Completed Shadow Tales

[Ayviss]

39th of Fall, 514 AV

It was night, and Ayviss had spent another day cleaning and doing chores. Hollard had given her more tasks than usual, although it was probably because the last slave he had "disciplined" had left quite a mess. She stayed quiet, careful not to make any sound of discontentment. Hollard had been watching her. Judging, probably. It only meant she needed to act like nothing was wrong.

The night eventually came, and with it, her rest. She was tired, but she didn't let it show when she walked slowly to her room, and laid down on her bed, pretending to sleep. Like he always did, Hollard opened the door and waited for a few chimes before going to his own bedroom. Then, Ayviss sat down, licking her lips, the room full of shadows. What was once a lonely - although not bad - time for her, turned into just the opposite. The shadows talked, sometimes to her, but mostly whispers to themselves. She could see them moving and hear them talking. Although Ayviss liked peace, she hadn't felt really lonely for some time. Sometimes she wondered if she really enjoyed the shadows' presence, and maybe it was really it. Specially since they mostly left her alone, and went on doing their own business.

Hey, girl! I'm bored! Tell me about something!

Except Malak.

Ayviss turned to the talkative shadow, who seemed to enjoy the companion too much, and talked to her whenever it got the chance. Sometimes, Ayviss had the excuse of not answering because Hollard could hear her, even if he didn't understand, but at nights, if the shadow was there, she had nowhere to run.

Hey! the shadow called her again, this time raising its voice.

I heard you the first time. she answered, the language they used flowing easily on her tongue, as if she had been born knowing it. I just don't really know what to say.

Tell me a story! Malak said, excited. Your mother used to do it to you, didn't she? I heard her, sometimes. She had a pretty voice.

Ayviss nodded, agreeing, the familiar knot forming in her throat. The memory of her mother's death was something she had gotten used to, but it still hurt to think she would never see the woman again. She sighed, and adjusted her weight on the mattress, her head touching the wall behind her.

x

[Ayviss]

The half blood didn't really want to talk, but it could be a very huge advantage for her to have the shadow on her side. Despite the fact that Malak didn't seem to know much, only wandering around so it wouldn't be bored, there had to be something useful to get out of it. There always was. And it would be on her best interest to befriend it.

The problem was, she really didn't know what to say.

She was terrible to come up with stories, and she could only repeat the tales her mother had told her. And those were vague. When she had been a kid, she had thought of them as wonderful, and enjoyed listening to them. But she had grown, and she could see that they weren't very descriptive. Her mother had told her about the Gods, but just how powerful they could be. Her mother had told her about Ravok, a city not so far from Sunberth, but her only description was that it was a city of despair and control. Not very much information and, Ayviss supposed, not that accurate, either. There certainly was more to everything.

Suddenly, she straightening herself, and idea that could be useful for both her, and to entertain the shadow. Reaching under her mattress, she searched until the tip of her fingers touched something that wasn't her dagger. Ayviss took it, revealing a leather covered book with yellow pages. Malak moved in its spot.

"What is this?"

"My mother's diary." Ayviss answered, waiving the book in front of the shadow. "Brand new tales, that even I don't know yet."

As Malak made sounds of excitement, Ayviss looked at the book, bitting her lip. She was a little afraid of reading, afraid to find the truth. But that was what she had to do. Sooner or later, she would have to know about her origins. After all, knowledge was power. And knowledge about herself was even more powerful.

Her fingers traced the leather cover, and she opened the book, carefully. A single world was written in the front page. Her mother's name. Venna.

x

[Ayviss]

Her fingers tapped the page lightly, as she was unsure if she truly wanted to read it. Her mother had refused to tell her everything, and she always supposed there was a reason for that. Maybe this reason would be in the diary. And maybe this was a very good reason, one that Ayviss wasn't keen to find out. Malak, however, made a small sound of impatience, and the half blood sighed, passing the page.

Her mother's handwriting was elegant, clearly showing she had learned how to write, and how to write well. It was full of curls and it was small, but not small enough that it wouldn't be legible. Ayviss almost chuckled to herself. Who knew Venna would have such a beautiful handwriting. She had always though of the woman as a sloppy and messy writer, although Ayviss wasn't exactly sure on what she had based it on. The half blood would spend a great amount of time in the handwriting alone if Malak didn't make an impatient noise again.

