Infinite Distances (Kam, Grom, Satu)

[Aselia Timandre]

Location: Pending Timestamp: Middle of Winter, 509 AV Konti Isle was slowly vanishing in the morning mist while a small trade ship was sailing north, away from the home of Avalis’ and Laviku’s daughters … away from lush gardens and white forests, away from warm waters and their little glittering wonders, away from the Opal temple and its library and the extensive mansions of the Timandre family. The Konti aboard wouldn’t see any of their relatives or friends at the island for a while. A fairly young exemplar was standing at the rail, looking back to the isle’s centerpiece of Mura that was glittering in the first warm rays of Syna and sighed. This particular one, also known as Avayra Timandre, had never been outside her birthplace before. While a part of her was afraid of the dangers and evil creatures she had read about in countless adventure tales and myths, the bigger part looked forward to new experiences, places and people she would meet, cultures, arts and knowledge she would study. Syliras was their destination, although to Avayra that word merely stood for a foreign place and a few stories and facts she had gathered during the last days. Syliras was said to be the biggest city of the known world, a cultural hub of different races and mixed bloods, open to everyone and anyone. Avayra wondered how so many sightless people managed to get along with each other … The Konti were a whole different chapter about harmonic communities, of that she was well aware, but she just couldn’t imagine a Myrian living next to a Vantha in the same city. Not yet. Perhaps she would learn the trick they used. And Avayra was eager to learn any trick she didn’t know yet. There were so many new things to learn, about so many different topics … The Konti girl just wanted to continue doing what she liked most and having fun with it. Turning around, she examined the ship. Good work, even she as a layman could see that. It would safely take her and the other passengers to the harbor of Nyka from where they would travel a short distance by horse to reach Syliras at the eastern shore of the Suvan Sea. Of course, she didn’t plan to travel on her own. A smile crossed her face and her violet eyes sparkled when she thought about her beautiful mare Whitewind. They had met each other a few years ago – Avayra had barely been able to hold herself at the horse’s back, but since then her skills had improved steadily. She really looked forward to riding through the Syliran Wilderness with her. With self-confident strides she walked over the deck to look for her sister, a breeze playing with her snow white hair and ankle-long silk coat. While the girl looked like the archetype of the lovely, wise seer race, it was true that Kamalia’s appearance was of a much more stunning and classical beauty that the younger one could never hope to blossom into. While searching the deck for her sister and their two travelling companions, the slender Konti girl hummed a low melody, an energetic and quick rhythm accompanied by high notes, an old song about the eternal journey for one’s destiny.

[Gromhir]

The young Konti was not the only one stood at the railings of the vessel. Watchful eyes stared out at the horizon ahead, not looking back, never looking back. It was strange to think that these same eyes had sought to escape the lands they now searched for. They had searched for home and they had found such a place, now they were leaving again but for a different reason.

Gromhir was not a Konti, he was a Kelvic. Although he hadn’t grown up on the streets of Mura, it had become his home as much as it was his bondmate’s. It was there that they had bonded and it was there that felt more like home than anywhere else he had visited. But most of all, it was there that he had found Kamalia. There that he had found his place by her side. Whatever nature’s path held for either them, they would go through it together.

It wasn’t an easy thing to convince not only her but also himself to leave the island. There she was safe from the harsh world outside and though not all of it was terrible, it was still safer in the white city. But no, they could not stay. If Kamalia’s condition got any worse then they would be putting those closest to them at risk. The only choice was to seek help for her, from ones who knew more about her art than either of them.

But they were not alone on this journey to lands afar. The student of the Suvai, Satu, had elected to accompany them. They had met a few times again since the nighttime incident but never had they talked as much as they did that night. Not he talked much anyway, he was normally talked to but that was how he had come to appreciate life on Konti Isle. He was there to his duty rather than to socialise and his duty would only end when Nature reclaimed his body.

Then there was the other Timandre. She was different to most of the other Konti, she was different. She didn’t quite fit but she always had a home in Mura. The lands across the sea were far different and if any of them expected Syliras to be like Mura then they would be swallowed up quickly.

