Completed Mist the Otherworldly

[Estrellir Konrath]

Summer 13, 514 AV
Konrath’s Detective Bureau


To others it was quite early in the day, but Estrellir Konrath was tired and exhausted after another night at the desk doing paperwork. She was only really wrapping up a case that had been closed last season, reading through her notes and making last additions. The bureau smelled of brackish water and parchment as always, the streets of Kenash were still deserted, everything cushioned in an almost peaceful quiet.

Almost… for people like Estrellir knew the beast that ruled Kenash never slept. One could be sure the wheels of intrigue and politics were always churning and spinning behind the curtains. The Konti never forgot that and so she’d dedicated her long life to observing and understanding its machinations.

It was the most tedious part of her work, but reports had to be completed. Mell, the human slave girl, was doing errands around the city. Sooner or later she had to replace the cloak ruined in a previous investigation! But those were exactly the things slaves were for.

Instead of the girl, a black and white striped cat was keeping Estrellir company. Whimsy had curled up on top of a stack of books in the right corner of the desk, occasionally opening a lazy eye to observe from above. Whenever her striped tail twitched, Estrellir had to look out it didn’t knock over the ink vial. Still, she enjoyed the cat’s company too much to replace her.

It looked like the start of an ordinary day… or didn’t it?

[Shalita Farlay]

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Shalita had heard about this Bureau from word on the street and now she seemed to linger outside upon the street looking at the door. Why? She didn't know why, in fact it seemed to be an old human thing that she hadn't seemed to be able to let go.

Human... Slowly the woman was beginning to think that she was beginning to loose what she had left of her human life. However seeing as she was standing, well, rather floating in front of a door, that was highly un-likely. Only a person would do that when hesitant about the answers they might find, or so Shalita thought anyway.

She was in her human appearance, with her deep midnight hair and deep blue eyes, wearing a simple blue sundress that she had worn and loved while she had still been alive. Now it just served as a constant reminder of what she once had.

She would have taken a deep breath if she was human, but the young ghost had given up that facade of breathing a year ago when she lost hope of her ever returning to being normal. What was the point? She was dead wasn't she? Besides, the woman inside, the detective would notice her as she would enter the room. Mostly everyone did whenever it was a room that she had entered into. An open area? Not so much.

Taking one last pause, or what ever pause a ghost could do, she silently drifted through the door that she had been floating in front of for the past bell. She was then greeted by a spacious room and was some-what surprised. It didn't seem that spacious from the outside. Maybe she should just drift into buildings more often, just to see what they looked like on the inside. It appeared that the outside could be very deceiving.

As she had entered the room, who ever was inside of the room would have noticed that the temperature had dropped. The living tended to complain about that, especially when they desired warmth instead of the cool.
Hesitantly, she called out as she spotted the woman at the desk, "Um... Hello?"

She felt stupid for even calling out, but, old human habits tend to die hard. Well, if the woman hadn't of noticed the room temperature dropping, than Shalita could have waited. Then whenever the woman did notice her, she would have probably frightened the detective. A scene she wanted to avoid, she needed information, not scare a person off.

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[Estrellir Konrath]

Estrellir was still writing the report, occasionally pausing to look up details in her notes. Since the work was quite straightforward, her thoughts started to drift and wander into curious directions.

She had to complete reports of past cases as soon as possible – in order to jump into new observations. With every season change came a craving for something fresh and this time visitors had all but rained down on the bureau. She’d turned down the less interesting stories and focused on Dynasty brats. When thinking about politics, the tips of her fingers started to itch and the tiny white hairs on her arms rose. No doubt it was her calling, no.

After completing the descriptions, she took a moment to stretch and yawn. Where had Mell left her delicious coffee when it was needed the most? With a small sigh, she returned to the papers for the analysis.

As Estrellir reached out to dip the quill into midnight ink, many things happened at the same time. The temperature in the room dropped. Her bare elbow knocked the notebook from the desk and Whimsy hissed at something. Estrellir bent down to pick up the notebook and noticed the presence in the middle of her room only a moment later.

