The room was dark except for the one Candle that Elbryan was using to read. He was deeply involved in an interesting tome he had acquired in a recent trip up Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun's tower to eradicate some demons that seemed to be troubling the roof. The Book was called "Devious Invention's" and was a quite interesting tome dealing with the components necessary in the construction of certain magical devices.
Elbryan could feel the magical energy building in the room as the portal opened and his personal spy Vorcet stepped out of the portal with a frown on his face. Elbryan placed his worn leather bookmark in the book and careful closed it being careful not to damage the pages before looking up at Vorcet and waiting for his report.
Vorcet repeated the conversation between the girl and Grobnak as best he could, making sure to point out her obvious interest and easy acceptance of the filth that Grobnak spewed. Finally Vorcet got to describing this new recruit among the Jenovese. A young slender girl with wavy brown hair and brown eyes with a light bordering on white complexion. When Vorcet finished Elbryan sat back in his chair with a thoughtful look on his face. He knew the girl Vorcet spoke of. He had just brought her into the Guardians not more than two weeks ago. Though Vorcet had no need of that knowledge, and Elbryan had learned long ago to spread knowledge out among his fellow worshippers of Kossuth so as not to create havoc within his church, especially with the Variety of followers Kossuth had.
Elbryan mulled over the possibilities for a while forgetting that Vorcet was still standing there awaiting a response. "Thank you Vorcet. That will be all." Elbryan said as he realized Vorcet was still there. "And Vorcet... Get some sleep. You look like death." Elbryan added remembering how long Vorcet had been in the field. Vorcet simply nodded his understanding and the portal opened again and Vorcet stepped through as the gate closed.
Alone again in his mansion, Elbryan thought for a moment before summoning a small flame in his hand and speaking into it. "Hellstrom, I need you at once." And not waiting for an answer the flame withered away to nothingness once more.
Eyes in the Woods
Vorcet sighed at his new assignment sitting here cloaked in the shadows, watching the Jenovese actions. He had been directed to keep his eye on the most deluded of the lot, a being by the name of Grobnak. Vorcet knew Grobnak quiet well from his days within the church of the Storm Lord Talos. For the third day running he was sitting there in the branches of a tree standing, watching, waiting, for something to report to Elbryan.
As the fog rolled in for the night in this blasted forest, Vorcet heard footsteps under the branches where he was hiding. Bending the weave to his will he floated to the ground and glided several inches above the ground after the figure. He took mental notes as he followed. By the way the figure moved he could tell that it was a female, he would have to wait until she stopped to get a good look at her face, for she certainly did not belong in this camp of fools.
The walk from Vorcet's hiding spot and the small group of Jenovese was a short one and it was not long before The girl ran into Grobnak himself. Vorcet slipped silently through the camp to get a better look at the girl. Standing several feet behind Grobnak, Vorcet memorized every detail of the girls face, her build, her clothes, everything. The whole time taking in everything that passed between the two.
Then the girl parted ways from Grobnak there was a new determined look on her face, one that Vorcet did not like at all.
As the fog rolled in for the night in this blasted forest, Vorcet heard footsteps under the branches where he was hiding. Bending the weave to his will he floated to the ground and glided several inches above the ground after the figure. He took mental notes as he followed. By the way the figure moved he could tell that it was a female, he would have to wait until she stopped to get a good look at her face, for she certainly did not belong in this camp of fools.
The walk from Vorcet's hiding spot and the small group of Jenovese was a short one and it was not long before The girl ran into Grobnak himself. Vorcet slipped silently through the camp to get a better look at the girl. Standing several feet behind Grobnak, Vorcet memorized every detail of the girls face, her build, her clothes, everything. The whole time taking in everything that passed between the two.
Then the girl parted ways from Grobnak there was a new determined look on her face, one that Vorcet did not like at all.
Dawn in the Afternoon
Emalia had slept soundly in her room, her sleep aided by dreams of the day prior. The dawn had already come and gone when she woke up, the time having passed well into the afternoon. It appeared no one had missed her as she slept - for not only was her family quiet, but the rest of the realms that requested aid seemed hushed.
