Closed Sweet Alvad Nights

[Jay Darkcrest]

Fall 32, 515 AV


He was running. No, he was lurking, then hurrying forward on soft paws, then peering out of the grass and sniffing before moving on. The copper brown marten was chasing his prey through a dark and deep forest, evading tufts of grass, squeezing under bushes and hopping over rotting trunks. The scent was high up his nose and his ears located each and every rustling sound. He was moving in short bursts of speed, dashing here and there, never losing his prey. At that point, Jay didn’t even know what he was chasing, but he didn’t find that strange at all. It’d feed him, more than that, he was aching for fresh meet and warm blood between his teeth.

The thrill of the hunt fueled his short legs, his slender furry body was like an arrow. If only he could run a little faster, get just a little closer to the thing in front of him… then he’d close the gap. The marten should’ve been exhausted, even collapsed a long time ago, but adrenaline still ran hot through his veins and his body was in excellent shape.

He zigzagged through a forest of small bushes, likely raspberry or blueberry, using his slender and agile built to catch up. Despite the deep shadows, he could almost see it now. So close! The sights and sounds of fleeing prey added a final boost. Two, three steps, then jump.

Sharp teeth closed around slippery scales, his jaw locked as something wet slapped against his cheek. Soft rippling reached his ears while the wet cold thing continued writhing and thrashing in his muzzle. With all his might, Jay kept it between his teeth and pinned it to the ground with one paw. His claws sank into scales. There was no mistaking the oily taste and lack of blood.

He had caught a fish. In a forest. With that, he was catapulted out of his reverie and black eyes snapped open. A scream, albeit cut short, was still ringing in his ears. A tick later, Jay realized it had been his scream. Right, that meant human form. Looking around, he was mildly surprised to see trees and deep shadows. So the forest part hadn’t been a dream. He was standing at the edge of a small pond that magnificently reflected the light of moon and stars. A steady trickle provided the pond with fresh water, so that had been the rippling noise in his dream.

There was no doubt that Jay had dreamt… and walked around at the same time. Furrowing his brow, he leaned forward to gaze into the pond. His reflection looked just as confused. Sleepwalking… he’d never done it before. No matter how he looked at it, this couldn’t be a good sign. With a sigh, he bent down as if his face in the pond held all the answers to his questions. One hand had found his golden earring and was playing with it, stroking the smooth surface.

[Lrel]

Although Cosimia had been in Alvadas for only a season, she knew many things about the City of Illusions. She knew that the people of Alvadas were a hardy people- strong in their hearts and minds. She knew that this city was a place that did not run on time, as the rest of Mizahar, but more on convenience and opportunity. She knew that the streets shifted and danced wherever they so pleased, or they might stay utterly still. But perhaps most important in her repertoire of knowledge, she knew that Alvadas was alive.

It was a living creature, with a personality prone to mischief and a knack for driving insanity. And just as all living things, it had those who were in its favor (could they be called friends?) and those who were not. Cosimia preferred not to provoke Ionu, and so, she tried her best to go with the flow and follow the path that the city wished to give her.

Tonight was a wonderful example of her compliance.

Cosimia had left the Cubacious Inn that evening with a prayer in her heart. She was on her way to find a place where she could worship Leth in quiet. In the pocket of her pants, she held four crystals, which she hoped would aid her. They were neither large, nor polished, nor as beautiful to look at as some gems, but the moonstones made her feel closer to Leth, and so she adored them. Paired with the silver holy symbol around her neck, Cosimia felt in sync with the Moon God that night.

However, the Daughter of Leth did not find a quiet place to worship as she had hoped. Instead, when she turned the corner on the next street, she was lead to what looked to her like a dead end. At the end of the street, where she thought there should have found Ionu's temple, or perhaps a quiet and serene park, she found a large, shimmering pond. It was not just any pond, either. It was a grand pond, with a waterfall no taller than Cosimia. The water was soft, and rippled gently in a way that was almost intoxicating. Intrigued, Cosimia stepped closer to the emerald waters.