A gasp escaped her lips. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the notebook in both hands. Would she strike or hurl it at the girl? No, instead she took a deep breath and stood up. The notebook was dropped on the desk. She observed the girl with narrowed slits of violet. How had she entered without a sound? Why the simple greeting? It was obvious that girl was beyond ordinary people. Something about her presence unsettled the Konti.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” she demanded in a sharp voice, perhaps rougher than intended. Whenever her space or family was penetrated, Estrellir grew hard and unforgiving. The sudden chill didn’t help to ease her doubts, but at least it kept her thoughts clear and sharp. It was better to assume the worst.

[Shalita Farlay]

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Shalita watched as a familiar scene played in front of her, the being before her gasped as the knuckles turned white, while the fingers gripped the notebook that had previously been picked up from the floor, only moments before hand. The hissing cat was a first though, however, she supposed that was because she didn't really have much to do in the way with cats, or animals for that matter. They just... Were hypersensitive to the presence of ghosts and didn't like them very much. A sigh settled upon her lips as she had suddenly come to another reason why being a ghost was disadvantage and lonely. It gave the ghost even more cause to hate the race that had been responsible for her death, she told herself as her blue gaze watched the living woman drop the notebook back into the desk where it had previously been before she had knocked it off.

Silently, she continued to watch the other woman and she made a mental note that this woman before her looked almost like a Symenestra herself and Shal almost regretted coming to this place, she didn't want any more reminders of why she was dead, no she wanted to be alive, not dead. “Who are you and what are you doing here?” Came sharp words from the woman and Shalita paused in her drifting movements. Should she had walked through the door like a normal human being instead? Even though she was far from being a normal human being? The words Who are you? Made the ghost roll her blue hues skywards, or in this case, towards the roof. Who asked that kind of question to a ghost? Really? And why was she doing here? Wasn't that kind of obvious? She wouldn't be here if she didn't need the woman's services.

Instead of giving the strange woman a sarcastic tone, she merely shook her head. "I'm a ghost, dead... I died three years ago and.. I need your help. I was never really good at research, I was more interested in ships and the sea before I died." Her form lowered so it appeared as if she was standing upon the floor of the room, she didn't want to freak the woman out, beside, once the scent of blood reached the strange woman, she may or may not freak out. It was something she was trying to avoid. "I just... I need to know more about the Symenestra race." She said softly before she spoke in broken Symenos, "Why did I die?"

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[Estrellir Konrath]

The woman seemed annoyed at her questions, but she answered nevertheless. Narrowing her eyes, Estrellir noticed the telltale signs too. The words gave her time to calm down and look at the unusual visitor like she did at cases and connections. Indeed, her form was translucent so that the door could be seen through her torso. When she sank to the floor, Estrellir realized she’d been floating above it before. Thin fog was collecting at the edges. A ghost.

Ships and the sea? If she’d come to Kenash for that, she’d be disappointed. The residents didn’t travel the sea, only shallow canals of swamp water with their boats. Suddenly the stench of blood hit her, metallic on her tongue and sickening in the stomach. Estrellir swallowed and sat down. One hand absentmindedly stroked Whimsy who was watching the ghost with flattened ears and a bushy tail.

So the woman had died three years ago, apparently at the hands of one or more Symenestra. The Konti knew little about the spidery race as they hardly ever visited Kenash. Why had the girl come to her anyway? Why hadn’t she stayed wherever she’d died to get her revenge? Before she knew it, Estrellir was thinking about business.

“My help doesn’t come for free. I doubt you’ll have coin, but I’ll accept other means of payment. Favors, knowledge, you get the idea.” She paused and ran a hand through white locks, giving the ghost a moment to digest. “Please tell me what exactly happened to you. Is it only research about the Symenestra or is there anything else you want me to help you with?” Something as extraordinary as a ghost… giving her a simple research case seemed wrong. There had to be more, no?

[Shalita Farlay]

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Shalita had noted the other woman's brief silence, perhaps she was thinking over the information that she had given the stranger. She hadn't exactly said much that could even be considered useful, well she didn't think that she had. Perhaps, usefulness was in the eye of the beholder? The ghost mused as her blue gaze watched as the white haired woman suddenly began to speak once more. “My help doesn't come for free. I doubt you’ll have coin, but I’ll accept other means of payment. Favors, knowledge, you get the idea.” Why did everyone assume that because she was a ghost that she didn't have coin? She asked herself in the brief pause that the strange woman had given her, maybe it could work to her advantage anyway. She had all the time in the world to do whatever favour this woman wanted. If she didn't have any knowledge of what she was chasing, the ghost could easy go and get it. Well, not easily, but given time she could probably chase down the wanted knowledge, seeing as she was still probably considered to only be a young ghost. “Please tell me what exactly happened to you. Is it only research about the Symenestra or is there anything else you want me to help you with?”

