Closed [The Sanctuary] And Still The Storm Comes (Leo)

[Kavala]

Kavala wanted to say she listened carefully to Leo's words, but truthfully really letting anything sink in after what she had just witnessed on man's Chavi was all but impossible. She kept wondering, in a huge portion of her mind, how he handled it all so calmly. He truthfully looked stoic, like it would have never really bothered him. But she knew it did. The facade was just so entirely schooled, so tightly managed, to her Konti eyes it looked almost painful. Ivak would never need to leash his Champion. Leo did that for him. She blinked, focused on what he was saying, and realized he was speaking about the Gods... as if he knew them. Well, in a way he did, probably moreso than most people in and around Mizahar. But the reality of what he said hit home and she nodded, agreeing with him in many ways. "For them time is different and we are different. I don't even think they see us as children or pets or anything we can relate too. I can feel Nysel and Rak'keli's love, and even Eyris warms my heart at times when true knowledge is granted. But its different, inhuman, and that sometimes scares me." She admitted, looking sad.

"I don't think Fear is your responsibility." Kavala said, sure of herself. "She would have found a way. If not in your lifetime, in her next heartbeat when another opportunity presents itself. The people of the past never saw the Valterrian coming. Who is to say what Rhysol's plan is and what is on the horizon for our generation. I think Fear is Rhysol's responsibility. But I also suspect she's Rhysol's greatest enemy, Leo." Kavala paused, looked thoughtful, and then continued. "That means you've created one more distraction for him. He can't not fear her because she is fear itself. Now that she exists, we can't change that. We can go forward though, armed with the knowledge that something out there makes the God of Pure evil afraid." Kavala said, and just for a moment Leo could tangibly feel her fear as well.

"Like you say, there is so much at stake here and so much of it we can't change. We can do what we can though. And if that means becoming an instrument of someone like Ivak or my Nysel, then so be it. It's better than standing on the riverbank and not trying to stop the flood." Kavala admitted. She reached up and ran her hand through her long silken hair, brushing it out of her eyes and staring off into the distance. She tried not to look at Leo. If anyone in their life would have no peace, no chance at normalcy, it'd be him. Maybe that's not what he wanted, but it was certainly what every person deserved. This was especially true of those that fought.

"I can't begin to understand what a burden she must be on your conscious." The Konti said softly, suddenly. "But I do not think she's your fault." She repeated again. "I don't think you should underestimate Sylir. He looks like he was planning this a long time. Glav Navik? But like any newborn, they don't always get up running. Sometimes it takes time for them to find their strength. I wish there were ways we could help. I know Sylira is going to be stronger with him in the world. And I hope his knights up north will lend him strength until he comes into his own. It might not be in your lifetime though. But that's only a blink of an eye in his word." Kavala mused, more to herself than to Leo.

She listened more, nodding mostly. Kavala shook her head though after a few minutes. "Even healers get the benefit of their own healing. Its a sad thing if your kind cannot benefit. Have you ever tried?" She asked, suspecting he hadn't. Kavala half smiled, as if the thought of himself not finding himself worthy enough for his own gift were amusing. She knew others that thought just like him when it game to gnosis marks.

"I saw a tangle of darkness touch your chavi at the event. It had touched you before. And it died. Your father, I think. There were other tangled chavi among his. I don't think you are alone in the world. Parents interact with children very specifically when their chavi tangles. I can tell the death was of your father just by looking. But he had other interactions along his. I did not specifically look but I could and will if you'd like me too. Odds are you are not alone in the world in terms of family, if they're all as driven as you." Kavala said.

[Leo Varniak]

