[The Sunken Conundrum] Pursuit of Knowledge (Open)

[Seidaku]

As Vhanet pulled away from him and headed toward the exit of the Sunken Conundrum, Seidaku spared one last longing glance for his book of essays before placing it gently back upon the shelf and making mental note of its location. He would be back to read it as soon as possible.

As he flailed at the water around him in his efforts to begin swimming down - how had he gotten so near the ceiling? - toward the exit, he was afforded a glipse of a less than modest amount of pale, golden leg. Flushing with embarassment, Seidaku put his head down and forced his attention away from the surely unintentional display of flesh.

Moving his arms and legs beneath his body, like a dog swimming in a lake, he made his way slowly toward the doorway at the front of the library. So focused was he on his swimming - and not looking up her skirts, he was not made of stone after all - that he almost missed Vhanet's questions entirely when she spoke.

"I have only practiced the magical aspect of Voiding for less than six years," he said through breaths coming quickly from exertion, swimming was hard, "However, the theory of Voiding and the Void itself has fascinated me since I was barely more than a child."

"As to any danger involved," he said with a smile hidden by the fact that his head was down in concentration, "There is really not any more danger to Voiding than there is to the Reimancy that you perform. At least, not as long as you are - ow!"

His words cut off with a soft thud as he reached the exterior wall of the library. Rubbing his head where he was sure a knot was already forming, he finished lamely, "As long as you are careful."

[Yanessavhanet]

Vhanet's glance over her shoulder showed Seidaku with his head down, and a small smile touched her lips. Perhaps that was just part of the awkward form of swimming he had, but Vhanet suspected it might be out of embarrassment at her show of flesh. If so, the man at least had some heat in his blood, and that gave her something she could work with.

She vaguely listened to what Seidaku said in response to her questions, mostly just in case it came up later. She had little enough care in his past or the dangers of magic, but it would put him more at ease later. The sudden interruption of a thud drew Vhanet's attention back to him, and she couldn't contain the soft giggle at what he had done, "Are you alright?" she asked with a smile, and then offered her hand to the man once again to help him over and out through the door.

Stepping out of the water Vhanet took a slow, deep breath. It was very interesting going from the water back out to the air again, but there was more pressing matters at hand, like having fun. Turning towards Seidaku Vhanet smiled brightly, "Would you like to do our exhibition here, or maybe go to a place a bit more... private?" as she spoke she shifted a little closer to him.

Seidaku might not pick up on the subtle hint, but it would build a good base for later. Then he could look back and realize she had been interested in him all along... just before he started screaming for mercy.

[Seidaku]

"Hmm?," Seidaku asked, "Oh, no, I'm quite fine. Just need to watch where I am going."

Without thinking, he again took Vhanet's hand and allowed himself to be assisted out of the library, hastily blowing as much of the water out of his lungs as possible. Landing heavily on the steps outside the Sunken Conundrum, Seidaku pushed his soaked hair out of his eyes and ran a hand over his face, making at least a token effort to dry himself. At least the weather was warm this time of year, a few months ago he had almost chilled himself to death in the cold.

He immediately felt the distinct rippling sensation on his sides as his gills closed and his lungs once again operated on oxygen. Soaked to the skin, with his clothing and hair plastered to his body, and squelching at every step, Seidaku coughed wetly and turned to look at Vhanet, who was handling the transition much better.

With her at such a close proximity, it was almost impossible not to notice that Vhanet's clothing was similarly wet - and clinging. With a nervous cough, he very studiously ignored that fact as he answered her, "Oh, well... as open-minded as the people of Alvadas are, perhaps it would be safer not to open a doorway to the Void in the streets. Not that it is terribly dangerous, mind you. It's just that... well, sometimes people react... poorly."

[Yanessavhanet]

Vhanet knew that cough, and she gave a very pleased smile at it. So he was noticing her appearance now. Motioning down the street, which was currently composed of countless turtles that would squeak in a musical tone when stepped on, she offered, "Then we will go and find a location that will be more private," she gave a little laugh, "Here, it can be hard to find an exact location, no?"

Walking along the backs of the musical turtles Vhanet looked around for anywhere that could afford some semblance of privacy, but there was nowhere immediately nearby. Perhaps she would have to try and make one... but for now she was having fun just playing the game, "Tell me of you," she said with a smile to Seidaku, "I know you have knowledge of Voiding, but nothing more. What do you like and enjoy? Do you..." she paused and looked away slightly as a show of embarrassment, "have a lover?"

As she spoke she invoked her mark of Illusionism, causing the faint appearance of a blush upon her cheeks. Silently she thanked Ionu for the gift, for it made her games so much more fun!

[Seidaku]

"It's actually not that bad once you get used to it," Seidaku said distractedly, focused more on trying to find the most stable turtles to tread upon. Even having grown up in the City of Illusions, it was still disconcerting when the roads were paved in animals. Not as bad as the time they were paved in a long line of naked muscle, gleaming wetly in the afternoon sun... but disconcerting none the less, "Though, it does certainly make for an interesting trip."

