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[Aldebaran]

Winter 20, 514 AV
The Depths of Duality


As the first ray of moonlight appeared over the distant horizon, showering rooftops and mountain edges in silver light, Aldebaran slipped past the Amaranthine Gate and down one of the designated trails into the wilderness of the Misty Peaks. The Ethaefal had nothing on her except her usual dark outfit and warm cloak, no backpack, no weapons, although her onyx horns pierced the darkness like a crown. She’d left Lhavit with a spring in her step and her chin raised, striving towards her planned destination. Beyond the gates lay wilderness and dangers, some known, some unknown, but it wasn’t the time to be afraid. Under the light of Leth, nothing could go wrong.

Despite her unusual height, her steps were light on the winding path through the high forest and grew even faster after the first blue flowers and ferns. In less than a bell, she reached a small clearing by a pond, tranquil and serene, bathed in white light of the moon that had risen over the treetops in the meantime.

The pool, only known as the Depths of Duality in Lhavit, reminded her of the one in the Temple of the Moon. As Aldebaran kneeled at the shore and gazed at the pale white reflection of moon and stars, however, the water revealed its wild and uncontrolled nature. Whenever she stared into its depths, it seemed to call her, invite her to come closer and pierce its surface. As if it wanted her to destroy its beauty.

Shaking her head, she took a step back before kneeling again. Despite the cold, sitting on a patch of grass turned out to be quite comfortable. Folding her legs, she arranged her arms so that her palms rested on her knees. Her gaze hung over the pool, neither focusing nor unseeing, but somewhere in the middle. Her breathing steadied as she concentrated on it. After a tick or two, the little noises of the night grew and invaded her ears. The wind and small animals were rustling all around, the trees were creaking every once in a while as if to confirm they were still alive and growing towards the midnight sky.

Listening to those little signs of life, Aldebaran remembered and felt acutely that everything was connected to her and she was a part of it all. The sky was still so, so far away, but at least she had a place within the world around her. By sitting down and listening, she was accepting it and taking control over her emotions. Sometimes they told her otherwise, isolated her, but through sitting like that, she could push all doubts aside and just be.

[Kaik Leyr]

I’m a killer. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Four dead. Burn them. Now they’re gone.

The image of all those he killed filled Kaik’s mind. He laid on his bed his eyes wide open. Ever since that day Kaik had trouble sleeping and yet he was spending all of his time lying on a bed. Forgetting was not something he was good at.

Kaik sat up on his bed certain that he would never fall asleep, instead he stared out his window. The light of the moon had given him just enough light to see. He wanted to feel the cold night air in hopes it would get rid of the images in his head.

Getting out of bed Kaik groaned in pain as he clutched his side. His entire body was in pain as he shambled to his wardrobe. Kaik put on his regular attire with difficulty as he then called out Oliver. The doll maker had put off fixing Oliver’s arm understanding that there was no harm in doing so, still he figured it was better to do it when he still had the motivation to do so.

Lying on a table was Oliver’s missing arm which Kaik asked Oliver to retrieve while he prepared a new animation circle. Oliver returned to his father with arm in hand to which he kept in his left hand. He uttered Oliver’s killphrase and he fell limp. Repairing the arm was a simple process that involved attaching the loose rope of the arm back onto the main body through a few simple knots. Certainly not the best job done but it would work.

It is good your arm can be fixed, Oliver, but mine…

Kaik gripped his right arm tightly as if he could just rip it out. He let out a brief sigh as he let go of his arm.

The doll maker placed Oliver in the middle of a circle he had created while he himself stood on another circle that was connected by a line. Pulling a small knife from his gauntlet he poked his thumb and let the blood drip onto the circle. He began to clear his mind and tried to feel the djed that flowed in the circles, himself, and Oliver. The glyph began to glow black. In his mind he could see the pathway that connected himself and Oliver. The animator focused on the arm of Oliver, what he needed to do was once again teach the astral body how to once again use the arm. This took no time at all as the arm was originally part of the original astral body. He closed the flow of information and so the circles began to fade back to their original color.

Kaik whispered to Oliver his startup phrase and the doll stood up immediately. “Now it’s time to get some air.”

Exiting the house Kaik took in a breath of cold air. For a moment he nearly forgot about the pain. Only when he began walking did he feel the burning in his right leg. Kaik quickly grabbed Oliver’s shoulder to stop himself from falling.

I need to go slower. Take my time. No real reason to rush.

Wandering the streets Kaik began to reminisce his past, the days when Ellen was still alive.