Her exhaustion - perhaps more of an overload from what she must have experienced - showed itself subtly, but Leo caught glimpses of it as Kavala spoke. Certainly, the experience must have been unlike anything she was used to. He suspected she would replay it later, in the privacy of her sanctum. All the intersections, the paths winding off his own, must have been intoxicating to anyone with an explorer's mindset. From now on she would have full access to him, his past and even his future as it crossed the event horizon into the present. The thought wasn't entirely reassuring, given that she could reweave the nodes of his chavi as well, but he would have to trust her judgment on that count. He still didn't know what to make of Kavala Denusk. It had all been so sudden and he was still a stranger in a strange land with no shortage of enemies. She was full of goodwill and possessed that strange fatalist wisdom all the Konti seemed to share, even though she probably wasn't radiating it on purpose. She also served gods of whose agenda he was completely ignorant, and there was no telling what she might do should new orders arrive from above. Nysel, as far as he knew, embodied dream as well as nightmare and someone who hadn't openly intruded in Leo's own tribulations so far. Even so, she was admittedly his best bet and he still had so much to learn before he could pose a realistic threat to Rhysol and Ssena. He gave a little sigh at the mention of family and nodded. "Yes, I suspected as much. I know I have an aunt on my mother's side as well. I am pureblood Azenth on both sides of the family. In fact, some might say I have too much of the blood. I am more grateful for this information than I can ever put into words, but there's no need to press this further, at least not today. I see you may have slept, but certainly were not resting. There will be other days for such journeys if you wish to make them on my behalf." "I don't worry about Glav, or any of them really," he added in a softer tone, his words picking up speed as he went, "if anyone should be cause for worry, that would be myself. Unlike me, Sylir will handle things as he always does - with grace and discretion. But I, on the other hand, am far from the ideal champion. That is clear to me, Kavala. Even when I only had two marks, I would always wonder if my heart was too small to contain them. Unlike my predecessors, I wasn't raised for this. If you have earthenware in need of painting, a bird's nest perhaps or a fruit basket or some rustic landscape, that's what I was raised to do. A Zaital spends years being tutored in the ways of release by his or her peers. What I studied instead was history and grammar. I never had this luxury, and more often than not I ended up breaking things - lives - whenever I used the power. A lot of what I know is speculation. The rest is my own stubbornness, pure and simple." He gave a little shrug. "I do not mean to whine. I am a better guest than that, you know. Ivak never served me things on a silver platter, never spoonfed me knowledge or tasks, and I am thankful to him for that. He usually lets me figure things out on my own. So far I've been able to climb on the shoulders of those who went before me, and in doing so I have surpassed their achievements. Now there's no-one else left to climb on and I may have reached a plateau." He thought it over for an instant and the question came natural to him. "How do you do it, I wonder? You serve three when serving one is a monumental task in and of itself, but you seem to manage quite well. What if their interests ever were to clash with one another? How could you protect... everything?" He felt that Kavala easily surpassed him in devotion, if nothing else as a character trait. Leo believed in systems and categories and lists and things you could sort in neat order. His faith also sprung from the rational thought that fire was good to man (and to him) in countless ways, and the antithesis to darkness. He had rationalized the fact that Ivak could be trusted with freedom. The mind always mediated his reactions, and that may have made him a crippled champion as he teetered between logic and the unthinking blaze of the flame, constantly bouncing between one and the other. But he was what he was. You couldn't easily draw water from a rock. Sometimes, though, you needed water to stay alive and all you had was a rock. In layman's terms, that was called a crisis. And if you had an answer to that, well, it wouldn't be called a crisis.

[Kavala]

The Konti nodded. "Very well, Leo. But I will gladly look of you need more information. Tomorrow is fine... so too the next day or any day thereafter. Dreamwalkers don't need an excuse. Often our curiosity is more than enough. And the richness of information your father's life must have held... will hold. It's rare to be able to target chavi so accurately. Sometimes a old piece of pottery or a lock of hair tucked into a long forgotten book will give us a clue. But usually its less than that.. and more. It's easy too, and that is the danger, to get lost in their world, finding it more interesting than our own." She added, shifting in her seat slightly and drawing a leg up to lean on it. The Konti looked young then, and her exhaustion looked less apparent.

"Family is important Leo, whether they are yours by blood or you choose to adopt them as your own. My son is one of the most important people in my life. I'd like him to meet you, though hes just a child. I think it would be important for him to look upon someone like you with the eyes of a child and remember when he was older and ...." She started to say, blinked, and then gave him a soft smile.

She suspected he'd understand anyhow, even if the words hurt. "...when your name is just legend and no one believes or remembers the truth if they ever even get a chance to hear it. But I do hope they get that chance. It needs to be heard." She added. "I think it is humanities biggest flaw." She said abruptly, glancing out over the length of the arena and horse yard. "They don't choose to remember. Their longevity limits them or at least gives them an excuse to forget things they don't understand or find unpleasant. If their parents or grandparents were alive during the Valterrian like some of the longer lived races were, then things would be different I suspect." Different how she didn't elaborate as too.