His sensitive ears picked up her humming and he turned to look at Avayra. He tapped briefly into the link he shared with Kamalia. ‘Does your sister always make such noise?’ It was a strange noise, it wasn’t singing or talking. He was curious as to how she made such a sound.

[Satu]

She was leaving Konti Isle, it was truly happening! A part of Satu was relieved, the part that had ached with longing for elsewhere, ever since Availis’ Call was laid upon her. It was lovely to be away at last, even though she knew not where she would land when the Call was finally fulfilled

Leaving was bittersweet, and to be away from her precious Island filled her with melancholy also. She watched as the beautiful, white buildings disappeared from view slowly, like they had ceased to exist upon her leaving. Round, salty tears of Laviku rolled down her smooth cheeks as she held onto the wooden railing.

The HeartSense, so often helpful to feel someone else’s pain or pleasure, made it almost impossible to hide her own sentiments. She wore her emotions on her sleeve for the world to see. Feelings were a very large part of who she was, so she could not distance herself from them in any form, nor would she care to.

It helped that her new friends were on board also, Kamalia and Gromhir, the Ivaski and Kamalia’s sister, Avayra. Syliras was their destination, a large city with possibly strange people and dangerous customs. She had no wish to attempt this travel on her own, so she was very pleased to have other Konti on the voyage into unknown lands with her. Satu smiled amid the tears, Avayra’s voice could just be heard above the waves embracing the bow, singing an old song. Availis, bless her, thought Satu, for she has given us a little Mura in our travels.

[Kamalia Timandre]

Dawn had not yet silvered the waters when they ventured out into the sea. Several more minutes passed before Kamalia acknowledged the pain smoldering behind her eyes. The sky was changing color; the wondrous, vivid midnight blue was fading away to luminous silver. Syna, the Sun, approached from the east. Smaller and smaller the White Isle shrunk as the merchant ship sailed away from home. Now by the light of the morning sun, it gleamed like a silver diadem on a bedspread of deep blue satin, and Mura was the bright, glinting jewel at its heart.

It was a painful thing to watch, achingly beautiful as she silently bade farewell to the city where sea and sky met, where magic and music freely roamed and stirred about. It was difficult to believe she was actually saying goodbye to the city where she grew up , the isle where she lived the entirety of her life, the places she knew like the back of her hand—the island of seers, of healers and dreamers only content to live an impossibly beautiful dream. Kamalia knew she would never forget her last glimpses of Mura. Unlike Gromhir, Kamalia watched until the last moments as the rising sun framed the isle with a spectacular display of brilliant clouds and sapphire sea. After all, was not delaying the inevitable made it all the sweeter? Smaller and smaller the White Isle shrunk, until it finally, heartrendingly, vanished.

Vanished like a beautiful dream that came to pass.

Kamalia awoke from her painful reverie and quietly mourned for the loss of her home, not taking her rapt eyes from the direction of the island. In all likelihood, she would never again see her ancestral homeland. The young wizard suddenly missed the conch shell houses, the pastel splendor of the city streets and the luminous Vian trees of the Silver Forest. She missed the Opal Temple, Aunt Kidala’s little spelltower, and the pristine lake—all slipping away through her fingers like fine silver sand.

Would she still have dreams of homecoming? Would she ever sing in the twilight and dance with the moonrise underneath the Vian blossoms? An unfamiliar moisture gathered in the corner of her eyes, but she held the tears back. For the first time in her life, Kamalia felt lost and helpless. Her fey gifts of Sight used to conveniently pave the way for her. Had they abandoned her as well?

And then there was Avayra’s humming. The bittersweet memories of Mura rushed forth in a storm. It was not as bad as she had feared for she realized she was not totally alone. With Avayra, Satu and Gromhir around, she felt closer to home. It was all she needed to stare out at the horizon ahead and move forward.

