Completed [Traveler's Row] Play With Us, Uncle! (Noaru)

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri Traveler's Row, Almost Midnight, 16th of Summer 513 A.V For those who were still awake in Syliras that night, they would be greeted by a very interesting sight. Two contrasting ghosts - with one of them actually being a thousands year old spirit - were floating hand by hand through the stone corridors of the Fortress City. Their appearance were like complete opposite with each other, one was an adult male-looking spirit with pitch black clothing and the other one was a little girl ghost with a white dress; but like they say, opposites attract. Kouri kept on holding to Noaru's hand as she guided him to the Traveler's Row, humming and singing along the way. Her mood was joyful and cheerful, she got a new friend and now she was going to introduce him to her little sister "Sir Noaru~ We're almost there! Rena is a bit shy so please understand if she seems hesitant to approach you at first, okay~?" Not long after Kouri said that, they arrived at the Traveler's Row and stopped in front of a particular apartment door. The sign '112' was plastered on the upper part of it "I'll go in, first, okay~ Then I'll call you". Due to her excitement, Kouri didn't wait for Noaru's response and immediately phased through the door. "Ehehehe~ Do you want another cup of tea?" Haunting happy giggles echoed Inside the apartment courtesy of the little sister named Rena, she was playing with her dolls on the large and spacious elaborate dollhouse - that was actually made for a Pycon's home - that Kouri bought for her at the 10th of Summer. Its rather absurd price of four hundred gold mizas tore a hole in Kouri's wallet, but she deemed it worth the price. Rena would never be bored now that she got this miniature mansion in their apartment. "Rena~♪" The familiar sound of her older sister's voice echoed and Rena's eyes perked up to see Kouri standing by the door. "Siiiiiis~♪" She gently put down her doll, phased through the dollhouse, and glomped her beloved older sister, Kouri was everything to her, she's all she got in this cold harsh world. Even with all her older sister's insanity and obsession with her, Rena could look pass that because she knew Kouri loved her... as long as she didn't defy her. Rena shuddered at the memories of Kouri's outburst two days ago... she learnt a very hard lesson not to say anything that would make Kouri feel unloved or abandoned. Rena's psyche also stealthily cracked at that moment, she was getting more and more unhinged; if this kept up, she would be just like Kouri by the next season. A cheerful polite little girl on the outside with streaks of a sadistic devil lurking below the surface, but it was not a bad thing, Rena was starting to accept that. "Sis~ Where have you been? Why did Madame Ama called you?" Rena snuggled against Kouri's chest, eager to listen to her story. "Hmmm~ I'm from the Bronze Woods and Madame Ama called me to help her investigate a newcomer in the Woods. You see, Rena, that newcomer is a spirit!" Kouri excitedly explain, she couldn't wait to finally introduce the spirit to her. "Spirit?" Rena tilted her head, she didn't know anything about this word Kouri was talking about. "Yes! A spirit! His name is Sir Noaru, Rena! Do you want to meet him?" "Oh! I do! I do! Where can we meet him?" The moment was perfect, Kouri took her position beside Rena and gestured to the door "He's just right outside! Ehehehe~ Sir Noaru! Please come in!"

[Noaru]

The night was still young and this pleased Noaru a great deal. The daytime hours made it hard for him to conceal himself and his abilities were limited during then. However, the story at hand wasn't about him, it was about Rena, who was held close to Kouri's heart. Noaru could only grin as Kouri in her excitement left him behind, laughter inside the door told him something--that he was in the presence of good company.

The spirit remained completely silent until Kouri called him to come inside. He steps... floats forward, letting his form pass through the door. Inside the room, he momentarily looks around to get accustomed to his environment. The first thing Noaru notices was a house, it looked as if a Pycon could fit inside it.

“ Good night. ”

Noaru didn't know what so say as a greeting to Rena and he most certainly did not want to seem cold either. So, he stuck with the traditional greeting that should be said when entering someones home; though, he never expected to find himself in yet another home, especially one that belonged to ghosts.

“ ”

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Rena~ meet Sir Noaru, and Sir Noaru, this is my little sister, Rena~" Kouri gestured to each of them as she introduced them to each other. Rena examined Noaru in curiosity, the first thing that came to her mind was... he sure likes black, doesn't he? It contrasted greatly with her sister's mostly white colorization with streaks of red. Rena looked at her own dress and realized it was mostly black in color as well. She giggled at finding a new friend that liked the color, Rena lifted the hem of her dress and curtsied to the spirit "My name is Rena, Sir Noaru. It's a pleasure to meet you~". This gathering of three ethereal beings were interesting indeed. Kouri then gently pulled both Rena and Noaru deeper into the apartment and she sat elegantly down on the ground, motioning for Rena and Noaru sit as well. Good thing ghosts and spiritis didn't need welcome beverages like the living because Kouri didn't have any. Rena sat down beside her sister and leaned her head on Kouri's shoulder. At times like this, she wasn't afraid of her. Kouri acted like the loving sister and older girl she was, Rena knew better to not bring Kouri's malicious side towards herself. "So, Sir Noaru~ Tell us about yourself~ What are spirits actually? Why did you come here? Ehehehe~ Do you have any friends other than us and Madame Ama?" Kouri showered Noaru with questions, excited and curious. Rena just kept silent and snuggled against her older sister, listening to the conversation.

