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[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif continued onward as Elem spoke. He didn’t know how to tactfully address his question about the Konti being the only people from Mura. He was correct, but Serrif considered himself from there as much as any of the Konti. That was where his history started, where his roots were. Sure they were growing here in the Sanctuary as well. But he really felt like home was where his heart was…and for now it was still in Mura. With the beautiful women of the isle who cared for him and understood him like no other had to this day. They knew what dangers he brought, they knew his baggage. And yet their sister goddess had marked him graciously and he had been part of that place.

It was only now that he was no longer there than he noticed that he had a home there. One day he would go back, but would only do that when he had accomplished what he set out to do. They had given him a quest, and knowing that it came from the circle…he knew where was indeed a reason for it. Even if it was unknown to him he was a player in something much greater than him. And he knew that if there was nothing meant for him he would have died all those years ago in the camps. But someone had plans for him. There was a reason for his every breath now.

Elem stopped then vomited, a sign that they had indeed pushed hard enough…however Ildin would disagree and likely push them both a little harder. But Serrif wasn’t here to break this man, nor find out where his strengths resided. No; this was supposed to be a good run and it had taken a turn for the worst it seemed. The man wasn’t vomiting because of the work, no they hadn’t been running that long yet. Something else was amiss, he could tell merely because of the amount of effort Elem had put in; the man wasn’t giving 100% and Serrif knew it; only because he knew what 100% really looked like. And this was not it.

“Come on now Elem, we all have demons. Trick is to not let them effect judgment or day to day functioning. A lesson learned the hard way.” It was a nice opportunity to have a good grounding moment between the two men.

“If I let my past dictate my present I would not love any woman; for fear she would be stolen away and raped violently. I never would have left Mura because the rest of the world is a variable crap pile. Hell I never would have even confronted my fears from my past because what was the point when I saw them every night in my deepest nightmares? Truth be Elem your demons are dismissible. You just need to find your calling then fight like hell for it.” It seemed that was as much of a pep talk as Serrif was going to be giving right now to this man.

Yes his heart was racing as well, his body ached but the cool water at the end of the burdensome journey would be well worth the toil. He only wanted Elem to see it as well. He knew it would all help him, the exercise and the focus of medicinal and herbal knowledge he would share with him in the lab. All of it help him find focus; which was pivotal in this man developing past this point.

“Whenever you are ready we can continue.” It was a challenge to see if this man was willing and ready to push himself a little harder.

“Look at it as one step at a time. Small goals Elem…small goals.”

[Elem Bree]

Elem walked to the surf, splashing his face to clean it from his own saltwater and his vomit as Serrif spoke to him. He stood straight and tall as Serrif explained many reasons that the older man kept going. 'Demons are dismissable'. It would be hard to put that day behind him, but then again, it was that day and the thoughts of other places that had suffered that put Elem on the road in the first place. He didn't say anything outright. He just listened to someone who had been where he was and apparently much darker places.

Looking Serrif in the idea, his features softened. "Thanks Serrif. My mind went back to the aftermath of the Spring Storm in Zeltiva. It still haunts me from time to time. But if you can clear yourself from the terrible things you have seen, I guess my problems are really petty. I am ready." Once Serrif began running again, Elem would join him and keep pace with him.

Small goals were probably best when it came to physical things, but after leaving Zeltiva, the younger man had nothing but great dreams and aspirations. Everything he learned and absorbed here was only more fuel for further aspirations. There really was no comparison. As they continued on, Elem found that the moment had really cleared him up and he had vomited out doubt as well as breakfast. "Small steps maybe, but my goals couldn't get larger."

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

“They aren’t petty Elem…they are yours.” He hoped that statement wasn’t confusing. It was usless to compare suffering and pain. Useless because everyone saw things different; everyone lived a different life.

He had aspirations, Serrif knew this. But such things were dangerous at times when they were to large for one’s own good. They were also good because they gave the individual something to aim for; as well as purpose. Serrif had much the same dilemma himself. His goals were tremendous even if they seemed small. He had wanted to join the Opal Order…however now he wasn’t so sure himself. Did he want to commit to something so limiting? He would have to act in his own best interests at times and hope his goddess understood. That she wouldn’t put her wrath against him.

He continued the run, every step clearing his mind a little more. It was good to see Elem’s strength renewed in this matter. He viewed this run like everything else, small goals. Making it only ten or so steps at a time until he had made it one hundred or so, then only ten more…then ten more. The process worked for him and he continued to use it. It was a little while longer that they reached a stick stuck in the sand. That was Serrif’s goalpost that he had put there himself. He wasn’t sure how long of a run it was, but it was a good one. And he stopped.

“Here we are. Now as usual rest and return. Then we can get started on the days work.”

