the topic at hand, and returned to her question. Truth be told, He actually enjoyed the treks his mind took as he retold his past, as it seemed that with every telling, he had found a new little detail, unseen in prior times, when his mind was obscured by turmoil and emotion.

He began, his usual smirk remaining firmly in place despite the possibly touchy topic, and shared with her all the details of his childhood, or rather, all there was to tell (Honestly, Nero's childhood was nothing to brag about). He was born to a Human mother, and a Drykan father, and the rest just fell into place. The social outcasting, his eventual under-performance, whether it concerning hunting or simply games, and even his eventual friendship with the strange wandering Blacksmith. They were all influenced by that single event, which was in truth the most influential event concerning him. A simply thing such as heritage can influence your mind, physicality, and your Life, to the very core of the matter. Regardless, he shared all these details with her, exposing his very self, with no regret or reluctance. Sipher the Blacksmith, his only friend. Vandr'an, his arch-rival, (Or so he liked to call him), and even the story of the baby deer, which, in spite of orders to hunt him as part of a ceremonial sacrifice, he had sheltered in his hut, for eight full days, before it had escaped. And when Nero had given Ora a good view of his life, he ended it in a lighthearted note, and simply chuckled as he finished, "In Short. Those kids didn't like me so much."

Nero smirked, mockingly proud of his childhood. Every man was once a boy, and he felt that one's actions, throughout history, were merely extensions of one's self. He grew curious about Ora's own history through this, mostly as a way to search for a source of her isolated lifestyle and oddly formed sense of self-worth. Once again, he was digressing. He looked Ora in the eyes, with a gentle smile, and spoke, his voice ringing peacefully through the luscious forest. "And How about you Ora? It's not often that one meets a Konti. You must have had quite an interesting childhood yourself. After all, it must take a unique childhood to create such a remarkable and beautiful woman." Naturally, Nero was not one to pass up a chance at flattery, and he still had plenty of cards in his deck.

by **Ora Sa'vina** on July 31st, 2010, 12:00 am

The young woman listened thoughtfully as Nero spilled himself to her. He was collected and calm while he talked, he appeared to be uncaring about the entire subject, but the Konti could feel some underlying emotion, but it was so clouded she couldn’t label it. Ora listened, her violet eyes going between Nero and the path in front of them. He spoke for a considerable amount of time, long enough for the sun to move.

A smile crossed the woman’s pale face as he ended his life story. “Apparently not…” At least he was light hearted about it, a better reaction to life than resentment, if that had been the case, being near Nero would have caused Ora a great deal of discomfort. "You are even stronger than I first imagined."

Ora was caught off guard when Nero turned the question on her. To this young woman her life was like any other young Konti, minus her mother, her mother made life interesting. “If you were to visit the Isle I am sure you would realize that I am but a gem in the rough compared to most of my sisters.” She smiled, thinking back to the Konti women she was raised with, she wasn’t rejected, but she wasn’t very well accepted either.

Violet eyes looked up at the green canopy as she thought of her own life, while she had barely experienced much of her own lifetime, at her age she was a quarter way through an average human life. “I was born in the sea surrounding the Isle, my mother’s name was San, my grandmother was Vina, so, my mother gave me the birth name ‘Ora Sa’vina’. Ora of San from Vina.” Her eyes moved to glance at Nero. “Children on the Isle are such gifts and once a Konti has a child she is accepted into the Mother’s circle. I was like most children, but my mother was not like most mothers.” Her eyes seemed to smile as she spoke of her mother. “San was loud, boisterous, adventurous… The opposite of what a Konti woman is normally… After she had me she would tell me grand stories of her adventures across these lands.” Ora shrugged slightly, looking down at the ground. “There really was not much to my life on the Isle.”

Ora seemed to slow her pace, looking over her shoulder. “Should we not turn back? I would not want to be caught out here after nightfall.” Her eyes landed on Nero as she spoke. She might have been avoiding her history, but she was genuinely worried about being stuck in the forest over night.

“When I was four years old, I showed a great deal of promise in two fields of study, fortune telling and dance, my mother began me in training as soon as possible. It was a daily thing, I would go, dance, and then practice my fortune telling.” Ora stood in place, watching Nero, her eyes occasionally glancing back the way they had just come. “Through my life I have always had trouble control Avalis’s gift, so I was given this,” She lifted the end of the cord wrapped about her waist. “It helps hold my mind in check so that I do not wander into others pasts.”

She sighed slightly, not much else happened in her life besides her mothers death. “My life continued on until I was twenty. I had been at the temple praying after daily training, when I came home my mother was gone, but she had left me a note and package on my bed.” Ora looked down, her heart sinking to the bottom of her stomach, she didn’t want to continue, even after two years, she truly missed her mother. “The note read, Ora, my dearest, it is time I left, for something is pulling me as well. This is for you, it was your fathers, it is sacred to the Akalak, it was your fathers Lakan, he gave it to me for saving him from certain death, I have kept it all these years and now it is time for it to pass to you, as I will be with Avalis and Laviku. You are precious, my dearest Ora.” Her voice cracked as she spoke of her mothers last words. Ora watched the ground, her eyes slowly welling. The young woman stopped talking; dropping her burlap sack to the ground her hands covering her small face.

“I am sorry, Nero.” She said through her hands. “I did not realize how much this would upset me.” Her hands remained over her face as she silently mourned. “Oh, Ora, you foolish girl, mother would never have wanted you to be this way.” The small woman muttered in her own language.