At his words about his worth to be a Champion, Kavala laughed. She honestly did, her eyes warming and her whole body flushing with pleasure. "Leo. Do you think the Queen of Alahea felt she was worthy to be Queen? Do you think I was born knowing I was going to build this fortress city and resurrect the Cytali from it? Do you think the Dryes family in Syliras feels worthy? Or even Naver Chevan in Riverfall? None of us are, Leo. All of us wonder. Don't you understand the world forges us? The titles forge us? It's not the other way around. You will be what you have to be... you've already been what you've had to be... and will continue to do so until your luck or talent or penchant for survival wears out. A tiny seed can find root in the hardest of places. Riverfall's cliffs are dotted with trees that have done so. But unless they bend and twist in the wind, grow gnarled over the seasons, it won't survive. The same happens to us. We just don't realize it. We're too close to the situation." Kavala admitted, gesturing across the vista.

She smiled at his comment on whining. "I don't see it like that. But I do see how ill suited you are for a normal life. Maybe you've always wanted one and maybe not. But this is a fine road to walk on. Keep walking straight though and I doubt you'll see it as flat. The next obstacle just isn't visible yet. Life rarely gives us a moment of peace. When it does, I tend to take advantage of it." The Konti said, looking thoughtful and turning her gaze on Leo once more. She seemed to study him thoroughly.

"You may need a little downtime though. You've been fighting and traveling a long time. If it is not to forward, I will offer you a place here as long as you need one. You can stay the night or a season or two. You're presence won't be a burden on our resources so long as you lend a hand along with everyone else. The Council most likely won't see you for a few days since they are all older men and do not meet as often as you would think. I can offer you a private room though and some peace and quiet. My niece Cadra is a fair cook and won't poison you either. No decisions now though. We have horses to look at and lessons to take. You can think it over." She added, then turned to his other question.


"The gods are often not separate entities as one might suspect. Caiyha needs Syna's light and Akajia's darkness as much as she needs Zulrav's winds to bring her rain. They are all interchangeable that way. Nysel is my master but he has respect for Rak'keli and Eyris so it is no burden. Plus, I am not multiple marked save by Rak'keli. And she heals all, regardless of whom they are. I would find it hard limiting myself to one faith. You are lucky because your one faith is diverse, but others are not so. We have enemies as well. Rhysol tries to suppress Eyris, which does not go over well with her. And in my case, we all have a common enemy, those that want the Gods destroyed." Kavala said, intently.

"They need all the help they can get, besides. " She added. "The bad ones... " She said, referring to the gods. "... are really really bad." The Konti said, glancing around her eyes soft with worry. "I can't stop them. You can't stop them. But together... there's always hope." Kavala said.

[Leo Varniak]

