1st day of Spring, 516 AV - Valterrian Survival festival
Step, pain, step, pain. The rhythm was something you could get used to and reach a point where you could even be mostly functional, but it was never going to be something you could just shrug off and ignore. It wasn’t going anywhere. It had been a full year since Leo had broken his left tibia; ironically, not during any major life-threatening moments or heated battles, but foolishly, at night, having let his guard down for just five seconds and tumbled down a steep but concealed slope. He had set the bone as best he could; not nearly well enough, judging by the results.
The parade of talking faces and moving bodies was making him feel sick to his stomach as he limped through the streets of Riverfall, his clothes torn and dirty with long dried blood and filth. The sounds of the city at work, the chatter of its inhabitants, it was too much to take in. It all merged into one single lump of utter nonsense. Leo Zaital grimaced at the overwhelming response from every one of his senses, but none more so than his spiritual ones. Dissatisfaction; desire; envy; anger; resentment. The raw emotions from everyone in town fed directly into his gnosis like a banquet serving sweet and salty and savory and sour dishes without a care. Once, he had been able to filter it all out with some conscious effort; but the years spent off-world had dampened that mental muscle through the power of solitude. Now that the sensation was returning in full force, his shield struggled to protect him.
It did not escape him how people were dodging him, walking in wide arcs around him with concerned gazes, unsettled by his essence even before his damaged looks registered with them. He seemed to be able to part the crowd in two as he passed, the tides of people receding to let him through. Certainly, there were more people out in the streets than he remembered. As he allowed himself to focus on his surroundings, it appeared to him that many of them were dressed for a celebration of sorts. They gathered in small groups, some talking, others admiring the scenery, some even reciting poetry in front of a small audience.
Thinking about it rationally, it was only natural they would avoid him. His shirt and trousers were ripped and worn to the point of looking like they could disintegrate any time now. The entire right sleeve was missing past the elbow, courtesy of that time when he had used it to bandage a wound. He had washed his clothing and himself as often as his surroundings would let him, but some of the dirt and filth just would not come off no matter what. Leo’s black hair was long, very long now, reaching slightly past his shoulders in a messy, knotty tangle. He sported a thick, unkempt beard from his cheekbone to the bottom of his throat. At first he had tried to groom himself, cut his hair and shave his beard with Earth blades, mostly in an attempt to keep some civility from escaping his being. The proposition hadn’t lasted long. Soon he realized he needed all the Res he could muster, and this was a luxury he could not afford. Even worse, one day he’d found himself simply not caring anymore.
Leo frowned, wishing he could remember more. It all seemed so far away in the past. He wondered if he’d ever feel at home among people again, then he wondered if he’d ever felt at home among people to begin with. He walked slowly, his march punctuated by the regular lances of pain from his left leg as he placed his weight on it. It took him a long while to realize he had no idea where he was going, and that essentially meant he was lost. Was he looking for Eosi here? Was she to be found here? For all he knew she may have long left the city, disappointed and disillusioned, to carve a new life for herself. Or - the more worrisome thought - she may have left on a hopeless quest to find him, one who could not possibly be found. A quest that could only end in death.
A part of him wanted to pray, but strangely, no words came out. Still numb in his heart, Leo stopped to take a break, hand resting against a wall. He wanted to throw down the walking stick and set it on fire, but he could do neither. He had never felt so powerless and frustrated. As the champion of Ivak, he knew how dangerous these emotions were to one such as himself, but he struggled to keep them in check nevertheless. A young child passed him by and stared at him with big deer eyes. Leo stared back, and the child ran away, startled. He gave a deep sigh and resumed his walk around town.
Before long, he found himself standing on the bridge overlooking the majestic Bluvein waterfalls. He spent what felt like a long time looking down at the crashing water, the noise drowning the chatter and revelry. Ironic that a man of fire should find water soothing, but the foaming water, so blue and white, did comfort him. He was starting to recall details about the city, which was also good. Maybe what was lost could still be regained after all. Names, layouts, dynamics, they were resurfacing from the bubbling surface of his mind. Later on he would check Godiva’s Refuge for Eosi’s presence. First he might even show up at the medical center to get looked at by a healer. He did not want to show that kind of weakness in front of Eosi, should she still be residing there.