Emalia rose from her bed, the crisp Uktar air having entered her quarters, and rushed to don her robe and boots. There was no mirror in her room - she had no need of things that would cause vanity. She pulled a brush from her pack and combed through her tangles. Certain of the scrolls she carried with her, Emalia set off to explore the realms around her. 'Perhaps,' she thought, 'I can surprise Hellstrom.'
The streets were oddly quiet as she left Westbridge and headed deep into the forest. Her footfalls seemed to be announced by the plethora of pine needles and dead leaves that crunched beneath her boots. Before long, however, she found herself in a grove much darker than all the rest. Fog rolled along the ground and in the center of the area, a giant black tree jutted from the ground.
Common sense told Emalia that she should turn around, but the idea of finding a completely new place that perhaps even Hellstrom didn't know about spurred her onward. Briars and nettles threatened to entangle her feet and the more care she took to be wary of them, the less she paid attention to the things around her, until a voice hissed out, "Greetings, Faithless."
Emalia locked eyes with what might have been the most horrible being she'd ever seen. In a moment, she was left staring at the top of his head, and simple as it seemed, found herself among those called the Jenovese, and one, in particular, named 'Grobnak'.
Curiously, she had no fear of the vision before her. Being that she had respect for all creatures, Emalia took Grobnak for what he was, and listened to what he had to say. The interesting turn, was that as she listened, it made sense. The Rok, The Rebirth, The Apprentice, and most of all... Balance.
She had learned that Cyric was evil through her mishaps with the tomes. She now found that a worse foe threatened life beyond her own: Ao, madness, evil, and the perpetual return of the Rok. The Apprentice would bring back the balance, he would bring about the return of a world with no Ragnarok in the sky, and Emalia could help.
To help bring about Balance, Emalia would join the Jenovese. She would spread the word. She would tell the world. She would be certain that her grandchildren's grandchildren would never have to live under the threat of the Rok again. She had a purpose beyond even what she had imagined. Her path, full of fateful coincidences, had once again led her to yet another reason. Emalia, for yet another time, felt as though she were truly an adult.
Emalia rose from her bed, the crisp Uktar air having entered her quarters, and rushed to don her robe and boots. There was no mirror in her room - she had no need of things that would cause vanity. She pulled a brush from her pack and combed through her tangles. Certain of the scrolls she carried with her, Emalia set off to explore the realms around her. 'Perhaps,' she thought, 'I can surprise Hellstrom.'
The streets were oddly quiet as she left Westbridge and headed deep into the forest. Her footfalls seemed to be announced by the plethora of pine needles and dead leaves that crunched beneath her boots. Before long, however, she found herself in a grove much darker than all the rest. Fog rolled along the ground and in the center of the area, a giant black tree jutted from the ground.
Common sense told Emalia that she should turn around, but the idea of finding a completely new place that perhaps even Hellstrom didn't know about spurred her onward. Briars and nettles threatened to entangle her feet and the more care she took to be wary of them, the less she paid attention to the things around her, until a voice hissed out, "Greetings, Faithless."
Emalia locked eyes with what might have been the most horrible being she'd ever seen. In a moment, she was left staring at the top of his head, and simple as it seemed, found herself among those called the Jenovese, and one, in particular, named 'Grobnak'.
Curiously, she had no fear of the vision before her. Being that she had respect for all creatures, Emalia took Grobnak for what he was, and listened to what he had to say. The interesting turn, was that as she listened, it made sense. The Rok, The Rebirth, The Apprentice, and most of all... Balance.
She had learned that Cyric was evil through her mishaps with the tomes. She now found that a worse foe threatened life beyond her own: Ao, madness, evil, and the perpetual return of the Rok. The Apprentice would bring back the balance, he would bring about the return of a world with no Ragnarok in the sky, and Emalia could help.
To help bring about Balance, Emalia would join the Jenovese. She would spread the word. She would tell the world. She would be certain that her grandchildren's grandchildren would never have to live under the threat of the Rok again. She had a purpose beyond even what she had imagined. Her path, full of fateful coincidences, had once again led her to yet another reason. Emalia, for yet another time, felt as though she were truly an adult.