[Noaru]

“ I don't know what exactly spirits are; we always kept ourselves hidden and rarely interacted with each other. I was young when there was a gathering of us but none us discovered the cause of our huge gathering. I learned the suffering the dead went through at that time.

There isn't much to say about myself. I only have a few friends; Hadrian was a powerful mage--who gave me soulmist while I protected his home, he became one of my greatest friends. Vasq was a sage-like figure--who gave me all the knowledge he knew, he was my first friend--he died. Aradia and Elaine are my most recent of friends. Elaine's a young ghost; though, she disliked humans in the beginning, changed drastically to liking them which brings my disfavor of her a little. Aradia was a young beauty I met in Ravok, we spoke for awhile and she became one of those people I can go to later. ”

He had been talking for awhile, this was the longest he has ever spoken with someone--let alone answered questions to. The two young ghosts in front of him reminded him of how he used to be--happy and loving. That was gone now, it all was burned away and replaced with the dark: a soul compromising aspect that serves as the foundation of evil and darkness; his powers were just extensions of its influence on his soul while the void itself served as its home.

“ Zeltiva was my destination but I ended up here when I got lost in the Wildlands. ”

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri The sisters intently listened to Noaru's story. He told them of all sorts of interesting people, a powerful mage, this sage named Vasq, Aradia, and notably another ghost named Elaine. Kouri was excited and was about to ask more about Elaine when Noaru told her that Elaine disliked humans. "What?" The simple question was fast and swift, but it was much lower in-pitch than Kouri's usual tone and carried... hatred within it. Rena immediately felt the ominous aura her sister was giving and slowly edged away from her. Kouri didn't like it, she was also a human and she still carried the pride of Vantha, a sub-race of humans. Murderous thoughts filled her mind as she was thinking of various ways on how to butcher this... 'Elaine'. "Sis..." Rena wanted to shake her sister out of it, but was too afraid to act. Then suddenly... "Oh! She likes them now, I see~♪" Her sister disturbingly went back to her cheerful self, knowing that Elaine liked humans now. It was short lived though as... Noaru told about his disfavor to Elaine for liking humans. Oh no... Sir Noaru, you shouldn't have said that... Rena bit her nails in her mind. "Really now... Why is that?" Kouri tilted her head, her eyes were noticeably in the process of narrowing to her familiar Dhani slits. "Why do you disfavor Elaine because she likes humans? Hmmm? Is it because you think humans are weak and you spirits are strong?" Kouri berated Noaru with her questions, her tone was like an interrogator. "I know first hand on not to judge a race based on the actions of some individuals alone... Some people scorn me just because I'm a ghost now..." Kouri flicked her hair, her soulmist were starting to show signs of hostility. "You may be a spirit, but I assume... you're not invincible are you?" Rena's eyes opened wide, it's happening again. Kouri's illogical assumptions and judgements towards someone just because of a single action or sentence. She immediately gestured to Noaru, basically saying 'Please... please explain calmly and don't aggravate her further...'

[Noaru]

“ My disfavor isn't aimed towards her completely, its towards the thing that changed her so quickly. I was suppose to show her the resilience humanity by introducing her to Hadrian. I know spirits are strong, we have several advantages over humanity but humans, they have something that brings me to praise them a bit--they can do so much with so little. ”

There was a tinge of instability in this soul before him, he always held a clear principal--that children should never remain as ghosts. The concern in Rena's eyes and her gesturing fueled this principal. The idea of reincarnation wasn't an option but should he ever fall-down into the depths, he'd accept it to avoid such a horrible state-of-mind. Noaru could feel a tinge of instability within Kouri, it wasn't huge because if it was... he would've avoided her in the forest and went elsewhere.

“ Invincible... I was one step away from oblivion--it felt like all but shreds of my body remained. I was forced to remain in darkness for five-hundred years, suffering in complete loneliness! I wish invincible then I would have never suffered. ”

Noaru was not phased by the Kouri, his tone remained the same while carrying a bit of sadness.