Proceeding down the street in a series of short hops, Seidaku was more focused on not falling down again than he had little attention left for the city itself. He heard Vhanet's question though, and had opened his mouth to answer when her follow up question plunged him into confusion.

"I- Well, that is," he began, his cheeks heating as he was caught entirely off guard by the question, "I'm very busy, and...", he trailed off into incomprehensible babbling.

[Yanessavhanet]

"I am not unhappy with how the city can be," Vhanet said with a smile, "but it definitely can keep you intrigued with the way it will change. You never know where a turn will lead."

As Seidaku began to babble Vhanet increased the intensity of her own illusionary blush as she stammered out, "Forgive me, I did not mean to make you uncomfortable... I... I wanted to know if you were with anyone or... maybe..." she trailed off to let his own mind fill in the blank.

After falling silent she slowly began to move closer to Seidaku as they walked, turning down whatever paths were presented in their way as she glanced around for somewhere that might afford them some privacy. Finally she spotted a brown stone building with no windows, and a small plaque on it. Clearing her throat softly she tapped his should and pointed towards the building, "Maybe that building would work for our exhibition?"

[Seidaku]

"I wanted to know if you were with anyone or... maybe..."

Surely she did not mean what he thought she meant. Seidaku's own blush now extended from his scalp to his chest. He was fairly sure that he would combust spontaneously from pure embarassment before long. He was still trying to stammer out a reply when his mind finally registered the building that Vhanet was guiding them toward.

The House of Broken Mirrors. The sight of it was like a bucketful of icy water dumped over him. "Oh, no," he said softly. Louder, he continued, "No, that is definitely not the place for an exhibition of power."

Noticeably paler, he grabbed Vhanet's hand and all but dragged her away from the dilapidated brown building. In rapid succession, they took four left turns and ended up on a different street than they had started at, a short cul-de-sac that terminated in a small park. There were a handful of people wandering the brilliantly flowering trees, but there would undoubtedly be at least the illusion of privacy somewhere within.

Seidaku pulled up short at the sight of the park and, realizing that he still had Vhanet's hand clasped in his own. Two seconds later, that realization actually made itself aware to the rest of his brain and he released her hand with a muttered apology.

Clearing his throat, he added, "I think this might work. The crowds are generally less at this time of day."

[Yanessavhanet]

Vhanet gave a soft gasp of surprise as Seidaku suddenly grabbed her hand and practically dragged her off. Whatever that building was it seemed to be a place he feared, which made it all the more interesting to Vhanet. She would have to see if she could find it again later, or possibly play the game a little longer with Seidaku so she could take him there.

Steadying herself as Seidaku finally stopped Vhanet took a moment to look around. A somewhat secluded spot, but certainly not private enough for a meal. Perhaps playing along would be the best. She could always get food some other way.

Waiting for a few moments after Seidaku released her hand Vhanet softly replied, "I agree, here would do well," she hesitated a moment before asking a question, "Why were you frightened of that building? Did a frightening thing happen there?"

She hoped it was something truly interesting, and not something bland like that was where his Mother lived. Humans could be a little odd like that at times.

[Seidaku]

"Well, it's not that anything bad happened... it's just that...," Seidaku fumbled for the words. How did he explain the building in a way that would not just send her racing back to it? People from outside the city looked at it like an amusement. Even the children of the town did. Even he had believed so, before.

"It is called the House of Broken Mirrors," he said, his posture relaxing as he took on a lecturing tone, "The mirrors are not by any means broken, but the name has stuck with the building for longer than I have known of it. Personally, I believe that what is inside are just illusions," Please let them be illusions.

He swallowed away the sudden return of his nerves and continued, "Whether they are real or illusory though, they have power. Some of those who enter come out fine, if a little pale. Some come out slightly... cracked. Others come out raving mad. And then there are the ones who don't come out at all."

At that, he trailed off, staring into space for several seconds before visibly bringing himself back to the moment. "No more of that, though," he said with levity that was only slightly forced, "We are here to learn, so learn we shall."

[Yanessavhanet]

Vhanet listened quietly as Seidaku explained the House of Broken mirrors. It sounded like a very exciting place, and also a discreet hunting ground, like the Garden of No Return. Alvadas seemed positively bursting with such delightful places, much more so than Ahnatep had ever been. Even with the chill of the air she was finding herself very happy that she had left the desert for this far away land.

At Seidaku's mention of learning Vhanet smiled and gave an energetic nod, "Indeed, I am very eager to watch your example of Voiding," she cast her dark eyes about the small park they had found themselves in, and, noticing a slightly secluded area with a bench under one of the trees, she gestured to it, "Maybe over there?"

She definitely would prefer Seidaku to go first, as Vhanet had never seen magic before, and so had no idea how to create an illusion of manipulating air. Hopefully Seidaku demonstration should provide her enough to go on.