She peered into the depths of the pool, watching the waves and ripples form tiny shapes. Beneath the water, instead of her own reflection shining back at her, Cosimia thought she saw a few fish swimming in the pool- fish of vibrant colors and all different kinds. She could see tiny fish in swarms, and large, solitary fish floating past lazily. But it was a special fish that caught her attention. A medium sized fish with scales the same color as her moon-kissed skin. His eyes were a solid silver, in the exact shade of the crescent moon around the Ethaefal's neck. The fish seemed to look straight at her (or more accurately, into her), but she was unsure of what it saw. Whatever judgment passed, the fish must have approved, for Cosimia was certain that she saw the silver eyes wink at her.

Great Gods! Cosimia thought, Could it be that Leth is trying to tell me something? Perhaps he is going to speak to me!

Excited, she stepped forward, creeping ever closer to the steep edge of the pool in an effort to better see the fish. But as soon as she took that step, it vanished. It was gone from her sight, not in a flash of smoke or a slow fade, but as though it had only been a short projection, or a spot of light on her vision. Left on the surface of the pond was only the twinkling of the stars above.

"Oh, Leth...Ionu..." Cosimia groaned aloud, throwing her head back to gaze at the bright stars peppering the sky. She searched among them for a sign, for any streak of light or wink of the moon, but none came. "I don't understand. What am I doing here?" She asked.

It was then that, as if in answer to her question, Cosimia heard a scream. It was not that of a child who had seen a shadow, nor a frightened woman who had seen a pest. No, this was the scream of someone who knew what real fear was. And this someone was afraid.

Cosimia looked back down in the direction of the sound just in time to spot a lean character peering into the pond, a look of deep confusion on his face. Cosimia cleared her throat pointedly, but he made no move. So, in a gentle but strong voice, she called out to him. Uncertain of what to do in such a situation, Cosimia resorted to what she always did when first meeting someone; she made polite small talk.

"Ah, hello! Nice night, isn't it?" And then, throwing her gaze back to the sky, she asked, "Have you seen the stars?"

[Jay Darkcrest]

He lifted his gaze abruptly when someone called out. Dark eyes locked on the woman standing a few paces away, possibly the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. Her skin reflected the moonlight, her shimmering horns and hair seemed to crown her with a golden halo. Patterns of rippling water illuminated her lovely face. Layers upon layers. As a simple sailor, Jay was speechless.

Finding his breath again, he stood. Suddenly kneeling by the water seemed improper, although he wouldn’t be able to explain why. His fine ears had picked up her earlier words, questions that were trickling back into his memory now. Running a hand through his rusty red locks, Jay cocked his head sheepishly. “Hello. Aye, it’s a nice night, almost boring. I screamed earlier, didn’t I? Sorry if that startled you. I didn’t know you were there.”

Then he looked up into a canopy of stars. From the first night on, something about the Alvadas sky had bothered him. Day or night, it didn’t matter, Jay felt as if something was amiss. Sometimes he thought the sky must be an illusion too, just as changeable as the rest of the city. Yet when he looked up in response to the woman’s words, the night sky was exactly as it should be. The stars were spilling their mysterious light all over the land and its residents. When he turned back to the woman, Jay caught a glimpse of starlight in her features too. “It’s the first time since my arrival that the sky and stars look familiar. Sometimes they look like they’re illusions too… not now though.”

The longer he talked to the woman, the more curious he got. It wasn’t often that people ventured out in the dark – on the other hand, Alvadas had that odd divide between day and night now. Either way, her beauty didn’t seem as intimidating anymore. Jay grinned at her, instinctively avoiding eye contact. “I’m Jay. Have you been in town long?”

