Light from the Black Hole (Ora)

[Alice]

Timestamp: Spring 511 AV. Exact day is your choice. Plot Notes Silver Lake radiated the same serenity and harmony as always. For the daughters of Avalis, it always carried a sense of relationship with their Goddess with it, a feeling of being nearer to Her. The water surface didn’t move, except for the occasional blub that was caused by fish, insects and birds brushing over it. The air was thick with the scent of flowers, grass in the sun and blooming vian trees. The place was deserted, most Konti were working around midday. Most, but not all Konti. Someone had been watching Ora ever since she had strolled through the outskirts of Mura to get to the lake, someone had been hopping from shadow to shadow. Using bushes and tree trunks, the person had followed Ora and had thrown curious glances towards the items in her hands. Rumor circled through town at a rapid speed. However, she hadn’t received her information through gossip. No, she was here for something else. As soon as they were alone at the shore of Silver Lake, a short Konti stepped out from between two vian trees, wearing a lavender-colored dress. Upon seeing a sister, the Konti’s eyes widened and then her lips curled into a smile. “Hello”, she said and approached Ora. Although she was a little shorter than she, the Konti didn’t appear younger. In fact she behaved younger, but her looks were those of a fully grown Konti. Ora wouldn’t remember her name, though; no matter how hard she tried. “I hope I didn’t disturb you. Today seems like a beautiful day for contemplation and solving riddles, at least to me. I like solving riddles”, she mused and smiled to herself. It seemed like she was talking to herself. Probably she was... or she was being nosy in a subtle way. “You have been out of town, am I right? To the mainland? What did you see?” The Konti’s gaze sparkled with curiosity. Her eyes were the color of bleached moss in the sun, a pale shade of green. There was nothing odd about the question as that was most definitely part of the gossip circulating in Mura. They remembered Ora, the dancer, especially at the Suvai Pavilion.

[Ora Sa'vina]

Ora's sleep had been fitful the past few evenings, leaving the woman tired and desperate. Her dreams were filled with the experiences of River Fall. The Akalak captors, Niku, Mao, the strange book and ring. The Konti laid in bed till the sun was in the middle the sky. Midday, most woman would be working, while Ora would continue to ponder things that seemed so far beyond her. Sleep clouded her eyes and eluded her body. Ora rubbed her sore eyes and tired face. The lake, the Silver Lake. The water that drew the young woman closer to her truest mother. Avalis's water would bring relief, perhaps not the type she desired, but the cool, calm waters always set ease to the those with string tied too tight. The Konti gathered the items that filled her with more questions than answered. The Black Prophecy Her fingers trailed over the words for a moment before Ora scooped up the bound pages and solid, metal ring. Ora began to make her trek to the lake. It would take a several chimes, but the day was the sweetest, summer was in the air, and the sun could barely hold back its desire to make the island feel more like Ahnatep. The young woman calmly walked, her thumb lightly rubbed against the binding of the book she held. The item was cool to the touch and worn. Violet eyes were focused before her, the Konti unaware of the company that followed her in secret. A smile crossed Ora's face as her eyes landed upon the still lake. Just the sight of the water brought about waves of comfort. Strange, Ora had not visited the lake itself during her entire visit. A small sigh left her lips as bare feet walked up to the edge of the water, her arms tensing around the book and ring. “Hello,” Ora nearly jumped out of her clothes, turning her head to see a short sister, a smile gracing her face. Ora quickly composed herself and bowed her head. The young Konti looked at the shorter, yet elder in appearance, sister. Who was she? Ora knew most of the woman on this isle, and those she did not were new comers, returning to land were their true mother lived. Perhaps the woman that now stood next to Ora was one of the many woman from the mainlands returned to the Isle that called to most Konti? Ora chalked it up to that. “I hope I didn't disturb you. Today seems like a beautiful day for contemplation and solving riddles, at least to me. I like solving riddles.” Violet eyes blinked several times at the woman before flashing to the book and ring pressed against her chest. [color=blue] “You are not disturbing me. I was hoping today would be a day for contemplation and riddle solving, only time will tell.” A slight smile touched Ora's face. The Konti looked out across the lake as the shorted Konti spoke. “You have been out of town, am I right” Ora nodded slightly. “To the mainland?” Another small nod, her eyes fixated on the still water. “What did you see?” A soft smile crossed Ora's face, it was not an uncommon question in the least, but it had not been her plan to spend the day retelling tales of the fall and winter. “I saw a great deal of things,” Violet eyes moved to look into soft green ones. “I saw Syliras the great walled city and castle, full of knights and all kinds of people. I met some lovely individuals there.” A secret smile crossed her face as she thought of her time in the city. “I traveled by boat to River Fall, the land of the Akalaks.” Her eyes grew dark and her voice seemed to drop off. “I... Had quite the time there. Met some lovely people, but only found more question, not my father.” Her voice picked up slightly, but the air of darkness remained in her eyes. “I was given these.” Ora held out the book and ring. Being given was mostly truth, but it was more that they were thrust upon her. “I did not find River Fall as pleasant as most Konti's find it.” A sour smile crossed her face as she nodded slightly, glancing from her companion back to the book and ring. “ The Black Prophecy, I know nothing of it, all I know is it has something to do with my father, that is all.” The woman sighed slightly and moved to sit along the shore. “The mainland is a beautiful place, and I do wish to return there, but first, I must find what this is, then, perhaps, I will find my father.”

[Alice]

The girl listened to Ora’s tale with obvious interest and her gaze was fixed on her sister’s features, studying her expression and body language. The Konti knew a bit about such things – as did most Konti through extraordinary intuition –, at least enough to note the change in attitude as Ora’s memory made the leap from Syliras to Riverfall. And she reacted to it. Having giggled at the mentioning of ‘lovely people’, she got more serious when Ora spoke of finding her father, of more questions and the mysterious items she was carrying around with her. The Konti’s gaze lingered on the book and ring for a little longer. Lost in silence, she seemed to contemplate something. Probably she was searching her brain for bits of information on such rare objects. Of course, she had already been supplied with a fair share of information on her opponent, although she hid it very well. “I’m sorry that you didn’t make friends with the Akalak and their city”, she eventually said, though almost mockingly. As if she already knew that the Akalak weren’t the type to make ‘friends’ with. There definitely was something about her that didn’t pertain to most Konti. “The wish to find one’s father is quite unusual for one of us... and ‘The Black Prophecy’, what an interesting title.” Once again, her eyes remained on the book, and her fingers twitched. Then she gestured towards the items and said: “I can probably help you to find out more about all of this. Does the ring possess some sort of connection to it?” Curiosity was it, pure curiosity that led the Konti to such questions. At the same time, she made a few steps into the direction she had come from. “I can lead you to a person who can help you. Follow me?”