Sending an annoyed look at the shadow, Ayviss began to read, whispering the words in the shadow language that seemed as easy to her as Common.

32nd of Spring, 494 AV

I always though of myself as a rather beautiful girl, and although I'm not part of one of the great families of Ravok, my parents are quite rich. We get invited to the parties, and we enjoy a quite aristocratic life, nonetheless. I used to think that it was enough, to worship Lord Rhysol and do His will, but ever since three weeks ago, I've been wanting to do more in life. Maybe go out, see the world. I mean, Ravok is great and all, but there are so many more cities to see, so many places to visit, and I'm here, locked on a rich house that lacks any excitment.

Father thought it was a waste of time, but mother suggested I started to write a diary, so maybe those urges will go away. I don't think they will. I don't know if I want them to go away.

Ayviss frowned, licking her lips. Just the first day, the first few lines of the diary, and she already found out more about her mother and family than she had known.

"I didn't know that your mother came from Ravok, girl."

"I didn't, either." Ayviss whispered back to Malak, her mind a little confused. Her mother had told her a little about Rhysol. God of Chaos and Betrayal. And her mother, a woman full of compassion, that taught her not to hurt others and to alway be nice, was a devout? Her lips pressed together again. There was certainly more to the history than what she knew. The first thing she would do when she had freed herself and found a way to survive in Sunberth would be learn everything she could about the truth.

87th of Spring, 494 AV

Today is my 22nd birthday, and my parents have done a very beautiful party. I'm kind of tired of balls, but still, it was a beautiful celebration.

But the best part was a dark haired man, with deep green eyes, that I've never seen before. He was adorable, gentle and kind, a true gentleman. And the best part? He was a traveler. He had seen many, many places, and he told me the histories of his adventures, and he made it all seem so magical and easy. Like it was just leave my home, and nothing would ever go wrong. I wish it was that easy.

We talked all night, and I found out his name is Alvoss. A rather strange name, but still. It was a truly beautiful night.

I wish I had had the courage to ask him to take me on his travels.

So that was how her mother had met her father. Ayviss' eyes locked on the very brief description of him. A Dhani - although her mother didn't know that yet - with green eyes, dark hair. The half blood wondered if there would be enough information on the diary for her to search for him. Not that she wanted to. She had nothing against him, but she also didn't have any sort of attachment nor did the Dhani have anything she wanted. So it would be a futile attempt, after all.

x

[Ayviss]

61st of Summer, 494 AV

It's been almost a whole season since I last wrote in here, and I'm not sorry at all. Alvoss has been a wonderful company, and we have talked constantly, and each adventure he has gone through has been a wonderful tale he has told me. Each time I feel more and more fascinated by him, and I'm under the impression that him too is getting fascinated by me. I'm nothing more than a lady in a rich Ravokian family, but still, he must have seen something in me, because he hasn't left Ravok yet.

Mother says he only wants our wealth, but I don't really care. I only want to travel, so in the end, both of us want something out of the other. I don't see how that's wrong, but mother keep warning me not to trust him too much.

I'm a servant of Rhysol. Trust is not in my blood.

"Oh! That's getting interesting! And here I was thinking that it would be another tipical love story!" Malak said, approvingly.

Ayviss, on the other hand, kept staring at the words, confusion taking control of her mind. What was that? Her mother had always talked about Alvoss with so much love that it was almost impossible for the half blood to suspect that, one day, she was only trying to get something out of him. The way her mother wrote, the words she used, everything was so different from what Ayviss remembered of the real woman. Perhaps she had changed. But it was such a brutal change, that it would surprise Ayviss all the same. She had no idea what to expect from the diary anymore. Like Malak, she had thought it would be a love story, but, apparently, it wasn't.

Feeling apprehensive, for something she couldn't quite understand, Ayviss cleared her throat and began to read again.

90th of Fall, 494 AV

It's almost the end of Fall, and Alvoss hasn't left yet. And now, I know why.