[Lrel]

Although Cosimia may not have appeared to be listening, as she was still watching the stars, she heard every word Jay said. And not only did she hear, but she analyzed. She could hear the harsh sound of his words, weighted with an accent she had only ever heard from sailors and traders. She could hear the wonder in his voice when he talked about the stars. And though she could not see it, she could hear the smile in his voice when he addressed her.

Instinctively, she looked at the boy and smiled back.

"Have I been in town long..." Cosimia mused quietly. "No, I suppose I haven't. It has been about a season's time, now, since I came to Alvadas. But I do love it here, and I hope to stay. The city is wondrous! There is work to be found and shops for all I need. And, of course, its people are unlike anyone else I've ever met.

"It's unique, and I adore that." Cosimia chuckled softly at her own words. Unique was one way to describe Alvadas, though not necessarily the word most might use.

While she was speaking, Cosimia had gradually drifted over to Jay, walking carefully, so as not to fall into the pond. She held out her hand once she arrived, and bowed her head in respect.

"I am Cosimia."

And then, after a short pause and a glance at his attire, Cosimia giggled. It was obvious that he had come here unexpectedly, as he was in a state of disarray. On one side of his head, his hair was flat (probably where he had been laying) while the other side was sticking up and out in several directions. His shirt and pants were wrinkled considerably, and his feet were strikingly bare.

"Do you come here often?" She teased, "Or only in your sleep?"

[Jay Darkcrest]

OOCSo, uh, I forgot that Jay only has basic proficiency in Common. I won't edit my earlier posts, but his speech will reflect that lack of skill from this post onwards. Sorry for the inconsistency!


While she spoke, Jay sat down beside her in one fluid motion, legs crossed. Stretching out a hand, he let it hover just over the dark waves. Something told him not to touch the water though, so he didn’t. Squinting, he focused on her words and his lacking understanding of Common. “A season… not so long. But in Alvadas, things always change, no? So a season or longer matters little, I guess. Is there anything in the city that stays… as it is?”

His accent began to fade a little as he spoke, getting used to the words in his mouth. In time he’d get more practice speaking Common, although he wasn’t quite ready to accept that and all it entailed just now. Jay didn’t want to think of the future. To him, living in the moment, being able to communicate with people was enough.

Pushing his doubts aside, he looked up at her outstretched hand. Right, land-dwellers liked to shake hands when meeting for the first time. After a tick of hesitation, he took her hand and gave it a tentative squeeze. It felt small and fragile, so he released it soon. “It is nice to meet you, Cosimia.” Pronouncing the name slowly, he tried to get used to the unfamiliar sound. It felt like whispers by the campfire and salty skin on his tongue. Then she was giggling at his appearance and Jay gave a good-natured chuckle in response.

Running a hand through his hair only made it stick up more. Still grinning, he shook his head. “No, I never see this place before. But is beautiful, very quiet. Good for thinking.” Suddenly alarmed, he looked up. Still trying to avoid her eyes, he frowned at her nose instead. “Are you here for thinking? If you are, I could leave and come back later. No problem.”

[Lrel]

OOCSorry about the short post.

Cosimia tilted her head attentively as she listened to Jay speak. He seemed so gentle, so kind, that she could not imagine him among sailors, as his accent implied. He even expressed concern about interrupting her.

"Oh, no. No worries, Jay." Cosimia lied, her voice trilling as a flute. Where he couldn't see, she fiddled with the moonstones in her pocket. Leth would forgive her this once, and she could pray later. "I was only here because I couldn't sleep. So it is a good thing I found you. We can keep each other company, yes?"

She smiled at him once again. Though he didn't seem quite focused on her eyes, it was clear he was paying attention, so she payed no mind to his wandering eyes. Instead, she sat down on the side of the pool, gazing into its depths for a moment- just thinking. She saw no fish this time; she saw only the reflections of her own pale face and bright celestial horns, and Jay's scruffy face next to hers. The contrast might have been almost startling to anyone else, but Cosimia thought nothing of sitting next to this complete stranger in the dark. She trusted him, and she loved his individuality. It was fascinating to her. She wanted to know more about him.

