Closed [Verlyna's Emerald Pond] So we meet again (Ruzekiel)

[Tainon]

Day 5, Fall 514 AV, early evening

It was early evening when Tainon wandered through Alvadas. The Fall was in full swing. A slight breeze was blowing and the sky, where a few small white clouds were swimming, was getting darker. The Isur sighed. He liked summer the most and he remembered with sadness that in summer at this time of day, it had been still very warm and that there had been plenty of sunlight. Not today though. The sun was almost behind the horizon and everything would soon be drowned in darkness.

Tainon planned to train today and the best place he could think of was Verlyna's Emerald Pond. He supposed he would be undisturbed there. He himself had never been there. If there would be someone, at least he would finally look at this mysterious place. Was it really that mysterious and dangerous as everyone said it was? Well, he will find out soon enough.

Once he entered the place, he stopped in his tracks and stared in wonder. The pond really was emerald. It was probably thanks to the bushes and other plants that surrounded it. There were crooked trees that looked very old, with enormous roots reaching from the bank of the pond to the water.

‘And the waterfall!’ thought the Isur, amazed. It wasn’t as big as he thought it would be, but it looked as if the water was falling from nowhere and into the pool. Was it magic? Or illusion?

Tainon studied the waterfall for a few moments and then he remembered why he came here. He began walking slowly through the bushes and grass, around the trees, but he kept his distance from the pool. He knew some of the stories about it and he had no intention of experiencing its magical or illusionistic powers, whatever they were.

He searched for a flat area of grass, where he could practice. When he found it, he positioned himself in the middle. He looked around. He didn’t see anyone, so he began his training routine.

He took a wide stance, balled his hands into fists, put them in front of his face and began hitting an invisible enemy: quick, sharp strike with his right hand aiming at the chest followed by a punch with his left hand aimed at the head, left leg low kick, punch with right hand, then a quick right leg high kick to the right side.

Soon he was sweating, his shirt glued to his body, but he continued fighting his invisible enemy, as if his life depended on it, completely unaware of his surroundings.

[Ruzekiel Soren]

Ah, fall. The best season for minstrelling, ale and pumpkins. And pumpkin ale. Zeke took in a deep breath of fresh, crisp autumn air as he led Etienne down the wooded dirt trail to Verlnya’s Emerald Pond. He liked to come here and just sit near the edge watching the mysterious waterfall shake up the vivid green surface. He loved the hustle and bustle of the city, but sometimes a quiet sit down was in order. The minute Zeke dropped the rope lead Etienne nickered and went for the water in the pool. He batted the horse’s head away firmly. “Etienne, no! Remember what happened last time?” The horse whinnied indignantly and turned his attention toward the dewey grass nearby instead. Zeke slipped off his boots, set them next to his pack and squelched around in the soft grass for a moment before sitting down against a thick tree, the soles of his feet sufficiently earthed, and closing his eyes for a quick nap. Soon after, he began to hear faint, distant grunts and shuffles. He opened one eye and peered out into the brush, but could only hear brief snatches of action. It sounded like someone was in a fight. He listened harder. It was more of a one-sided fight, really; He heard only the exhales and shuffles of one person. Odd. He was quite sleepy, but he was also quite curious. As usual, curiosity won out. He yawned widely and clambered up, dusting himself off and venturing, barefoot, towards the sound of the commotion. Eventually he came upon a small, grassy clearing. Right in the middle, a man was apparently fighting the air around him with a ferocious intensity. It was silly but powerful all at once. Zeke did not pity the man that ever came to blows with this fellow. He strafed around the edge of the cleaning for a moment to get a better look at the series of punches and kicks the man was expertly doling out on his poor invisible nemesis. Hm. A few of those moves may have come in handy last week at the tavern. Zeke’s jaw still felt funny. Not to mention the soft indent in his mouth where a molar used to be. He wondered if this stranger was friendly or not, and if so, whether…wait a minute…Zeke crept up closer to the tall, sweaty blur of kicks and punches…he knew that face. “Tainon!” Zeke exclaimed with glee. This was the same man Zeke ran into two years ago in Alvadas. Strange luck they would meet again after a disastrous attempt to teach the bard some survival skills. Zeke was actually surprised he’d lasted so long, with a smart mouth like his. They’d only known each other briefly, but Zeke was glad to see the man all the same.