Closed An Unlikely Friend

[Serenity Kora]

Serenity Kora Timestamp: Spring, 80th day, 514 AV The heart of Mura was a beautiful place. The hulking silhouettes of trees, outlined by the moonlight lay ahead and the incessant thundering of the waves against the shore filled the soft breeze. Surrounded by all of the beautiful scenery was the Opal Temple. It seemed small, and shrunken compared to all of the other buildings on Konti Isle. The glittering, stone-white building, seemed almost illuminated, like someone had placed a spotlight on it. Over the past few days, Serenity had deliberated over whether to go or not. She had tossed and turned, as she lay at night, the dull throbbing in the base of her head getting the better of her. It was like a conscious itch, and it annoyed Serenity. Why, of all times did it have to affect her now? Serenity loved living here on Mura. It was beautiful through all seasons and its inhabitants were especially friendly. Forcing her legs to carry her to the Temple, Serenity sighed. Hopefully, somehow, by coming here, and being connected to the Goddess and other divine powers, she could understand what Avalis wanted her to do. Why had Avalis sent her the call now? Was she to find her mate, or be a messenger? Serenity hoped it was the latter of the two. The idea of taking a mate did not appeal to her. She was still young, and did not want a male to contain her free spirit. There were so many things she wanted to achieve, so many dreams she still had not fulfilled. Walking into the temple, Serenity was confronted by Merida Zuval, the receptionist. "Hi, Serenity! Welcome to the Opal Temple, how may we help you?" she asked cheerfully. "I just want to walk around. Nothing too exciting for me!" Serenity smiled. If the receptionist was surprised, she did not show it. Too all, Serenity was the complete opposite of her name. She did not just walk around for no reason. Merida did not comment, instead, shuffling away to let her pass. Letting out a low sigh, Serenity ventured forwards, desperately searching for some clue, some hint of what she was to do. Inside, Konti women, rushed in and out. Hushed chatter sounded all around, excitedly talking about trivial things such as classes, food or the antics of other family members. Walking briskly through the crowd, Serenity looked for a corner where she could just observe everyone around her. Relaxing her tensed shoulders, Serenity faded into the background, and let her mind wonder.

[L'orlei]

L'orlei entered the temple not long after Serenity did, though they had not arrived together, or even knew each other for that matter. Merida gave the customary greeting as L'orlei walked in, and L'orlei gave her customary greeting in turn. Though they were not really friends, Merida recognized L'orlei's voice and they knew each other well enough. L'orlei often visited the temple, particularly the medical library, and occasionally took classes there as well. At one point in time she had desired to enter the Opal Order, but L'orlei had long since set aside that dream. She did not have the focus nor dedication to healing that members of the order had. Yes, she was dedicated to her goddess, and would gladly help any injured or sick person she met, but those of the Opal Order went above and beyond the regular devotion most konti had to their goddesses. L'orlei was too curious about other things to become a true member of the Opal Order. While she did enjoy studying herbs and medicine, she was also highly curious about magic, and even martial combat, though she doubted she would ever be good at such a thing. Neither would she ever desire to hurt anyone, but learning to fight would be interesting. There were many, many things she'd love to learn, and perhaps on her journey she would learn a few of them. Her journey was what brought her to the temple. The South Tower was her ultimate destination, where she would go and offer a prayer to her goddess for good luck on her journey, but first she would stop in at the library. On her way there, distracted as she was by the many thoughts running through her mind, L'orlei failed to notice the konti in her path until it was too late. Despite Serenity's attempts to stay out of the way, L'orlei's wandering and distracted path led her right to her. L'orlei bumped into the other konti from behind. It wasn't a hard bump, but so shocked was she that L'orlei recoiled as if she'd just run the woman over. "Oh my.. I'm so sorry, Serenity." As always, the name of the konti came unbidden to L'orlei's mind. She rarely bothered to explain it to one of her own race, most were used to konti knowing things they couldn't possibly know, "I didn't mean to run into you," she said frantically, "I was just heading to the library. I'm going on a trip, you see, and I wanted to gather some information. And.. and I don't know why I'm telling you all this. When I'm nervous I tend to ramble, and well.. you can tell. Um.. I'll stop now."