“ Those humans when I thought all life had ended that day, rose from the ruins and formed together to raise their homes out of the dirt. I was confused--these beings raged war against each other before and now were helping each other, they even helped me indirectly. I was never involved with anything but myself and yet they helped me? The spirit within humans, whatever it may be, gave humanity invincibility and I realized it that day. I've see what makes humans strong... even stronger than us. If someone asked like you did, in terms of who's stronger--none, we both are lacking in power behind the Gods. ”

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Oh..." Kouri's eyes slowly returned to normal when Noaru's words sank into her. Her expressions softened as she realized actually liked humans and her judgement was horribly misplaced. Rena silently breathed a sigh of relief, good thing Noaru handled the situation well; as expected from a spirit. Common men would most likely edged away in fear and fueled Kouri's sadistic side further and it would not end well from them, unless they are spiritists of course; but then again, what kind of Spiritists were afraid of ghosts? Noaru's story about him experiencing a near-death experience brought shock and concern to both of the sisters. Kouri's hostility was gone in an instant "O-oh my! T-that's horrible! Five hundred..." Kouri couldn't even imagine on how would it feel being alone for five hundred years straight, she would most likely go completely insane and became a rampaging phantom. Noaru was a testament on how willpower could persevere against the most dire of situations. "B-but, you are alright now right, Sir Noaru? We're glad..." Rena spoke, trying to ease the somber mood Noaru's story brought. Noaru's next story about how the humans survived the Valterrian, rebuilt, and moved on won great respect from Kouri. He even told her that all of us were weak compared to the Gods, Kouri knew first hand for she was a Vantha and Goddess-Queen Morwen was very close to her people. She knew the famous story on how Morwen played a vital role in defeating Ivak during the Valterrian. But his words about 'Spirits within humans' intrigued her. "So... Sir Noaru, me and Rena are both... those spirits, right? Then... that means, are we still human?" The question she thought was answered a long time ago arose again, Kouri had affirmed herself that she and Rena were both ghosts, spirits of the dead, and no longer human. Noaru's words were giving her a ray of hope, no matter how small it may be, that she and Rena could still be considered humans.

[Noaru]

“ I'am not sure, Rena. There's still a scar I haven't healed yet. ”

That scar was what drives his need to seek out his true name, his memories and former selfs identity. This being, he isn't what he was before, he felt the severe feeling of imperfection weigh down on him. Despair was one of his many reminders, telling him that for many days, his answers will become harder to find.

“ Kouri, Rena--the both of you still retain your sanity and humanity even now. The forms you currently hold is the very reflection of your humanity, evidence that you once lived as human beings; you are human-beings even more so now than you were alive. Instability within the mind and soul leads to a ghosts transformation into a spirit, or an entity that has lost its anchor and drifts endlessly in melancholia. ”

This instability was whatever triggered a souls ravenous ways, it could be anything; lust, pain, hatred and more profound aspects like mental weakness or frailty within the soul. The anchor was what keeps the ethereal at bay, keeping them serene and sane, it was usually something that they found soothing in life and in all cases love--which calms all hearts, minds, and souls.

“ ”

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri OOCI think this should be my last post for the thread, Noaru. Your reply will end it. PM me for confirmation and I'll post it for grading. But if you still want to continue, we can do that of course! Sanity, the one thing that was actually starting to escape from Kouri's mind and due to her influence, Rena as well. Kouri realized that and frankly, she stopped caring since weeks ago. The border between the original Vantha Kouri and the little devil that was her insane side was blurring and meshing together, creating a little girl with her twisted sense of justice and prone to vigilante acts. Fighting for good and justice according to her own views. Rena was following in her sister's footsteps now, it would not be long until she actually resembled Kouri in both principles and actions. "......" Kouri didn't want to comment further on Noaru's answer, for his statement; both she and Rena would one day become spirits such as him. Rena noticed Kouri's silence and decided to eased the situation "Ehehe~ I see, Sir. So that means me and my sister are still humans! That's go-" "No..." "S-sis?" Kouri suddenly interrupted her and it made Rena worried and confused at the same time. "We're not humans anymore, Rena..." Kouri's doubts were now erased, she came to a conclusion. "We are ghosts, spirits of the dead, and it would do you well to understand that, Rena" She lovingly hugged her adoptive little sister. "I... I understand, Sis..." Rena couldn't defy her sister, she was right. What aspects other than appearance and some semblance of their mentality could be called humans anymore? As Kouri kept patting Rena's hair, she turned back to Noaru and beamed her a small smile "I think Rena is getting tired... it's very late after all, I'm going to accompany her to sleep, you're welcome to stay with us of course, Sir Noaru..."

[Noaru]

“ Do not let me be the one to judge whether you are human or not entirely. The perspectives and ideas you had while you were living, may have changed now but regardless you lived as humans and until reincarnation--your souls will always be human. ”

Noaru could see that Kouri did not think of herself as a human being; her transition into a ghost, her death must have been harsh. He questioned himself whether he should ask, usually he would get to know those he had encountered more than once and have them on their own accord tell him about their story. The sympathy he's held towards his own still remains unchanged despite the constant changes that occur within his mind. He couldn't comfort these young souls as a parent would but at least he would remain somewhere to lend them a hand.

“ I will take my leave then as well. I do not wish to disturb Rena or you Kouri with my presence any longer. ”

Noaru wanted to stay; his mind said yes but his body said no! He was having a hard time maintaining his form with all the power he used avoiding Kouri's attacks in the forest. He knew he would be spending most of the night resting and trying to regain some of his soulmist. Noaru blinked from the room after blessing Kouri and Rena a goodnight; he disappears into the night back to his quiet lake.