These words made Shal pause in her wayward thinking as her gaze flickered away from the stranger. No one ever had wanted to know about happened to her, about how she had died. The living mostly just gawked at her or ran the other way, sometimes, they would ignore her very existence altogether. Indeed, the life of a ghost was a lonely one, but she didn't know how to turn back time, to stop herself from approaching that man with the white hair and the purple eyes. If she could, she would turn back time to simple go home early, to have gone a different route than the short cut down that alley. Her form began to flicker as she turned her translucent back to the living woman and her cat. How would telling the stranger about her death help her do her research? A few chimes seemed to pass as the ghost's form continued to flicker whether it was with rage or sadness? One could not tell, because not even Shalita could tell. There was just too many emotions raging high within the woman. What did she die for?

Finally, she began to speak, her words soft as her human appearance slowly began to shift to her ghostly appearance. Her blue sundress lengthening so then it covered her bare feet, turning a colour of white. If she had been facing to the white hair woman, she would be able to see the red blood stain that started at the mid section of her stomach and it looked as if the blood stain began to spread as it continued its path down her front till it reached the hem of the dress. Her black hair began to lighten to a grey before it was a solid white, her deep blue hues changing to the colour of ice blue. "I used to live in Zeltiva... The sun had well and truly set when I had left the docks, but on my way home, I had noticed someone who looked lost. White hair and his eyes were... They were a deep violet colour, perfect to stare in. I remember that he had looked lost and I loved to help people, helping people was my forte... It was. I had just been about to ask him a question when suddenly everything went black." She paused in her story, the young ghost just wasn't sure whether she wanted to continue this story, it held so many painful memories, in more ways than one. She lifted a hand to grasp at the white strands of her hair as her gaze dropped to view the floor and it seemed like the temperature would drop another degree as she drew in another breath as fear, pain and anger began to taint her words.

"I was taken back to Kalinor to be chained up and raped by the very same man that I had thought appeared to be lost in Zeltiva. Afterwards they mostly left me alone, locked inside a room. I suppose you could say... Being locked away from the sun and open spaces with the promise of the sea, made me fall into a depression. He came into my room to bring me fruits, he even began to teach me Symenos. It brought me out of my depressed state for a while, but I would fall straight back into it after the lesson finished. I was still trying to grasp at what was happening to my body as it changed to accommodate the child growing inside of me." She paused briefly in her story as she lifted a hand to press to her stomach. "I always thought that if I was going to have a child, it would be with another being, preferably one that didn't kill me. One that would cherish, love and forever hold me within their arms as they whispered sweet nothings. I never thought that I would bare a child in a locked room, with no human contact to a man that was not capable of love."

Finally the ghost turned back around to face the strange woman, "I died in that room. I don't know at what time of day that it had happened, for it was dark, but I remember the pain as the child inside of me, began to rip its way out, burning and eating me while I was still alive and they... Just let it happen, they stood there and watched as I clawed for help!" He words ended in a growl of sorts as the soulmist surrounding the ghost started to become some-what chaotic, with the anger that was beginning to boil within. Although, it then seemed as if a switch was flicked and the anger that she was currently displaying seemed to disperse. The soulmist loosing their chaotic nature to just simply continue its swirl around the ghost as she moved towards the right side of the room. "I just want research about the Symenestra race, any information given to me would be greatly appreciated. I just... I need something, anything that will tell me about this race that took everything away from me..." Her head turned to view the woman at the desk once again, pain clearly etched into her facial features. "Please... Will you do this for me?"

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[Estrellir Konrath]

The ghostly form flickered, shifting between translucent and solid color at a pace that gave Estrellir headaches. Something seemed to happen. It probably hadn’t been the best idea to ask directly instead of taking the roundabout route. With nothing to keep them sane, ghosts tended to be volatile and emotional… but who knew how that particular specimen fit into the image of her race?