"I hope I don't sound rude," Cosimia said softly, "But I can't help but notice your Common is a bit...out of practice. Why is that? Are you not from here?"

As she waited for a response, Cosimia settled in. She relaxed, leaning back on her hands and letting her head fall back as well. From where she sat, she could see both the city and the stars, and could feel the grass between her fingers. She felt at home here, and she was glad for it.

[Jay Darkcrest]

The grass provided a soft cushion, but it didn’t keep the chill of the earth from seeping through his pants. Jay ignored it, he wouldn’t feel cold for a long while yet. When Cosimia replied, her voice seemed to rise in pitch, although he couldn’t guess why. Besides, she had said not to worry. Why would people tell anything else but the truth? His family, the Svefra, were rumored to be many things (and some were true), but none of them were liars.

There was a smile in her voice and he looked up to meet her gaze briefly. Both the starlight and the pond were reflected in her eyes at the same time. His lips mirrored her expression before he knew it. “Aye, we can do that. Talking will make us tired so we can sleep afterwards. Maybe in the morning.”

Tilting his head, Jay thought about her question while observing her appearance. Those horns, he’d never seen anything like it before. Of course, the docks and dockside taverns of any port city were always crowded with many people from different corners of Mizahar. One or two of the horned ones had crossed his path before, but Jay had never had an opportunity to talk. Apparently Cosimia shared his curiosity. Why not answer a question in order to ask a question? “No, I came from Sebakem, the eastern part of the outer oceans. Near Zeltiva. You know Zeltiva? Many ships go there, big and small ones.”

Leaning over the water, the Kelvic hesitated and hoped she wouldn’t ask why he’d left. People always asked where he came from and then, when he told them, why he’d ended up in a place so far away from that. One day, if he kept repeating the same words, they’d bring unbearable pain. Holding them back helped. Acting as if nothing had happened helped.

The best tactic, however, was distracting the other person. Absentmindedly, Jay moved a hand over the dark surface of the pond, creating a tiny breeze that sent ripples over the water. When he looked up, moonlight was rippling over her glassy horns in a similar manner. This time he simply stared. “Now it is my turn to ask you. You look human, but you have those horns… what does it mean? Is there a name for people like you? And where do you come from?” Pressing his lips together, Jay decided those had been enough questions.

[Lrel]

For reasons she could not explain, Cosimia held her breath as Jay waved his hand over the water. She wanted nothing more than to pull him away from it, and scold him as she might a child. But she had no idea what she would say, as he really had done nothing wrong.

Clearing the negative thoughts from her mind, Cosimia focused on the question. She reached one hand up to run over her bright yellow horns, feeling the smoothness of them, and admiring their glassy quality. "I'm an Ethaefal." She began slowly. "I was once celestial. Not as a God or Goddess, or even an Alvina. I was just one of the lucky ones who was allowed to reside with Leth." She could hear her own voice becoming wistful as she spoke of her God.

"I cannot recall a single memory, but I have the impression that it was good there, and that I was good there- better than I ever was here on Mizahar. It wasn't that I fell because I was doing wrong, or because I am impure. There are simply cracks in the heavens which I slipped through." Cosimia could barely hold back a sigh as she shook her head.

Then, quickly, as if she had forgotten that which she was just speaking of, she brightened. "But Leth has not forsaken me! He knows that I am here. And He still loves me as I love Him." Cosimia smiled at Jay serenely. "I know it. I can feel it. Someday I will find my way back to Leth's side. As long as I follow his will while I am here."

The girl watched her reflection dance on the surface of the Emerald Pond, her eyes appearing to her to flicker with the stars. She spread her fingers and ran them through the grass mindlessly, admiring the soft coolness of the earth. Cosimia could feel a yawn approaching as she sat. So, to ward off the insidious tiredness, she took to speaking again.