Hey, hey K! What’re you doing? Scared? Too far from the city? Silly! We’re but a short walk away from the city...besides it’s worth it! Have ya heard about The Depths of Duality? It has to be an interesting place if everyone’s heard of it! Let’s go!

Lost in his dreams the young man followed the steps his dear friend took as he ventured out the city.

He had arrived at the meadow without having realized it. The complete lack of sound Kaik felt was very obvious, but what stood more distinct was the Ethaefal that was sitting nearby. Kaik could never get used to the beauty of the race, finding this particular Eth’s horns to be most attracting he had yet to seen. Standing in awe he had nearly forgot to say his greeting, “Um...he-hello.” After all he’d been though it seemed his timidness still remained when he felt relaxed.

It was at that exact moment a strong wind blew and with it the hood of Oliver. Kaik turned and quickly pulled the hood back over Oliver.

Not again. I need to leave. I can’t say anything.

Just as abrupt as his appearance Kaik just as soon walked quickly out from the meadow.

Boxcode by Estrellir Konrath

[Aldebaran]

At first she simply let her mind wander and looked at her thoughts as if they were bits and pieces floating by in a wide river. It really was like that, her thoughts being the river that was ever flowing and flowing, neither stopping nor changing its pace. The first lesson she’d learned about meditation was just that: shutting up the inner voices never worked. The harder one tried, the louder they bounced back. The key lay in accepting their flow and simply watching them, releasing them and paying little attention to specific bits, until they died down to a low murmur in the background. Like the trickle of a small rivulet making its way through the mountains, she thought. Her thoughts were water and the pool next to her was water, connected through impossible truth. The perfect white moon reflected on its surface was one with it and thus with her thoughts.

As the whirlwind inside her mind settled down, she took a step out of her body and turned towards her surroundings. A light breeze howled through the trees, rustling a few dry leaves and bending green conifers. Aldebaran didn’t open her eyes, but the scenery she’d seen before awakened inside her mind and stood there, almost as vivid and alive as the original. With her thoughts quiet, she began listening to her breathing. The subtle noise of taking in air, filling her breast, and releasing it became the center of her world.

As the pivot everything rotated around, her breathing filled her ears and mind. This was the second lesson she’d learned from her teacher. Focus on your breathing. Feel how air goes in and out of your body. Envision yourself as a door that swings open and closed with every breath. It will teach patience and help you understand many other things. Leth knew Aldebaran had problems with being patient, but meditation helped reduce the fire to glowing embers.

It was then that she heard footsteps, irregular and coming closer. At that moment she’d sank into her little corner of serenity though, so even the prospect of someone disturbing her peace wasn’t quite enough to open her eyes. She remained as she was, a statue with shiny horns between moonlight and shifting shadows of the trees. The steps continued, in part shuffling and labored, in part effortless. Two people.

At the back of her mind, Aldebaran did realize the possibility that those two meant harm, but even that she saw as if through a thin pale veil, cloaked in ivory dreams. Then they stopped. The shadows still enveloped her, she felt it, but there was no way the intruders wouldn’t see her now.

Like that, her eyes snapped open. Pools of quicksilver fell upon a slender human boy, cloaked and lightly armored, and a hooded child. Squinting, she was looking for details, but the little one’s face was hidden and the cloaks concealed much. Still, a badge much like her own stood out on the boy’s clothing, identifying him as a fellow mage. Aldebaran relaxed and flexed her fingers a little. Dressed in her own black cloak and dark blue attire without a single weapon in her belt, she seemed harmless.

For a tick they stood frozen in time, until he spoke a greeting. The Ethaefal leaned forward slightly, trying to decipher the symbol on his badge to learn his discipline. Just when she opened her mouth to return the courtesy, however, the wind picked up and blew off the child’s hood.

Her lips parted in surprise. That couldn’t be a living child, its eyes were altogether too shiny, its skin too smooth, features too stiff and regular. She’d heard of them, naturally. Every true Lhavitian knew of Maeki Cho and her studio. Before she could think it all through though, the boy turned and fled, doll trailing after him.

She wouldn’t allow that. The rush of adrenaline surged through her and spat out words before she could think any further. Curiosity, a desire to know, a burning wish for companionship, everything blended into one. “Wait! I’m the same as you, don’t you see?” Had she had more time, Aldebaran would’ve said different things. Had he no pride? No mind for the challenge? No spirit at all? Perhaps he’d poured it into his doll. Either way, she was dying to find out.