Leo pondered over Kavala's words for some time, staring at his tea cup. It may have looked like the cup had him completely mesmerized, but unlike her, he had not left her alone to go on journeys to uncharted lands. It was true that he only had ever known one way to live, and it was the one that had led him here, mostly through adversity. Did people's hearts truly possess the ability to change in response to their challenges the same way a tree could grow twisted and gnarled in its search for water and sun? Her perspective held its ground for the time being. Whether it would last remained to be seen. In the end, he gave a sigh and nodded. "Truly, I have much thinking to do. In the time when I was one with the elements, in the depths of the depths, everything was so clear and harmonious. I didn't have a care in the world. For the first time in my life, I had known serenity as a part of a greater whole. If only I could ever feel like that even in this life that's anything but clear or harmonious... But you're right. I need to get my act together and become someone Ivak can be proud of." A short pause. "Someone I can be proud of." He had never asked himself who Leo Zaital really was. He had always been defined by his quest, both before and after he had known it consciously. The truth was that, for all that philosophy he'd picked up from the Treval Codex, for all the thinking he had done, he had ignored the most basic tenet of those who love wisdom: know thyself. He had survived this far without knowing himself, but now that the shape of his heart could leave a huge imprint in the world it would be essential to do that search. For him, and for everyone else. "Did anyone ever tell you you're really good at making people look at themselves in the mirror?" he smiled at the Konti, and it wasn't courtesy this time. "I need to find myself. I need to adjust to this new size of mine and I can't think of any other place to do so than here. I... I'll take you up on that offer for a time, if you do not mind. I will see the Council at their convenience. I will explain what happened, and even though the storm and Ssena may not have been my fault, I'll take responsibility for both. I won't leave this city with an outstanding debt - and when I do, I will journey to wherever men live and renew the compact they once had with Ivak." He picked confidence as he went, like a flame being fed fresh air. "And I'm not going to stop until I've become legend, as you said. And when I am but a word in the wind, I will have left a legacy. I think I'm going to write down the tale of Ivak's liberation for young people like your son to read when they're older." He liked the idea immensely. The act of creation seemed to compensate the enormous devastation he could bring about. "As a devoted of Eyris, I'm sure you know what to do with the knowledge you come across... to spread it as far as we can, to the corners of the world. Centuries are nothing to the gods, yes... and the bad ones are very bad, yes... so we need to think on their time scales, too. Every bit of knowledge children grow up with, two or three centuries from now, every scrap of truth they possess... it makes Rhysol and his ilk a little weaker. Every page, every line counts." He blinked, recognizing that he'd just seen a glimpse of what he could become if only he wanted to. Not just a fire that burned things, but a fire that made things anew. It would be a long and winding road, riddled with pitfalls and difficulties and feelings of hopelessness, but the road was there. Yes, it was there. It was there. "Speaking of being too close to the situation," he offered then, curious to find out whether he could help Kavala with her own predicament, "are you completely sure it must come down to all-out war with these... Ruv'na, right? We share the same land, breathe the same air, see the same colors. They act out of their will alone, with no-one to maneuver them or give them tasks. Are they so beyond salvation that they won't see the truth, no matter how obvious? It'd be nice if we could break the cycle of violence for a change, just once. You know them best, but I still wonder. Does it matter that their leader was once your father? Maybe I could be of help in any way?" The contours of Kavala's body were getting dimmer from the growing darkness, but Leo barely noticed.

[Kavala]

Kavala smiled at Leo's words, about his affirmation that he wanted to be someone HE was proud of. To her, that was the highest goal in life - to be satisfied with your own self inside your own skin - rather than constantly strive for what others might think is the better way. Ivak might just have chosen well.

"I think thats all any of us should strive to be... enough for our own selves. Unfortunately, for some of us that standard is higher than for others." She said, looking around and laughing. She wasn't half done with The Sanctuary. Not by far. And if this was any indication of her lengthier goals, then there was a whole lot more to Kavala Denusk's life than she'd so far lived.

Her head came up as he tugged her out of her own personal reflection with his words about making people look in the mirror. She only half smiled, wishing it were more true than he lead on. If people truly looked at themselves in a mirror and were honest with what they saw would it change the world for the better? Or would it make things worse? Kavala pondered that a moment then shook her head. She'd already told Leo he wasn't responsible for Ssena, but he was a man that was driven by burdens - some his own and many not of his making - and if that's what he needed to tell himself to move on to the next phase of his life, then she was not going to argue with him again. Kavala was stubborn, but she was also wise enough to know when she'd met her match in that department. Like recognized like, and though she was no God's Champion, she was indeed clear sighted enough to see that drive was drive no matter what the scale. And Leo had drive in abundance.

When he said he was not going to stop until he became legend, Kavala laughed. "You are already legend. This is how they are born you know. A whispered word here, a small tale there, a brief sighting somewhere. We live in a world that is craving new legends, Leo. You are just feeding their imagination whether you know it or not." Kavala said softly, her laughter bright on her lips though not uttered in an audible way. She studied the champion's face and wondered how quickly it would age under the burden's of his guilt. She wondered how hard he would weather under the yoke of responsibility. Humans were so frail to her. And sometimes she thought she could almost see them aging. No wonder the later races were longer lived. The Gods hated to see their children come and go so quickly, burning so brightly, that it had to bring them sorrow.

Kavala smiled. Maybe one day humans would live longer lives too.

"I'm not sure I agree with spreading knowledge. Some things people don't need to know. It goes for the small things and goes for the larger things as well. If its something that can help people, sure. But not all knowledge is helpful. A great deal of it is dangerous. I think passing it on is important, but it has to be to the right individuals. I wouldn't want just anyone knowing, for example, that I can walk their Chavi and see their lives unfold. They don't want people to know what they've lived or done or lied about in the past. It scares them. And in many cases rightfully so. But some things should never be a secret. The fact that Fear walks among the pantheon is important. People need to know that. And I also want to watch and pay attention and see how much more power fear has over people now. I wonder if its grip is more terrible than before." Kavala said softly, thoughtfully, as she watched Leo's face again.