Thoughts of a Priestess
Colin bounced around in the most hyperactive state Emalia had ever seen him. The two met in Market Square amidst the bustle of midday. "I made some lunch! Do you have any plans?" It was simple to see by the expression on his face that his first attempt had ended in success.
Emalia walked with Colin to the Crossroads Inn. In the den, they sat on the couch, eating Colin's stew. Indeed, he had put forth his best effort and created something incredible. They ate in an amiable silence before Colin's sigh caught Emalia's attention. Something wasn't right.
It took a lot of cajoling, but Colin eventually had to come out and admit that despite his earlier claims, he was in love. Emalia looked down to her hands. It had to end here. There was no way she would give the wrong impression, or lead a friend on.
There is a feeling to describe what it is like to be faced with letting someone down. Some say it feels like a weight, others say it feels like suffocation. For Emalia, it was apprehension that wrapped about her chest and constricted like a boa... weight and suffocation rolled into one. She still wanted Colin as a friend, but she was not about to make him suffer seeing her if it caused him pain.
She watched as Colin's jaw rippled with tension and felt there was a way she could help. Emalia walked over and placed her hands on Colin's bulging shoulders and sent through them a wave of calm... apparently not enough. He jerked from her as if stricken and the memory of a jolt to Elbryan crossed her mind. 'Not again...' she thought. 'I swear if I've hurt him, I'll never heal another being again.'
The hesitation that Colin expressed worried Emalia, but he insisted it was only that it was her touching him. With the unrequited love on his mind, the touch was the last thing he had expected. Shaken still, she left Colin sitting in the parlor and headed to the garden by the clan hall.
At least there she could sit with her thoughts disturbed only by Fizz and his antics.
So it was that Emalia sat amidst the flowers attempting to figure out her feelings. Always with the feelings, so much so, that there were times she wished she could rid herself of them. She would be a perfect healer if she could do what she was intended to do. The problem was that now, she was thinking about things that were not conducive to concentration - and her frustration was building.
She dropped her head onto her knees when she heard the door shut. After her talk with Colin, here was Hellstrom. It was almost too much for her to bear. She let out an involuntary groan and plopped her head back onto her knees. She just needed to come right out and say it, come right out, and tell him what she was feeling. Always the feelings.
The words came out in a stammering rush. Pauses were interspersed with sighs, and sighs were sprinkled with a fine dusting of confusion. This definitely was not normal. When Hellstrom lifted her chin and admitted similar things were occurring with him it was like pent up flood had finally been freed - even if the moments after were a bit strange.
They walked side by side for a while, simply speaking of the woods and the ancient trees. Hellstrom made good on his promise of a lesson, pointing out the way moss grew on the east side of the trees, and the appropriate berries to eat, and when he wrapped his arm around her it was like an electric shock raced through her.
She leaned nearer to him as they walked on, her unbidden smile safe from his eyes by a bowed head.
The time flew past with conversation, Colin's stew, and a glass of lemonade from Port Llast. Night settled in upon them when Emalia noticed the peculiar absence of Hellstrom's bear. The absence, made humorous, by the fact that Hellstrom hadn't asked the bear to stay behind... he'd done so of his own accord - pulling thoughts from Hellstrom's mind. The "damn bear" sent Emalia into a small fit of laughter and blushing gratefully covered by the artistry of night's dark canvas.
As the sun rose, Emalia parted company right in the place her whole day had begun. Her thoughts were everywhere - deny the feelings she felt or pursue them? Friendship with Colin or spare him the pain? And the final question that wrested the rouge from her cheeks – why was she having such a hard time believing that her touch caused Colin no pain? What was the link...
Emalia walked with Colin to the Crossroads Inn. In the den, they sat on the couch, eating Colin's stew. Indeed, he had put forth his best effort and created something incredible. They ate in an amiable silence before Colin's sigh caught Emalia's attention. Something wasn't right.