If he turned around, she’d tug at her sleeve, revealing the badge with the Dawn symbol sewn on it in red and orange. An offering of peace, an invitation to stay.

[Kaik Leyr]

I just wanted to be alone in my thoughts, I thought this place would calm me. I wanted to be isolated. A shame...it seemed like a nice place. After what happened at the plaza I have to more careful with my golems.

The Ethaefal called out to the doll maker, saying she was the same as him.

The same? No...a creature of such beauty saying we are the same...a monster like me? We are nothing alike, but I can’t tell her that.

Kaik stopped walking and decided to at least apologize for interrupting her meditation. When the doll maker turned he saw that the stranger was not completing wrong in saying they were the same. For a moment the animator felt safe in the presence of another mage, yet paranoia began to sink in.

She could be an imposter. Perhaps she intends on attacking when my guard is down, just like that piece of shyke Mellisa.

The doll maker looked directly at the Eth watching for any sudden movement as he took a few steps backwards. He had a clear view of the women, her silver eyes fascinating Kaik.

“A-another mage? I...see.” Never losing his wariness Kaik took a small bow, “I’m…”

Should I use my real name? There’s no harm in it...I think.

“I’m Kaik Leyr...a mage under the supervision of the Twilight House,” said Kaik hesitantly, “S-sorry...um for...disturbing your meditation. Er is there...something else you need?”

The animator takes another step backwards, this time with his right leg. He soon regrets doing so as pain surges back into his thigh causing him to fall backwards. The pain does not leave him as the cuts on his back make it all the more miserable for Kaik.

“O-Oliver...it-argh!...co-me over here,” said Kaik with difficulty.
“Yes, Father,” answered Oliver.

Using Oliver as a crutch Kaik quickly got to his feet still wary of any attack that may come. He gave Oliver his thanks and patted his head before returning his full attention on the supposed mage.

She hasn’t attacked yet, even when I was down. Is she being careful of Oliver? Hm...but what if she truly is a mage? Is there some way to test her? Then again...I can just leave...my body sure as petch is not appreciating the abuse.

“It’s um...good...to see a fellow mage...well unless you need something I’ll take my leave.”

Boxcode by Estrellir Konrath

[Aldebaran]

At least her words stopped his retreat and got him to remember his manners. Aldebaran nodded at his introduction, a sign of polite appreciation. There was hesitation in the way he said his name, but it didn’t sound like he was lying to protect his privacy. Lhavit housed more mages than other cities, thanks to its heritage, but still not so many that faces would blend into one another. Since she had been working with the city for decades, the Ethaefal had learned as much, although his face didn’t ring a bell.

“I’m Aldebaran, supervised by House Dawn.” While his companion left little doubt as to which profession Kaik followed, knowledge of her house still left a lot of possibilities. She could’ve been a Reimancer as well as a Shielder, disciplines as different as sun and moon. Even a Magecrafter! Aldebaran was curious about the nature of conclusions he’d jump to.

Already she could see first signs of fear and doubt rising in his gestures and the way he moved away from her. A jolt went through her sitting form as he stumbled on his right leg. The doll rushed to his side, much like a child anxiously supporting their father or elder brother. The way it addressed him said it all.

She shook her head at his remark, sending ripples through white hair. “Need? No, I didn’t reply to your greeting because I need something. But I must say that doll of yours is exquisite work. Pretty. Does it have a specialty? A reason why you crafted it? If I’m assuming too much, I apologize.” The humility didn’t carry further than words, but she did rise from the stone for a small bow. Long fingers pointed at its smooth surface, flattened by generations of Lhavitians in contemplation.

“Please, sit. You don’t look well. If you’re injured, you shouldn’t take long walks without breaks. Take a moment to calm down.” Her tone was amiable enough, sweetening the air like honey, like the moonlight dancing over her pale skin. One silver eye was kept on the golem though. Pretty mask over unknown depths. Dangerous or harmless, she couldn’t decide yet. But she hadn’t lied with her invitation to let him rest. The boy looked on the verge of panic and Aldebaran believed she could help out a fellow mage.

[Kaik Leyr]

Although Kaik said he would leave the pain running throughout his body said otherwise. Aldebaran’s advice helped him to give in to the Eth’s words. Kaik sat down slowly with the help of Oliver who in turn sat down as well upon Kaik’s orders.

A mage of House Dawn? What disciplines did they govern? Hm...reimancy and shielding I think...was there a third one? I can only remember those two because of that young girl long ago.