[Elem Bree]

"They aren't petty Elem...they are yours"

Truer words had not been spoken that day. It was clear Serrif had suffered. Elem had suffered too. They were both in the arms of Mother now and both placed at this Sanctuary for reasons beyond their own knowledge. Healing oneself did require scrubbing off old scar tissue, but it also meant not picking at the itch. Those memories may never disappear, but they could fade with time, provided he allowed them to. Having newer, more pleasant memories like this comraderie could be in the front of his mind for now.

Elem picked up his pace, running with a more pronounced bounce in his step. It was good to purge the bad things, it apparently made him lighter. The physical activity was not grueling, though it might be later. For now, it was best to just enjoy it and focus on the point of it all. Conditioning. The odd stick was seen on the beach and when Serrif stopped at it, Elem assumed that it meant this was the end of the course. Squatting down on his haunches, he looked out at the ocean, resting as he was told.

"This is a different sea then I am used to. I miss many things about Zeltiva, but one thing I surely do not is the Bonesnapper. It is a wind that would come off of the far ocean, so cold that you forgot your own name. These breezes are so light nad pleasant in comparison. What is the weather like on Mura?" Keeping the conversation light kept his thoughts light, which apparently kept Elem's feet light as well.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

“It is different for me as well. In Mura the sand is much whiter than this. The weather is rather docile as well. Sometimes they do not see snow in Mura. The water is usually warm especially inside and around the reef area. It feels nice almost every day. They don’t have anything like the Bonesnapper in Zeltiva. Come to think of it there is almost nothing brutal in Mura.” He shook his head some and continued to catch his breath while looking out to the ocean.

The rolling of the waves soothed him little by little. His body was beginning to feel the effects of the run, he felt lighter even if he was only standing there and his muscle memory made it feel like he was still running even if he wasn’t. He stretched some to try and relieve this feeling but really got nowhere.

“Zeltiva is Mura’s closest trading partner. Or one of them being that it is the closest port to Mura.” He had picked up little bits and pieces here and there from his time in Mura.

He figured now would be a decent time to ask a question that had been nagging him for some time now. “You know Gianne from her childhood. Do you remember anything of her parents?” It was a rather odd question to ask but he had been trying to figure things out and piece it all together in his head. And well Elem looked to be a good source for this information.

[Elem Bree]

Elem tried to imagine the White Island as Serrif described it. He had read of it, heard things of it from Konti, but still, he felt that all descriptions would not do seeing the place justice. It still made little sense to him why Serrif would ever want to leave such a paradise, surrounded by Goddesses of the Divine and mortal sort. Looking down at the water, he tried to imagine looking up at white sand and gentle surf. Hearing the calls of Konti in the ocean and all around. Knowing his own Divine Mother rested within walking distance.

"Well, one way or another, I will make sure I go eventually." Elem stood, his eyes and attention still on the ocean. This was the Suvan, however, and there was no White Isle out in those waves. It remained in his heart and mind. One day he would follow through and visit it. The silence that allowed him to daydream and imagine was broken by a strange question of Serrif's.
Elem turned and faced the man, unsure of his motives, but what he knew wasn't any kind of secret information.

"Hmm, well I remember her mother was pretty strict. Didn't like messes and wanted Gianne to dress up in dresses and stay clean and pretty. Her father was a big man, big hands." He had to think about it, as it had been some time since he met Mr. Basete. "I remember he worked with those hands, construction or carpentry. Something like that. He was a very gentle and loving man. I do remember that clearly. There was no mistake of the bond between he and Gianne.That's all I have. Sorry. Been a while."

Stretching his legs and squatting, Elem began to jog in place. he didn't mind telling Serrif these things, but it also felt a little odd. "Ready to head back? Or wherever we are going next?" Elem wanted to learn more things as well and the day wasn't growing longer as they stood there.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

“Do make sure you go some day. It is a beautiful place. I am surprised you haven’t visited once already.” Especially since Zeltiva was so very close to Mura in the first place.

Serrif loved Mura passionately, but the longer he stayed here the more he felt like he was at home. He had a room here, a bed, and a family of some kind. Something that on Mura he had indeed been lacking. On Mura he lived like a nomad, in a tent near the beach. But here…here he had a respectable job a family that helped him along the way…and a very uncertain future that he was really looking forward to living. Elem told him very interesting facts about Gianne, it was good insight for him to have being that one’s family usually told one about how the individual was centered. He knew that Gianne wasn’t one of the well to do lady types. No, she preferred hard work dedication and a good horseback ride to dresses and nights out. And honestly that was the kind of woman Serrif was looking for in his life.