It took a lot of cajoling, but Colin eventually had to come out and admit that despite his earlier claims, he was in love. Emalia looked down to her hands. It had to end here. There was no way she would give the wrong impression, or lead a friend on.
There is a feeling to describe what it is like to be faced with letting someone down. Some say it feels like a weight, others say it feels like suffocation. For Emalia, it was apprehension that wrapped about her chest and constricted like a boa... weight and suffocation rolled into one. She still wanted Colin as a friend, but she was not about to make him suffer seeing her if it caused him pain.
She watched as Colin's jaw rippled with tension and felt there was a way she could help. Emalia walked over and placed her hands on Colin's bulging shoulders and sent through them a wave of calm... apparently not enough. He jerked from her as if stricken and the memory of a jolt to Elbryan crossed her mind. 'Not again...' she thought. 'I swear if I've hurt him, I'll never heal another being again.'
The hesitation that Colin expressed worried Emalia, but he insisted it was only that it was her touching him. With the unrequited love on his mind, the touch was the last thing he had expected. Shaken still, she left Colin sitting in the parlor and headed to the garden by the clan hall.
At least there she could sit with her thoughts disturbed only by Fizz and his antics.
So it was that Emalia sat amidst the flowers attempting to figure out her feelings. Always with the feelings, so much so, that there were times she wished she could rid herself of them. She would be a perfect healer if she could do what she was intended to do. The problem was that now, she was thinking about things that were not conducive to concentration - and her frustration was building.
She dropped her head onto her knees when she heard the door shut. After her talk with Colin, here was Hellstrom. It was almost too much for her to bear. She let out an involuntary groan and plopped her head back onto her knees. She just needed to come right out and say it, come right out, and tell him what she was feeling. Always the feelings.
The words came out in a stammering rush. Pauses were interspersed with sighs, and sighs were sprinkled with a fine dusting of confusion. This definitely was not normal. When Hellstrom lifted her chin and admitted similar things were occurring with him it was like pent up flood had finally been freed - even if the moments after were a bit strange.
They walked side by side for a while, simply speaking of the woods and the ancient trees. Hellstrom made good on his promise of a lesson, pointing out the way moss grew on the east side of the trees, and the appropriate berries to eat, and when he wrapped his arm around her it was like an electric shock raced through her.
She leaned nearer to him as they walked on, her unbidden smile safe from his eyes by a bowed head.
The time flew past with conversation, Colin's stew, and a glass of lemonade from Port Llast. Night settled in upon them when Emalia noticed the peculiar absence of Hellstrom's bear. The absence, made humorous, by the fact that Hellstrom hadn't asked the bear to stay behind... he'd done so of his own accord - pulling thoughts from Hellstrom's mind. The "damn bear" sent Emalia into a small fit of laughter and blushing gratefully covered by the artistry of night's dark canvas.
As the sun rose, Emalia parted company right in the place her whole day had begun. Her thoughts were everywhere - deny the feelings she felt or pursue them? Friendship with Colin or spare him the pain? And the final question that wrested the rouge from her cheeks – why was she having such a hard time believing that her touch caused Colin no pain? What was the link...
Mutual Attraction
The clan hall was quiet as Hellstrom walked through on his way to the garden in the sanctuary. "Everyone must be off enjoying themselves." Hellstrom mused to himself. Hellstrom opened the door to the garden and slipped though and swiftly closed the door behind him before turning to see Emalia sitting in the garden with her head on her knees. Hellstrom jumped at the sight not expecting to have found here in this place. "Am I intruding Emalia?" Hellstrom asked cautiously. "No.... not at all. I’ve just been... thinking. That’s all." Emalia responded with a slight smile on her face. "Do you have a moment?" Emalia asked abruptly. Hellstrom after a failed attempt at a joke sat back and said "Of course I have a moment. What do you need?"