For now, though, he crossed the bridge and moved past the bustling Zhongjie Warrens to seek the peace and quiet of Semele park. It was here that he had petitioned the Council to let him raise a monument to the victims of the Djed Storm, something he’d never gotten around to, as his time in Riverfall had been cut short. It was a nice park, filled with statues and artistry, just about to be reborn after the hardships of winter. Leo sat down on a bench and set his improvised walking stick aside. He moved his mouth quietly to get accustomed to the motions of talking again. His own voice had come across as alien to his ears.
A group of people laughing nearby set him on edge instantly. He tensed, his body hair standing on end, practically on the verge of forming Res for self-defense. He caught himself holding his breath. Exhaling softly, he turned his attention to the assembled throng, a maniple of maybe twenty or thirty citizens - Akalak, Konti and others - listening on as a jovial-sounding man gave them an impassioned speech. ”Yes, my friends,” said the man, who looked to be in his middle age but had still had an amused twinkle in his eye, ”let us take this chance to make a resolution or three for the coming year. A resolution you’d like to keep through four seasons, or one you’d like to break in four days. Anyone? Don’t be shy!”
”Drink every day!” yelled one Akalak, eliciting one more round of laughter from the audience. ”I want to catch a fish this big,” a burly-looking human spread his arms, delighted at the thought. ”I… I can’t even tell you without getting in trouble,” another Akalak confessed, causing more hilarity. ”What about you, Master Davin?” a Konti smiled at the speaker, finding unanimous agreement in the small crowd. ”Do you have a resolution for the coming year?” The man seemed to blush, took a bow and cleared his throat. Still, Leo had the distinct impression his reaction was far from spontaneous and that the whole speech so far had been a ruse to get his audience to ask him that very question.
”Well, my dear lady, my resolution for the coming year is to make sure I am even with the world. You see, there’s a time in a man’s life when he wants to owe nothing, and be owed nothing. When you sit at the gambling table we call life, it doesn’t even matter if you win or you lose. Being a good sport is what matters in the end… You lose, you pay up. You win, next round of drinks is on you. I realize there have been certain… situations in my life where things haven’t always gone according to that ideal. This year I’d like to fix that. I’d like that very much.”
”You speak in riddles, Master Davin,” the Konti protested with a smile.
”Riddles make life interesting, my lady. No-one’s interested in a straight answer these days, for what’s left to fill the silence afterwards?” Before anyone could reply, the man excused himself from the small crowd and slipped away; Leo realized the man was coming his way. The champion watched him approach with unblinking eyes, hardened by his recent ordeals.
”Mind if I sit here for a moment, kind sir?” the man known as Davin asked. Leo squinted at him.
”I’m not into men.”
Davin sucked in a little air and tapped his finger on his lips. ”I see… so sarcasm it is for you. Interesting.” The tone was soft, as if he was taking notes to himself.
The Azenth frowned, registering that something was… off about the entire encounter. Had he really just delivered that line to a perfect stranger? Had he always been like this? He couldn’t remember. He hadn’t a real conversation in ages, at least not with someone not trying to kill him. He said nothing.
”The name’s Straif Davin. I saw you sitting there, all alone, and couldn’t help but come over and ask if you, too, have a resolution for the coming year,” Davin continued, flashing his teeth.
”Well, Mr. Davin, my name is Leo Zaital and you are being very disrespectful to my friend here.” Leo picked up his gnarly stick and held it out to the other man. ”He may not be very talkative, but he’ll always support you in times of need, which is more than you could say of most people. As for my first resolution, I wish to spread awareness that when I am sitting alone, or with select friends such as in this case, I am perfectly content with sitting in the aforementioned state. I mean, I don’t exactly look like someone seeking company, do I?”
David stroked his chin, pensively. ”So, THE Leo Zaital, eh?”