Kamalia did not feel the need to answer Gromhir’s question. She leaned close to the male by the railings and rested her head on his shoulder, their arms touching as she looked out at the vast expanse of water, rising and falling in white-crested waves. It was wonderful, this sea, so vast and open and full of possibilities. She hummed to her sister’s music, and siren voices melded into a pleasing harmony.

[Aselia Timandre]

Avayra had intended to sing the song merely to herself, but then, as she wandered the deck, she couldn’t help but notice other people listening. The way they hold their heads, the way they quickly looked away when she noticed them. The sailors hadn’t had Konti travelers in a while, or so it seemed. Perhaps they would invent new tales … but Avalis didn’t particularly disapprove of that and neither did Avayra.

Satu, Kamalia’s friend and training partner, was standing at the rail, but at the same time her tears were sparkling as they made their way down her cheeks and into the salty, calm ocean. Sometimes Avayra didn’t understand her. Obviously the gift of seeing the other people’s hearts was a heavy burden on her shoulders, causing her to feel and reveal her own feelings without any visible control. To be honest, Avayra was relieved that Avalis hadn’t blessed – or rather cursed – her with the same gift. Emotions could be incredibly beautiful, but also absolutely horrifying, depending on the person.

Avayra herself had been blessed with another gift that was far more to her liking. She was a people seer as well, but in a different way. When looking at Satu, it was obvious that she would be a Suvai practitioner, a dancer as well as a deadly fighter. When looking at her sister, she knew that Kamalia would be a powerful mage one day, had already known that before even hearing about the prophecy. Interesting and, more importantly, harmless information.

After passing Satu, she eventually spotted her sister and the Kelvic. Her tuned ears noticed the sound of another voice, a soft alto humming accompanying hers. Kamalia had always been the one with the more beautiful voice, but together the alto and soprano created the perfect song, a divine melody sung by the siren daughters of Laviku.

The song ended with a more serene part, describing eventual peace. After filling the last notes with a mixture of melancholy and enthusiasm, Avayra smiled at Kamalia and Gromhir. They had just left their home, but she felt that Syliras was already waiting for them! “I suppose everything will change …” Glancing over to Satu, she continued: “But I’m very excited about travelling with you, dear sister. We haven’t seen each other often during our studies.”

She eyed the massive figure of Gromhir, noticed his silky white hair and feral grace, but didn’t know what to say to him. Kelvics had been made of animals, so she assumed that he wasn’t fond with the concept of chatting just for the sake of chatting. Avayra, however, wanted to do just that, and so her attention wandered back to Kamalia. “Please tell me, what would you like to do once we reach Syliras?”

[Gromhir]

Gromhir looked down to the smaller form wrapped around his arm. It had taken her a long time to be comfortable around his human form to be this close to him. But, it felt nice to have her leaning against his shoulder. He wasn’t sure why but it felt right, like Nature meant it to be. He wasn’t sure why but it did. Maybe it was the bond? That was the only explanation he could find.

He could feel her anxiety at the situation. Going to foreign lands that she’d only ever read about in books, living with humans who had only ever visited the Isle. He couldn’t blame her in the slightest. He placed his hand on hers and looked to her. “I’ll be with you where ever we go. No matter what happens. We’ll see home again.” He spoke to her in a hushed whisper as Avayra approached them.

He caught the look Avayra gave him. He inclined his head out of courtesy but chose to remain silent. Avayra was a hard one to read for him. He wasn’t sure why but there was something about her that seemed to keep his abilities out. It wasn’t that he minded, he wasn’t one to pry but it was unsettling at times. They’d never really spoken, maybe that was the reason.

His gaze turned to Satu. Gromhir had been able to feel her emotions since the moment he met her but it was far easier to read her than any other he’d met. He knew that was from her ability that she found it hard to hide emotions and right now, you didn’t need abilities to tell her feelings. He only hoped she remember what he’d shown her at the temple.