"Im just going to come out and say it Hellstrom, I am truly sorry if it makes no sense." Emalia said as she looked at her hands folded on her lap. Hellstrom looked on with a look of confusion and worry on his face not know what was coming. "Ever since the sunrise... I've... I've been thinking about you and I can't stop." Emalia began. "I don't know why... but I... ah... I have feelings for you somehow. It wasn't supposed to happen, and I don't know why it did... but... I guess you know now." She hastily added. Emalia breathed out heavily as she looked down at her hands again.
Hellstrom reached across and gently lifted Emalia's face up to face his as he said "I came back here today to say much the same thing Emalia."
"You... y... you did?" Emalia asked with a look of confusion on her face.
After some more talk they decide to go for a walk in the woods north of Westbridge. Making good on the promise of a lesson in woodland survival, Hellstrom passed the first bit of time chatting about the forest and some small things he had learned about it.
Deep in the woods The two finally stop for a bit after collecting some berries and some more small talk. Emalia pulls out some Stew in a small container and offers it to Hellstrom who had not eaten anything but his own fire cooked squirrel for several days. Hellstrom gratefully accepted and they sat and talked for some time more about Hellstrom, and about Emalia's past. A couple more hours passed and as the last hours of the day were drawing close the two headed back to Westbridge to part ways for the day.
"Until next time," Hellstrom said as he squeezed and let go of Emalia's hand "Until next time," Emalia agreed as she bowed and transported herself back to the Guardians Sanctuary. "Hopefully soon," Hellstrom whispered as he looked at the spot where Emalia had been.
"Im just going to come out and say it Hellstrom, I am truly sorry if it makes no sense." Emalia said as she looked at her hands folded on her lap. Hellstrom looked on with a look of confusion and worry on his face not know what was coming. "Ever since the sunrise... I've... I've been thinking about you and I can't stop." Emalia began. "I don't know why... but I... ah... I have feelings for you somehow. It wasn't supposed to happen, and I don't know why it did... but... I guess you know now." She hastily added. Emalia breathed out heavily as she looked down at her hands again.
Hellstrom reached across and gently lifted Emalia's face up to face his as he said "I came back here today to say much the same thing Emalia."
"You... y... you did?" Emalia asked with a look of confusion on her face.
After some more talk they decide to go for a walk in the woods north of Westbridge. Making good on the promise of a lesson in woodland survival, Hellstrom passed the first bit of time chatting about the forest and some small things he had learned about it.
Deep in the woods The two finally stop for a bit after collecting some berries and some more small talk. Emalia pulls out some Stew in a small container and offers it to Hellstrom who had not eaten anything but his own fire cooked squirrel for several days. Hellstrom gratefully accepted and they sat and talked for some time more about Hellstrom, and about Emalia's past. A couple more hours passed and as the last hours of the day were drawing close the two headed back to Westbridge to part ways for the day.
"Until next time," Hellstrom said as he squeezed and let go of Emalia's hand "Until next time," Emalia agreed as she bowed and transported herself back to the Guardians Sanctuary. "Hopefully soon," Hellstrom whispered as he looked at the spot where Emalia had been.
Lonely Thoughts
"Stupid... how could I be so stupid." Colin thought to himself as he sat in the empty parlor room of the Crossroad's Tavern moments after Emalia had left. "At this rate she is never going to want to be around me. It would be so easy to just..." Colin's thoughts cut short there as if running headlong into an impenetrable barrier. "I just have to be happy with what I have, no matter how hard it might be. But her touch..."
Here his thoughts continued unbridled. Oh yes, her touch. The warmth, the soothing calm, the longing it stirred within him, and the tinge of pain that came along with it. But she could not know. No matter what, she could not know. He will be her friend and do his best to forget her words that are destined to repeat themselves over and over in the back of his mind: "Besides. If things don't happen with Hellstrom... who knows what the future could hold."
Here his thoughts continued unbridled. Oh yes, her touch. The warmth, the soothing calm, the longing it stirred within him, and the tinge of pain that came along with it. But she could not know. No matter what, she could not know. He will be her friend and do his best to forget her words that are destined to repeat themselves over and over in the back of his mind: "Besides. If things don't happen with Hellstrom... who knows what the future could hold."
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