Leo blinked. ”Proper nouns don’t rightfully take articles, but yes. I am he.”
”I’ve read your account of Ivak’s liberation at the library, actually.” The man did not seem to mind Leo’s ruined state at all. ”A tale of passion and suspense! Epic fights! Mystery! Betrayal!”
”Are you making fun of me?” Leo asked in a low voice.
”No, not at all!” the man cheered up, ”it’s just great to know you’re in this city. It opens up so many possibilities. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime before the season’s over. You and your friend, that is. Have yourself a wonderful day!” And with that, he gave the slightest hint of a bow, turned around and went back to mingling with the group.
Leo gave another sigh, now thoroughly fed with sitting in that bench. He stood, took his stick and ventured deeper into the park, away from that bothersome presence and into the quiet. Something about the man truly rubbed him the wrong way; there were things he could not quite put a finger on, not the least of which was the fact that Leo himself felt… strange. Had felt strange since walking past the gates, actually. Different, changed somehow, but he did not understand how or why, or whether the feeling was even justified. It was all very odd. Maybe he just needed some silence to collect his thoughts.
Step, pain, step, pain. The rhythm was something you could get used to and reach a point where you could even be mostly functional, but it was never going to be something you could just shrug off and ignore. It wasn’t going anywhere. It had been a full year since Leo had broken his left tibia; ironically, not during any major life-threatening moments or heated battles, but foolishly, at night, having let his guard down for just five seconds and tumbled down a steep but concealed slope. He had set the bone as best he could; not nearly well enough, judging by the results.
The parade of talking faces and moving bodies was making him feel sick to his stomach as he limped through the streets of Riverfall, his clothes torn and dirty with long dried blood and filth. The sounds of the city at work, the chatter of its inhabitants, it was too much to take in. It all merged into one single lump of utter nonsense. Leo Zaital grimaced at the overwhelming response from every one of his senses, but none more so than his spiritual ones. Dissatisfaction; desire; envy; anger; resentment. The raw emotions from everyone in town fed directly into his gnosis like a banquet serving sweet and salty and savory and sour dishes without a care. Once, he had been able to filter it all out with some conscious effort; but the years spent off-world had dampened that mental muscle through the power of solitude. Now that the sensation was returning in full force, his shield struggled to protect him.
It did not escape him how people were dodging him, walking in wide arcs around him with concerned gazes, unsettled by his essence even before his damaged looks registered with them. He seemed to be able to part the crowd in two as he passed, the tides of people receding to let him through. Certainly, there were more people out in the streets than he remembered. As he allowed himself to focus on his surroundings, it appeared to him that many of them were dressed for a celebration of sorts. They gathered in small groups, some talking, others admiring the scenery, some even reciting poetry in front of a small audience.
Thinking about it rationally, it was only natural they would avoid him. His shirt and trousers were ripped and worn to the point of looking like they could disintegrate any time now. The entire right sleeve was missing past the elbow, courtesy of that time when he had used it to bandage a wound. He had washed his clothing and himself as often as his surroundings would let him, but some of the dirt and filth just would not come off no matter what. Leo’s black hair was long, very long now, reaching slightly past his shoulders in a messy, knotty tangle. He sported a thick, unkempt beard from his cheekbone to the bottom of his throat. At first he had tried to groom himself, cut his hair and shave his beard with Earth blades, mostly in an attempt to keep some civility from escaping his being. The proposition hadn’t lasted long. Soon he realized he needed all the Res he could muster, and this was a luxury he could not afford. Even worse, one day he’d found himself simply not caring anymore.
Leo frowned, wishing he could remember more. It all seemed so far away in the past. He wondered if he’d ever feel at home among people again, then he wondered if he’d ever felt at home among people to begin with. He walked slowly, his march punctuated by the regular lances of pain from his left leg as he placed his weight on it. It took him a long while to realize he had no idea where he was going, and that essentially meant he was lost. Was he looking for Eosi here? Was she to be found here? For all he knew she may have long left the city, disappointed and disillusioned, to carve a new life for herself. Or - the more worrisome thought - she may have left on a hopeless quest to find him, one who could not possibly be found. A quest that could only end in death.