“Yes back the way we came then a wash off in the ocean and back to the normal kind of things.” He laughed a little at the fact that what they were doing now wasn’t exactly normal; but rather had become so for Serrif. Without much hesitation he began a slightly slower pace jog back. He didn’t want to burn anyone out here.

“How is Zeltiva?” He questioned trying to find out more about the city Elem grew up in. “What stands out about it the most to you?”

[Elem Bree]

"Well, before I started working at the University, I didn't have the money for anything like that. My parents wouldn't have allowed me to go off by myself like that. If I wanted money, the only way I was going to get it was working in Dad's shop and I really didn't want to. So I just helped out around the house until I started going to the University." It made him sound lazy. Maybe he was, but any man who could smell that much leather for most of their life and want to keep smelling it had a problem, in Elem's opinion. he had picked up on having good shoes, which was something.

The pace was a bit more leisurely now, still keeping the heart pumping but not so hard. he appreciated that and it gave him the opportunity to enjoy it more than trying to keep up and not look like a slouch. "What are the normal kind of things? You mean exercises or something? I'm not sure I follow." Normal for Serrif was apparently very difficult for Elem. Maybe that would change as time passed. Serrif soon changed the subject to Zeltiva, wanting to know more of it. Elem was no ladies' man, but it was becoming pretty clear where Serrif was going with the questions.

"The University is the best part about it, in my opinion. Many people say it is the ships and the harbor, but the only reason that stands out to me is Kenabelle Wright. She was a famous Zeltivan explorer that sailed the coasts of Sylira and charted much of it for the first time. It was her story that inspired me to go to the Antiquities Society. Civilization, different cultures, knowledge. All good things about Zeltiva." Elem failed to mention the Old Quarter because he thought he would bring up the real topic.

"I guess you are really asking about Gianne though. I didn't see her at the University. Outside of when we were little, I really haven't seen much if her at all. I'm guessing you like her?"

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

The pace was steady they still had a bit to go and pushing themselves as they ran back would really get them nowhere but tired. And being tired wasn’t where he wanted to be when they went through the motions of the day. Ne, he wanted to be fresh renewed and alive. Which was exactly how he was starting to feel right now once the pace was lightened some. It always felt best to really push out and then jog almost leisurely back in. It adjusted the body back to the easy almost restful rest of the day. Which he was coming to love.

“Normal as in creating medicine and the likes.” He said answering Elem’s question as to what he was speaking about…although there was no real normal schedule around the Sanctuary now was there?

“I am interested in GIanne yes. But I am also interested in other things. Like the places I just passed through while getting here.” He stated as he took a few measured breaths to purge his lungs. The run was indeed exactly what he needed. It was what he always needed every morning to start his day.

“Can one study anything at the University? The closest thing to it in Mura is the Opal Temple that is focused completely around medicine and the likes.” Again he took a few breaths and continued on, he noticed now that Elem had pushed himself to the half-way point the leisurely jog back seemed much easier. That was what he was going for here. Suffering was less when one suffered greater before.

“Do you want to take a study to learning about dead cultures and the likes?” Serrif really didn’t see the use in studying what they left behind when he was on the precipice of being able to do something far greater than that with Kavala.

[Elem Bree]

Understanding the current definition of normal, Elem simply nodded. The pace had increased a bit and his breaths needed to remain for the exercise for the most part. he would still respond, but they would be a bit shorter and more thought out. While he was sweating, he noticed that physical activity did wonders for relieving the mind of anxious thoughts and worries. It simply had to use the energy to run. it was a good thing.

Elem thought it funny how Serrif played off liking Gianne. maybe he was just a private person like that. To Elem, it was a good thing to have someone special in your life. he hoped one day he would have the opportunity to meet someone. he had met nice girls, but he rarely got a chance to see them again. there was so much work to do and things to learn that he really didn't have the time for it. It certainly didn't make his desire to have someone any smaller, though. Oh, well. If it was meant to be, Mother Rak'keli or some other nice God or Goddess would make it happen. Hopefully.

Listening to Serrif's next questions only magnified his desire to be focused. "You can study just about anything at the University. There are several wings for different arts and sciences. Valkalah is okay, but imagine a campus about ten times the size of it. I would recommend it highly if you wanted to study things outside of your field." It sort of made Elem homesick. he wanted to see his parents again, but he had just arrived and it would be some time before he would make that long trek back. Perhaps in a year or so he would return to the University for more study.

" I joined the Antiquities Society because if Riverfall and Mura are so amazing and they are relatively close to Zeltiva, imagine the wonders that can be found in every corner of Mizahar. It's almost too much to imagine!" elem's enthusiasm for life and study really never ceased. he hoped he would have a long life with many adventures and he would learn a lot about the world while he had a chance to experience it fully. He also hoped the run was over soon.