[Kamalia Timandre]

Home—it was the place you grew up wanting to leave, and grew old wanting to get back in. Closing her violet eyes, the last glimpses of home lingered vividly in Kamalia’s mind. It stung like a violent chilling air that her memories of Mura only depended upon fleeting dreams and obscure imageries. Kamalia knew she would never again smell the quixotic fragrance of the Vian trees in cool summers, that she would never again dance in the moon-drenched glades of the Silver Woods, and that she would never again know the solace offered by home. She felt weak and vulnerable. Here, in the open sea, her every nerve felt raw and exposed. The konti-girl had never felt so small, so overwhelmed.

Kamalia’s petite shoulders rose and fell in a deep sigh. She leaned her light, pliant body against Gromhir’s arm, taking comfort in his strength and the reassuring familiarity of his gentle presence. Strong too was the clasp of his hand. Her soft, satin fingers curled over it, gripping his hand as if it were a lifeline. The moment he spoke, Kamalia merely stared at him, utterly drained, empty and numb. Her heritage and pride as a daughter of Avalis and Laviku were profoundly shaken, her emotions deeply exhausted, her natural resilience stretched to the breaking point. It was all too much. She wanted to believe his promises, but she simply could not. Even so, the promises he spoke warmed her weary heart.

A stab of pain—and jealousy—pierced her when she looked at the other two konti onboard, most especially her sister Avayra. The arms of the crescent Konti Isle will embrace them upon their homecoming. Not that she begrudged them their homeland. She simply realized that their shared journey was all she had. Now that they sailed towards Nyka, after they reached their long-sought goals in Syliras, what then?

Everything will change, indeed. Kamalia’s fingers quivered in Gromhir’s hand. What did she truly want to do in Syliras now? Kamalia tried to answer her sister but she found she could not.

[Satu]

The waves slapped the sides of the wooden ship, over and again the undulations of the water hugged them good bye. A few dolphins raced alongside, launching their massive bodies out of the water playfully. Drying her tears Satu yelled, laughing now as they finally swam away, “Good bye, water friends. Good bye.”

Sea wind surrounded her, and whistled in her ears, carrying Satu and the ship far away from home. The smell of sea, brine and salty wetness she cherished. How did one live so far away from the sea and Laviku? It did not seem possible to flourish without his nourishment on dry, hard ground. Her hair, loose in the wind streamed about her face, each strand dancing as the air changed course with every gust. The white locks crossed her mouth and eyes, and she did not stop to remove them. The covering gave the view an altogether different meaning. She was removed now from the known. All her experiences from this point on would be new.

She noted that the sailors avoided her, only asking polite questions as to her comfort. Satu, true to her training remained quiet and reserved as she answered their questions. She felt their discomfort with her, but she also registered her own apprehension with them as well. In all her years she had only minimal experiences with men and found them to be odd behaved creatures.

Being raised entirely with women had given Satu a very, harmonious childhood. There were stories of families who lived with both mothers and fathers, but she couldn’t imagine living with one, certainly not longer than it took to conceive a child.

She peered through her haze of hair at her traveling companions. Gromhir was different from these sailor men and he was a male. Perhaps his being a Kelvic, and bonded, made him seem much more different then the other men. He had a sensitivity about him that Satu appreciated. It made her feel not so alone within her talents.

Kamalia stood next to the Ivaski and Avayra near them. Satu watched them talking quietly. A fine and upright family, the Timandre clan, that is what was said in the shops and market stalls in Mura. Satu had not really heard the whole story of why they were leaving the Isle, but she was certain that everything a Timandre did, they did for a reason.

Not yet wanting to join them, she felt idle. Her loss was spent for a time and she did not want to risk another heartsick Konti setting her off on a tear-filled bout of crying. Her feelings were vivid enough and painful enough not to add more to it.

Her hip scraped the old railing she leaned against and she noticed her suvai catching on a wooden beam. The suvai were her family now. Removing one from its sheath, she rubbed her hand along the smooth surface of the weapon. Pushing herself off the railing, Satu turned, facing inwards. She held the suvai tip pointed out, focusing on its solid presence in a changing world.