He had nearly forgotten to answer the women’s questions having enjoyed the silence of the meadow far too much.

“Ah! Please forgive me...I was just...enjoying the um...er...it’s called um....the atmosphere! Yes, the atmosphere!” said Kaik flustered, “oh I believe you’re mistaken in thinking I created this one,” he said while patting Oliver’s head, “his body was made by a far more skilled carver than myself…besides,” in a much quieter tone he said, “you yourself are quite beautiful…”

Did I just really say that!? What the petch are you saying idiot! Are you trying to be a creepy, stalker boy! Oh jeez! There’s even Ellen! What’s she going to say to that huh idiot!

“Um uh...I uh...hmm...r-r-right! Those questions! Answering them...right now,” he said frantically look anywhere but in Aldebaran’s direction.

I should ask about her own discipline of magic after answering her questions...though I still have my doubts about her. This meadow would be a perfect ambush. Nothing but silence and our voices can be heard. Well after that “performance” of mine I somehow doubt they could do worse than stealing my money.

“I-...am responsible for giving him life...if you’d like to call it that...he is one of the first few creations I have created, so I don’t really have a um...goal for him, though I suppose he is more combat oriented...but no so much so…” he waits a short while before asking his question, “so you are a mage, correct? What...discipline of magic do you undertake...I um assumed you know of mine already.”

This is a nice place. And this stranger herself seems so...calming? Or maybe comforting? I have to wonder her thoughts about myself. The word “weird” would be my guess.

Instead of focusing on his conversational skills he let his mind wander the meadow. It would certainly serve well as a place to meditate. He decided to visit the area again one day, preferably when nobody else was there.

Boxcode by Estrellir Konrath

[Aldebaran]

Despite her attempts to calm him down, offering a seat and asking about his work, the boy continued to stutter. Aldebaran merely blinked and took in his words, almost as still as the surface of the water behind her. As soon as he was sitting, she sank on a lone patch of dried up grass near the rock. Shifting a little, she got comfortable and folded her arms. The last remains of the serene quiet she’d acquired through meditation were still apparent in the way she moved and chose her words.

When Kaik patted the golem’s head, she observed it once again. Up close its smooth features seemed even more lifelike. If it wasn’t for the glassy eyes and blank expression, it would’ve fooled her. Even if he hadn’t crafted it himself, he must’ve programmed it to do his bidding. Although she preferred personal magic – it steeled the body and mind, didn’t require any tools or elaborate preparations –, Aldebaran was curious about how other disciplines worked. If only to be able to defend herself against their practitioners one day…

At his clumsy compliment, Aldebaran merely lifted a snow white eyebrow. Naturally, she’d heard the same words many and many times before. They sounded slightly different, more honest from that mouth, yet not enough to crawl under her skin.

Instead, she let him return to the questions and answer them one by one. The corners of her mouth curled, although she tried half-heartedly to conceal her amusement. My my, he behaved as if in the middle of an examination! Even so, he didn’t seem to have a particular purpose in mind for the pretty child golem. Perhaps he longed for companionship, preferring obedient copies to living sentient beings. That would explain his extreme reaction to her presence.

“Yes,” she said eventually. Would his panic pick up if he knew of her specialty? Even among mages, her kin were among the most unstable, wielding most destructive powers. But if their conversation continued, she couldn’t tiptoe around it anyway. “I specialize in Reimancy and Glyphing. So the things I learn and train in are quite different from your path which is why I’m curious. I would never ask you to teach me, no worries. But I wonder if our disciplines are compatible. If golems could be improved by elemental magic. Glyphs would help.” Her quicksilver gaze returned to the frozen face of his doll, mentally bestowing fire and air upon it, toying with options. It would pose a challenge, certainly, but not one Aldebaran wouldn’t accept gladly.

[Kaik Leyr]

There was no response to his previous performance which both irritated and worried the doll maker.

Aren’t you suppose say something when a person gives you a compliment? Sure it was a slip of the tongue but still! I don’t even care if its in a mocking manner, I may not be the best conversationalist but petch! When a person says something you have to say something back or at very least do something to show your response!

“You’re not umm...er...that is are you not going to say anything about ‘that’? It’s just...I don’t exactly compliment every person I meet...so you know...I’d prefer an annoyed response over silence,” Kaik said.

No, actually I prefer silence over talking. But if I’m going to talk then yeah I expect people to talk back!

Aldebaran answered Kaik’s questions with a simple ‘yes’ which annoyed him until eventually she did truly answer his questions.