Licking her lips, Estrellir observed the change that happened slowly, almost gently. The girl was facing the bookshelves, but the Konti still noticed her dress turning white, her hair bleeding color, only stopping at the shade of naked bone. Her entire body seemed to grow less solid, more ghostly with every moment. Then she spoke and Estrellir bit back her questions to listen. A story it would be, not the usual interrogation.

While the girl spoke, scraping together words with her fragile voice, the Konti slowly lowered herself into the chair. Robbed of her calming fingers, Whimsy immediately jumped into her lap and pressed her back against the Konti’s stomach. Estrellir continued to pet her absentmindedly. Shaken out of stupor, she was fully awake and paying attention to every single word. Zeltiva. White hair and violet eyes, the last sight before unconsciousness. A shiver ran down Estrellir’s back as the air grew even colder. Tension rose between the two as the girl described her times in the belly of the Symenestra city. Then a hand went to her stomach, grasping for a memory.

Towards the end her voice changed, leaving human softness behind for something more feral and dangerous. She spit out the last words instead of speaking them. Whimsy ducked and gave another low hiss, yet stayed where she was. Estrellir watched with barely hidden fascination as the mist around the translucent form started to swirl and boil. When the girl moved through the room, she noticed the dark stain on her dress. The metallic taste returned at the back of her mouth.

Estrellir swallowed. Despite the chill and the strange mist floating about, the words had convinced her that the girl was still more or less human inside. The corners of her mouth curled into a tight smile. Research was a fairly simple and straightforward task, after all. “I will. I must warn you though. We rarely deal with Symenestra here, so I wouldn’t expect a lot of knowledge available. Still, I’ll find everything there is and compile it for you.”

Rubbing her hands, she tried to summon some warmth back. With that, the little cogs and wheels in her mind had started turning. “Will you give me four days? Come back at the end of the fifth and I’ll present you my results. We’ll also discuss payment then.” Estrellir doubted there was much to be gleaned from the library and even less from the grapevine, but four days would also give her time to read up on ghosts.



Summer 14, 514 AV

Shalita had agreed and left Estrellir to do her work. The Konti had briefly wondered what ghosts did to pass time, but then returned to writing her reports and drawing up a plan in her head.

That night she slept in her Boldvine suite and the next day she sent Mell to the Dynasty Library. “Collect everything you can find about the Symenestra and compile a report from it. Everything means from appearance to reproduction to the culture of Kalinor, their city. If you’ve time, get anything you can about ghosts too.”

Mell nodded and disappeared at once. The girl was getting better at research, only writing down the gist of what she’d read. She’d fulfill that task as well as she could which gave Estrellir time to chase a different lead. After adjusting her clothing, she left the suite in search of the caretaker. Around the plantation, she was wearing her usual outfit of grey tunic and black pants coupled with dusty leather boots. Her white locks were tied into a long braid with a few strands framing her face.

The caretaker pointed her into the general direction. Humming an unknown song under her breath and hands in pockets, Estrellir made her way through the manor in search of the latest addition to the household slaves. She was curious, after all… Now she had a legitimate reason to look at the girl!

[Eida]

She got used to the work in Kenash. Though everyday was the same, they ordered her and she did as they asked. Simple minded work. Required no thoughts at all, just do as they said. But she didn't let this to happen, what would Leth think about her? She kept her thoughts for herself, but her brain was working everyday and everynight, though at day it was harder. Only these remained to her but she didn't mind, she had many times... she had just to wait for something bigger.

She was wiping the floor for two bells when she finally managed to done it. Their place was huge, she was still amazed by how much have they gained. No wonder they had the money to buy her, which she still found stupid. It was just her look nothing else, but let them threw away their money for her, she didn't care. Was better than spending her time on that Auction at least here she had a comfortable ...she found that way... sleeping place along other slaves.

Not that she was done, she was ordered to check the tropical garden something she loved the best ever since she got there. If something there was lovely in the Boldvine, is how beautiful their garden and bamboo forest were. Incredible. She loved working there, she felt a bit home among them. As she put away the rag she was wiping the floor with, she headed out to the garden.

She put on her cloack's hood so Syna wouldn't disturb her eyes too much. The scents were just wonderful, and even though she didn't see that well, she could enjoy the sight of the pretty flowers. First things first, she was pulling off the brown, dry leaves and petals. Taking care of their plants, doing gardening in their plantation was one of the task she could do forever. But maybe not as long as she wanted.