Exceptionally fast she flipped the suvai with her wrist, turning the little weapon midair. The tip landed facing inwards and the pummel facing outwards. Again Satu stared at the object in hand, motionless, then turned her wrist again. This time, she moved the suvai in an intricate pattern forwards and back. The nimble fingers held gently yet firmly, to allow the skillful, yet rapid movement. She practiced her wrist work, leaning against the rail, intent on the patterns of her fingers and the blade. Eyes focused, breath slow, she sailed further away from her home.

[Aselia Timandre]

When her sister didn’t answer, Avayra eventually got how hard the situation was for her. Kamalia had always been more passionate, more empathic and more vulnerable than herself … perhaps more obsessed about what she belonged to. Avayra knew that she would have a lot of fun in Syliras, but Kamalia thought about the pain that would being away from Mura cause.

Although she knew that nothing she did or said could lessen that pain, she took a step forward and hugged the slim and delicate form in front of her. Offering help and comfort was everything she could. Her left hand briefly touched Gromhir’s arm, and she smiled softly at him. “We’re always with you. Please don’t forget that we’re your family and your friends, so you’re never alone. You’re never away from the true heart of Mura, us Konti.” Yes, she did take a lot of pride in her race, but that was it. Avayra already knew that she would follow a different path, but she could still empathize with her sisters. Even Gromhir she respected because he did such a good job at protecting Kamalia.

Then, after she had removed her arms, a yell echoed over the deck. The other Konti and the dolphins … Avayra couldn’t help but grin. Laviku and his creatures did know how to ease a farewell. The dolphins’ cries showed them that everything would wait for them, everyone was sure of their return one day. Although Avayra herself didn’t need any solace, she was happy because she could feel the effect on the others.

With sparkling admiration in her violet eyes, she watched Satu working with her suvai. It was obvious that practicing was her way of handling the situation. But above all else, Avayra admired her skill and deadly grace. While reading about powerful artifacts at the library, she had often dreamed about crafting a beautiful and powerful weapon and learning to use it. Satu could help her getting to know the suvai, but she saw that the other one didn’t want any company yet.

Sighing, she observed the sea. Water, nothing but water as far as one could see. If the others felt sad for the next few days, the journey would be very boring … and Avayra didn’t know what to do or say except for what she had already done.

Suddenly an idea appeared. She immediately turned back to Kamalia and started telling her, her words accompanied by an excited smile. “It might be good to have something to do until we reach Nyka, right? We could organize some kind of arts festival at the ship, invite the sailors, the captain and everyone who is interested. I think we could just sit together at the deck and share stories, poems, songs, pieces of art … even do competitions and training fights”, she added, shooting a quick glance at Satu who was close enough to understand her words.

She wasn’t sure how the others would react to that suggestion, but Avayra herself certainly needed something to keep herself and the others busy with. Inviting the sailors and organizing a small event would be the best solution.

[Gromhir]

Gromhir looked to Avayra, slightly incredulous at first. There was no way the four of them could organise a festival on a ship. But as she came up with ideas, Gromhir found he liked a few of them. He liked stories and he was sure that the sailors would have many to tell about the legends of the waters. He was sure he could think up some himself. Satu would probably enjoy a little friendly competition as well, those two things were easy to do and required little preparation.

“I like the idea,” Gromhir spoke up. He stopped abruptly; worried he was speaking out of turn but decided he would continue anyway. “I think sharing stories is great and I’m sure that Satu would enjoy some friendly competition.” Gromhir looked to the form that was stood next to him.

He could feel her quiver. Sadness filled Kamalia’s heart and he knew it must be tiring her out. Kamalia was always heavily affected by the emotions she felt, maybe even more so than he could feel through his own abilities. He frowned. “I am not sure Kamalia will be joining us without a rest though?” Gromhir brushed a thumb over her delicate fingers. He was hoping a rest was what she needed.

His gaze travelled back to Satu for a moment. Would she join them as well? The dance of the weapon was enticing for Satu, he knew that much. She was not fond of sitting still and watching the world pass idly by. What was it that she had said to him? Peace in movement? That was it. She might enjoy competition though. Maybe he could enter? Or do wrestling instead? He wondered if the sailors knew he was a Kelvic.