He was a difficult person to understand. But he had more understanding in him, at the same time, than she suspected he gave himself credit for.

When he spoke of the Ruv'na she shook her head. "I only know of the old Ruv'na, the ones that lived before the ones that live now. I know they still exist, but I can't know the will of the ones who hunt us now. I can once we make contact, but not before that... not before I see their face and touch them and can reach out and snatch hold of their Chavi. I have gathered my father's chavi, my father as Crescent, to me and walked it as far as I can go. That's how I know he lives again in this life. But I do not know if he understands the agenda he faces or what anger he harbors. They were never far thinkers back then. I hope now they are no better. But I am not so naive to believe they aren't manipulated or driven by outside forces. Odds are they are because so many hands have doings in so many things these days. There's no telling and no anticipating who or what it might be." She added, glad he was cautioning her on that, reminding her to look deeper and further and not make assumptions. It was a good reminder, one she took to heart.

"Your ability to release.... I've seen it in your chavi. That would help them tremendously I'm guessing. But I do not know who they are nor what faces they wear. I just feel... feel them close. But close magically could be hundreds of thousands of miles away. Its so hard to know." Kavala said softly, her face full of worry suddenly. Her burdens were much like Leo's though she wasn't exactly ridden by a God. She was more ridden by time and circumstance and the past which she wouldn't' truthfully let go of.

"It's getting dark. We can talk more later when we go to pick you out a horse and start your lessons. Perhaps in the morning if you get rest tonight? Again you are welcome to stay here. We'll eat at the twentieth bell. I can show you to your room and then we can pick up this conversation tomorrow." Kavala said softly, knowing it was time to relax and let the heavy talk go.

"I'll have more to ask you then... far more." She said softly, rising. Then, if he was willing, she'd take him into The Within. She knew he judged her by the buildings standing around half finished and in half disarray, but the Within was completed to a certain extent and its walls decorated as only a Konti with an affinity for Earth Reimancy could really pull off. A tunnel blocked by two large double doors lead down into the earth. It was a smooth ramp with ridges bypassing the floor periodically as if to allow the hooves of animals to grip the slick stone. The walls were semi-precious stone overlaid the carved out fortress. A true jeweler could tell they were manufactured and not natural for the pattern of their creation was somewhat uniform and lacked the uniqueness that natural stone would have. Nonetheless a mosaic of scenes in stone nudged Leo's senses as they walked downward. Grass waving in sunset images on the wall moved seasonally through the tunnel. Malachite layered like grass glowed green in the torchlight. Lapis Lazuli filled the sky and warm citrine made out the sunshine. Chardony sunsets and white opal snow depicted the sea of grass in winter. Winter turned to spring and the green became the brightness of moss agate and peridot. Summer turned the grass gold as they descended deeper and turned down a side tunnel that was designed to look like an undersea coral reef. That tunnel opened up into a huge common room that was more reminiscent of a tavern than an actual living room or great hall. The furniture was arranged around a massive hearth.

A second hearth dominated the kitchen area and there were hallways leading all directions off the first one. Kavala lead Leo through the commons and down a small hallway to the Library. Then she turned left and lead him into another hall that held doors to either side. She selected the first one on the right and pushed it open. It was equally decorated with precious stone, but this one was in the reds of rubies and garnets though the stones didn't look precious... rather semi-precious in origins. Furniture and bedding matched, warm and inviting with backdrops of dark wood. "This is the Carnelian room. Its got blood agate and a bit of garnet here and there too. I thought you'd enjoy the reds." She said. Kavala pointed to a small door on the far side of the room. "That leads down to a chamber where you can relieve yourself. The end of the hall is a bathing chamber. The chambers below are shared two rooms to a toilet so don't be surprised if you have a neighbor. We have an elaborately designed waste system here. We reuse all the byproducts of the people and animals here in our gardens after they've been properly composted. We compost internally." Kavala said, quite proud of her system.

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to stop someone. Everyone is helpful here. And if you need me my rooms were straight through the library, not to the left like these are. Feel free to explore. If someone wants their privacy, their door will be locked." She added, smiling. "I'll leave you now. I'll see you at dinner... " And with that, she turned and left him to get situated.