I started the diary because mother told me it might take my mind out of the need of adventure. She was wrong. Actually, maybe it would work if Alvoss hadn't appeared on my life. He is a Dhani - a kind of shapeshifting snake, I don't really know what they are - and he has left his house - or nest, whatever - in search of adventures. He said his mindset was too individualistic, too focused on treachery and not torture, to fit into his nest. I don't quite understand everything, as I don't know much about the Dhani, but what I do understand is that he isn't too keen in going back home.

The fact is, his money is low, very low. He needs to steel and to work very nasty and unworthy jobs to sustain himself, which I can't even imagine. So he needs money. Mother was right. What she didn't know was that I'd find his proposal very, very attractive.

Ayviss stared at the page, ignoring Malak's loud laughs. Her mother... She could barely believe it. The only thing she respected was family, because her mother had been the most important person to her. She had been her strength, her support, her everything. And now, the same person who had thought her she could only trust family, showed her that no, not even family could be trusted.

Malak moved, excitely, and Ayviss continued, knowing the shadow was unaware of her confusion.

x

[Ayviss]

90th of Spring, 494 AV

I didn't expect it to happen.

The plan was simply to wait until my parents were gone, so I could let Alvoss into the house. I would open the safe, we would take the money and go, to never come back. Father would be proud, as I would prove myself a true servant of Rhysol, betraying my own family. A true betrayal makes a true servant, was what he used to say. Mother suffered a lot with it, but then, I quite agreed with him. Mother... Mother would cry, the whole night, the entire year, maybe. Yes, she too was a servant of Rhysol, and she offered all her walking life to him - except for her family. That, she separed very efficiently from her devotion. To have her own daughter betray her would break her. And yet, in this way, she would also serve Rhysol.

Well, that was the plan. What happened was that my father and mother decided to come back, to take something they had forgotten. They caught us, in a way that there was no way we could simply get away with it. We couldn't, and the way out Alvoss found was to attack.

He changed before my eyes. His bones cracked, his muscles adjusted, his hair disappeared and scales began to grow in his skin. Before me was a being, half human half snake, slit eyes with feroucious desire to kill. He stroke, and his powerful body caught my father. Even though he was quite a fighter, there was no way he could ever won a fight with Alvoss. My mother screamed as my father took his last breath, and ran. I knew she would never forgive me, and I still feel pride. Another desire crowled into me. To control the magnificent beast that was Alvoss. And I'll achieve this even if it's the last thing I do.

My father's death was a colateral damage. Now, we are rich enough, and we are leaving Ravok in one of the boats, heading to the unknown.

It'll be an exciting travel.

Ayviss closed the book with all her strength, the sound echoing in the empty room. She couldn't think straight, the disappointment, the confusion, the hurt, all taking over her mind. Her mother hadn't only betrayed her own family, she would betray her father. Why? Because she wanted to? It wasn't even the same motivation Ayviss had. It wasn't because she wanted to achieve an end, it was simply because she could.

It didn't make sense, and she certainly didn't know what to feel about her mother anymore. She still wanted to avenge Venna's death, but she didn't know if she felt love for her mother anymore. She couldn't be trusted, like anyone else.

"Why did you stop? Keep going! NOW!" Malak demanded, and Ayviss shook her head.

"It's too late, I need to wake up soon. I've read to you, now go to sleep." she didn't know if shadows slept, but Malak moved around, before settling on a corner of the room, where it stayed still, complaining loudly that it was bored and wanted more stories.

Ayviss ignored it, hiding the diary again and laying down. Her mind was restless, trying to absorb everything she had read. It painted a picture so different than what she initially thought her mother was, and it left her very confused. Her eyes remained open most of the night, and when sleep finally claimed her, her night was still full of questions without answers.

x

[Amora Jade]

Congratulations, you've been awarded!

 

Ayviss

Skills

• Observation +2
• Rhetoric +3

Lores

• Venna: Had Elegant Handwriting
• Venna: From a Wealthy Family in Ravok
• Venna: Worshipped Rhysol
• Venna: Met Alvoss at her 22nd Birthday Party
• Venna's Diary isn't Exactly a Love Story
• Venna: Betrayed her Family in the Name of Rhysol

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to send me a private message! Also, please remember to edit your post requesting the grade as "Graded."

With love,
Miss Jade