Oh, so she truly was skilled in reimancy. I guess I was right, at least one third correct. I also wonder if our magics are compatible...I don’t know anything about reimancy...well I got to see a peek at it, though being threatened by it is not the best opportunity to study it. Glyphing as well, I only know of one glyph and it would be the basic animation circle. So many things to ask.

The doll maker was quite familiar with an exchange of information between two mages as was the case with that girl he had met in the park. He decided to try his luck and try to initiate such an exchange.

“I can’t be sure of that...that is if our magics are compatible...I’m not familiar with the concepts behind reimancy...I’m far below a novice when it comes to glyphs as well...I was um...hoping or perhaps um I would be grateful if you were to just give me an um...um...overview over the subjects. In exchange I will answer any questions you have...over my own magic. Would that um...be alright?”

Boxcode by Estrellir Konrath

[Aldebaran]

Aldebaran blinked. She’d heard words like his often, so often that she tended to forget they didn’t sound thin and worn out to most other people. Wasn’t it obvious? She sighed and lifted her face to the dark sky. “You’re not the first person to tell me this. I’m tired of saying thank you, but if you absolutely want me to, I will.” After a moment her gaze returned and she dipped her head in silent gratitude, although there was faint mockery too.

With every sentence he forced out, amusement faded a little and irritation grew. That boy certainly needed to relax… for a long time. Perhaps she had misjudged him though and the problem lay with the way his tongue moved. Cosmetics. If that was the case, he simply needed a rhetoric teacher. Curing persistent stuttering was about the only useful thing rhetoric did in her opinion. No reason to rush though. The gentle wind in the trees and the pale moon reflected on the water… Aldebaran could wait and see if Kaik settled down in their conversation.

When he took up the topic of magic, her silver gaze hardened and returned to his features with greater focus. His idea didn’t sound bad, not half bad. In fact he’d all but voiced her thoughts. The fog cleared and blazing curiosity returned to the Ethaefal’s features. “That’s exactly what I was thinking of. Naturally, I accept.”

She sat up and absentmindedly flexed her fingers as if preparing for an exceptional acrobatic feat. Beyond the gates of Lhavit, mages like Aldebaran were free to perform and practice their discipline however they liked. Technically. In a dangerous environment, it was doubly risky to even draw a spark with res, but Aldebaran wouldn’t be Aldebaran if she let that opportunity slip through her fingers. A faint smile made its way to the surface. What could go wrong under Leth’s watchful eye? “You already talked about your little companion. What is it that you would like to know? Were you hoping for a little demonstration? A glyph or two?” With that, her tone changed. No more absentminded toying with words, no unfocused gazes at the water and their surroundings. An insatiable hunger rose in her, extinguishing all previous efforts to calm down.

[Kaik Leyr]

Despite the constant stuttering and nervousness Kaik held, he still tried to do his best when it came to respect. So when Aldebaran said she was tired of saying ‘thank you’ and nodded her head almost as a jest, Kaik kept a straight face, but inside he felt some strand of irritation.

What is this ‘tired of saying thank you’ shyke!? It’s called etiquette! Argh! Should I even be concerned over such a trivial thing!?

Deciding it better to keep his thoughts to himself he just smiled contrary to his own feelings. Instead of focusing on himself he tried to open his mind to the scenery. Despite the harshness of winter he had enjoyed the soft wind that blew by him. He made sure to remind himself once again that he had to visit this place once again. This reminder was made even more memorable when he thought of trying to take up the art of Auristics once again.

Upon hearing Kaik’s proposal he could see a noticeable spark flare in the Eth’s eyes. After a moment curiosity filled her face, the thirst for knowledge Kaik being something he recognized warmly. Just like what Kaik had expected from a fellow mage, she accepted the exchange of information. With a simple nod to acknowledge acceptance of the exchange Kaik focused his attention on Aldebaran without regard to his previous nervousness.

Kaik could not help but grin as he noticed a faint smile from Aldebaran, she was just like what he was like long ago. The Animator still of course held a strong desire for knowledge, but that could not compare to how he was in the past looking for the answers to Animation.

Having already started the exchange with information about his dolls it was Kaik’s turn to ask questions.

A demonstration? I would think she was referring to her Reimancy. Although interesting, I doubt I would actually learn anything by just seeing it, beside that...I don’t intend on going into such a dangerous form of magic, I’ve done enough damage without it anyway.

“Hmm...please show me some glyphs...I understand they can improve other magics, right?”

Boxcode by Estrellir Konrath