"I guess if you only counted my life on Mizahar, I would be from Lhavit. That's where I used to live. I don't suppose you know where that is, do you? It's not exactly near Zeltiva, I don't think."

[Jay Darkcrest]

He was staring and aware of it, but Jay simply couldn’t take his gaze from those magnificent horns. Her slender hands seemed to accentuate their soft light, a silvery glow reminiscent of the moon. Although he had been stealing glances at them for some time, he still wasn’t sure whether they merely reflected its light or produced their own.

Then Cosimia spoke of many things the Kelvic didn’t quite understand, of Alvina (what was that?) and Gods (elusive folk) and a place like heaven. According to her, she had lived together with the Moon God for some time – and Jay had no problem with believing that. Good or not, she looked lovely and graceful by night.

When she mentioned cracks, Jay looked up abruptly, searching the midnight sky. Disappointed at the lack of cracks, he turned back to Cosimia. “I never see cracks in the sky. Not before, not now. Are they high up above the sun and moon?” Frowning, he lowered his gaze to the grass. Searching for something to do, his fingers were ripping out blade after blade, bunching each one up into a ball and throwing it into the water. They barely disturbed the surface.

After some time, the smile returned to the Ethaefal’s voice and Jay couldn’t help but mirror it. “Is good. With Gods, you just have to feel and believe, no? So what does Leth want you to do? Did He tell you yet?” Back with the pod, almost every Svefra had been marked by Laviku. Jay knew the Gods existed, they sometimes talked to mortals or gave signs. They called it omens and, although they didn’t always know which God had planted what, it was usually a good idea to keep one’s eyes open.

His hands continued to play with grass while he spoke. When there was a break in their conversation, the grass ball between his fingers had grown to the size of a marten’s paw. Cosimia could use a little excitement to keep her awake, he thought and threw the ball at her. If she didn’t move, it’d simply bounce off her shoulder and land in her lap. Still, Jay chuckled a little at the sight of it.

“Lhavit… No, I don’t know. Is it good place with nice people?” Receiving an answer, he’d hesitate briefly and then continue. “Why did you leave?” Part of him was wondering if he was allowed to ask that question without answering it for himself in turn. The last thing he wanted to talk about was his pod and why he couldn’t be with them anymore.

[Lrel]

"The cracks are not visible," Cosimia explained, "As far as I can tell, anyway. They are like holes, but covered by the thin blanket of the night sky. So even though you cannot tell they are there, you can still fall through. Does that make sense?"

"The heavens are confusing. Sometimes I feel that Leth is especially confusing. He has told me nothing of what I am to do, or how I am to return to his side. I just have to wai-"

Cosimia broke off her sentence abruptly, as she felt a soft impact on her arm. Her head snapped around, searching for whatever had assaulted her. But her eyes were met with a broken ball of grass covering her hand, and a mischievous grin from Jay. Cosimia giggled, and gathered what was left of the grass ball, rolling it in her hands to shape it. As she plotted her revenge, she listened and thought about his questions. Why had she left Lhavit?

"I felt..."She began, "I felt like I needed to be somewhere else. Like Lhavit was not where I was supposed to be. It was a fantastic place. It had great people who were kind, and generous, and curious about life. But I didn't have a job that I loved, and I didn't have enough people who loved me; there were a few, but no one to call family. Home is where the heart is, correct? And my heart was not there."

The Ethaefal reached out to the water, and dipped a single finger into the pond. The water glistened on her finger, seeming to reflect the moonlight the way her own skin did. She almost could have sworn it produced its own emerald light, but by the time she had considered this, the glimmer was gone. She dribbled the water onto the wad of grass, balling it up tight. She produced the finished wad and held it in the air in triumph, before tossing it in the direction of the Kelvic.

"And what of your trip, Jay?" She prodded, "Why did you come to Alvadas? Do you have family here, or a job you love?"