As she turned to her right, she saw a Konti coming closer to her. Must be one of the member of the Konrath. She sighed, turned around and bowed before her. Giving respect. "Welcome, hope you enjoy the sight of the garden. You need something from me, Mistress?"

OOCI'm soooo sorry for the delay!

[Estrellir Konrath]

The bamboo floors were creaking softly under her step, but Estrellir enjoyed their sound. It meant home, a safe haven far away from her plots and plans. Of course, part of her plots and plans was to keep that haven safe. She was proving her loyalty to the Konrath with every step she took through the great fabric of Kenashian politics and intrigue.

The ghost only meant another piece of the puzzle, yet Estrellir didn’t make the mistake of underestimating any of her pieces. She’d strive to fulfill Shalita’s request with as much effort in it as she would a Dynasty’s command.

Leaving the house, she stepped into the garden to continue her search. The caretaker had mentioned the slave’s skill with flowers and greenery. After some time of wandering near the walls, Estrellir spotted a hooded figure working between the most beautiful blossoms. No weeds were growing in her vicinity as far as the Konti’s ignorant eye discerned. As she approached, the girl turned around and bowed to her. Ashen skin flashed beneath the hood, pale locks and vibrant eyes too. Indeed, a prime specimen of the spider people. Estrellir had never seen her before, but the first impression wasn’t bad, not bad at all.

She gave a mild smile. “It’s lovely. If you’re the gardener, I can see why my family bought you. However, I’ll have to interrupt your work for a while. I’d like to ask some questions about your past.”

A short gesture beckoned the slave to follow. Estrellir would even allow her to walk by her side if she chose to do so. Brushing loose strands out of her face, she led the way along the pathways dividing the garden. The main house was surrounded by flower beds, but farther away little streams and ponds dotted the landscape. The sound of water flowing over stone soothed the Konti’s mind. Her thoughts fell into place.

She didn’t start with a question. “You are a Symenestra. I imagine you grew up among your kind since you don’t have the best reputation in other parts of Mizahar. You have been to the city of Kalinor, no?” While walking, she turned back to the girl to watch her expression. “What do you know about it?”

[Estrellir Konrath]

OOCDue to her retirement, Eida’s player has given me permission to write the following part.


As they walked in circles around the garden, Estrellir came to realize that the slave wasn’t nearly as useful as she’d expected her to be. Her answers were clear and her speech precise enough, but her memory faulty. It consisted of disjointed bits and pieces, like a stone plate cracked and in crumpling parts scattered all over the place. Listening to her gave the Konti a headache.

Kalinor? Yes, she remembered the place. Dark caverns where every word echoed endlessly. Both private houses and public facilities hung from rocky ceilings, swinging back and forth with every step, connected by ropes. Elegant figures climbing the ropes, scaling high walls. Glued to vertical surfaces like flies.

She had been one of them, of course. Perhaps her Ethaefal senses distorted her memories and changed impressions. Estrellir wouldn’t know.

They had their own culture in the caverns far beneath the surface, a secluded community, liquid fruity foods, flowing fabrics and the grace of aerial dancers. They also had their own conflicts. Something to do with reproduction.

The Konti stopped in front of a small waterfall that parted a shallow stream. It reminded her of Riverfall, although she’d never seen it, and her blue brothers. Reproduction was difficult for them too, but for some reason the Symenestra seemed to be special.

They weren’t many, no. Why? She didn’t know. It had been different once, a long time ago. Things happened. Times changed.

The Valterrian. Gnawing at her lower lip, Estrellir made a mental note and hoped knowledge like that would be recorded at the library. Then she shifted her focus.

No, she didn’t remember much from her life in Kalinor. Only what she’d already told, things every Symenestra knew. Also that it hadn’t been long. She’d died young. Yes, but she wasn’t quite sure how… It was all so hazy and filled with pain…

With a sigh, Estrellir gave up. She would’ve liked to know if all Ethaefal were that fickle as interview partners or if that one was a particularly hard nut to crack, but she couldn’t do much if Eida didn’t remember most of her past life. It was a past life, after all! If she drugged the slave, that could result in damage. The Konti had already learned how not to treat slaves the hard way.

Still, she refused to walk away with empty hands, so she bid the slave inside for a bit of a physical examination. Like dissecting an animal, she thought, only without the gore and rotting corpses.