[Serenity Kora]

Serenity Kora Gradually the hushed sounds of talking died down into a few murmurs here and there. Thinking it safe to venture outside of her little 'safe place' in the corner, Serenity ventured out. She walked slowly, taking in all of the sights around her. Serenity knew her devotion to the Goddess was not as strong as some, but she still tried to come to the Opal Temple regularly. Her visits had slowly thinned however, as she tried to make sense of what she was experiencing. Feeling a wave of guilt, Serenity vowed she would come more often and whenever she could, before she left for her journey. Turning, so that she headed towards from the library. If she was really going to go elsewhere, she wouldn't be unprepared. It dawned on her, that she didn't even know where she was going to go. There was so much to prepare, something that couldn't be done just overnight. Just getting of Mura would be something close to impossible. A soft thud from behind, jolted her out of her mind. The pale, slender Konti that had bumped into her gasped, "Oh my…I'm so sorry, Serenity." It wasn't the shock of another woman talking to her, but the fact that she knew her name, and it took a moment for Serenity to register that she was actually talking to her. All Konti woman where similar, with their trademark small figure and pale coloring, and so Serenity had to rack her brain for a name. Her mind fogged a bit, and she hoped she did not seem too rude. The other woman was obviously a healer, the winged serpent sigil that marked her as a Healer of Rak'keli was decorated upon her forehead. The name suddenly occurred to her. She had seen her before! The name came to her as the other woman rambled on. She had never been so glad for it."I was just heading to the library. I'm going on a trip, you see, and I wanted to gather some information. And.. and I don't know why I'm telling you all this. When I'm nervous I tend to ramble, and well.. you can tell. Um.. I'll stop now." L'orlei, that was her name! Relieved, Serenity smiled brightly at the woman. "Hi L'orlei!" she grinned. "Rambling's a bad habit of mine too! Are you going on a trip? I might be going on one too!" Serenity could not believe her luck. Doubts about the Call cast aside, she suddenly embraced the idea of travelling with someone. The idea of travelling with someone seemed to be so much more appealing. "Hey, do you want to go together? Where are you going?" Serenity waited nervously for the other Konti's answer, shifting nervously from one foot to the other.

[L'orlei]

L'orlei was a bit surprised that Serenity actually knew her name. She couldn't really remember having ever met her before, and in truth, magically knowing the names of everyone made remembering who they were not quite as important for L'orlei as it was for other people. She always knew who they were, so she didn't really have to remember. L'orlei did not think she had ever met this konti, but perhaps they'd seen each other in passing. Either way, it didn't really matter how they met. What mattered, what L'orlei found far more interesting, was the fact that apparently Serenity was traveling somewhere too. "Oh," L'orlei said, a bit nervously. "Well, you see.. that's a bit of a problem. I'm not really sure where I'm going, to be honest. Lately I've just felt like I need to go, like I can learn more if I leave the island. L'orlei figured she probably sounded foolish. What Konti in their right mind would just leave the island with no particular destination in mind, no Call, and no real reason other than that she just felt like it? There was plenty to learn on the island, a vast library worth of information, and L'orlei was no where near becoming a master of any of the skills she had. But she still had the itch to go, and so she was going. "I was going to the library to look over some maps and maybe check out a few books on traveling in general, but honestly.. I just kind of figured I would go wherever the first ship I find that will take me is going. OOCSuper sorry for taking so long to post, I know it's been forever. I moved a few weeks ago, and only just got internet back, and before that I was too distracted with work and trying to find a place to move to. Anyway, I'm back now, and I'll still be semi-slow, but not a month slow like I've been. I understand if you don't want to do the travel thing with me though, I wouldn't want to hold you back.