A part of him wanted to pray, but strangely, no words came out. Still numb in his heart, Leo stopped to take a break, hand resting against a wall. He wanted to throw down the walking stick and set it on fire, but he could do neither. He had never felt so powerless and frustrated. As the champion of Ivak, he knew how dangerous these emotions were to one such as himself, but he struggled to keep them in check nevertheless. A young child passed him by and stared at him with big deer eyes. Leo stared back, and the child ran away, startled. He gave a deep sigh and resumed his walk around town.
Before long, he found himself standing on the bridge overlooking the majestic Bluvein waterfalls. He spent what felt like a long time looking down at the crashing water, the noise drowning the chatter and revelry. Ironic that a man of fire should find water soothing, but the foaming water, so blue and white, did comfort him. He was starting to recall details about the city, which was also good. Maybe what was lost could still be regained after all. Names, layouts, dynamics, they were resurfacing from the bubbling surface of his mind. Later on he would check Godiva’s Refuge for Eosi’s presence. First he might even show up at the medical center to get looked at by a healer. He did not want to show that kind of weakness in front of Eosi, should she still be residing there.
For now, though, he crossed the bridge and moved past the bustling Zhongjie Warrens to seek the peace and quiet of Semele park. It was here that he had petitioned the Council to let him raise a monument to the victims of the Djed Storm, something he’d never gotten around to, as his time in Riverfall had been cut short. It was a nice park, filled with statues and artistry, just about to be reborn after the hardships of winter. Leo sat down on a bench and set his improvised walking stick aside. He moved his mouth quietly to get accustomed to the motions of talking again. His own voice had come across as alien to his ears.
A group of people laughing nearby set him on edge instantly. He tensed, his body hair standing on end, practically on the verge of forming Res for self-defense. He caught himself holding his breath. Exhaling softly, he turned his attention to the assembled throng, a maniple of maybe twenty or thirty citizens - Akalak, Konti and others - listening on as a jovial-sounding man gave them an impassioned speech. ”Yes, my friends,” said the man, who looked to be in his middle age but had still had an amused twinkle in his eye, ”let us take this chance to make a resolution or three for the coming year. A resolution you’d like to keep through four seasons, or one you’d like to break in four days. Anyone? Don’t be shy!”
”Drink every day!” yelled one Akalak, eliciting one more round of laughter from the audience. ”I want to catch a fish this big,” a burly-looking human spread his arms, delighted at the thought. ”I… I can’t even tell you without getting in trouble,” another Akalak confessed, causing more hilarity. ”What about you, Master Davin?” a Konti smiled at the speaker, finding unanimous agreement in the small crowd. ”Do you have a resolution for the coming year?” The man seemed to blush, took a bow and cleared his throat. Still, Leo had the distinct impression his reaction was far from spontaneous and that the whole speech so far had been a ruse to get his audience to ask him that very question.
”Well, my dear lady, my resolution for the coming year is to make sure I am even with the world. You see, there’s a time in a man’s life when he wants to owe nothing, and be owed nothing. When you sit at the gambling table we call life, it doesn’t even matter if you win or you lose. Being a good sport is what matters in the end… You lose, you pay up. You win, next round of drinks is on you. I realize there have been certain… situations in my life where things haven’t always gone according to that ideal. This year I’d like to fix that. I’d like that very much.”
”You speak in riddles, Master Davin,” the Konti protested with a smile.
”Riddles make life interesting, my lady. No-one’s interested in a straight answer these days, for what’s left to fill the silence afterwards?” Before anyone could reply, the man excused himself from the small crowd and slipped away; Leo realized the man was coming his way. The champion watched him approach with unblinking eyes, hardened by his recent ordeals.
”Mind if I sit here for a moment, kind sir?” the man known as Davin asked. Leo squinted at him.
”I’m not into men.”
Davin sucked in a little air and tapped his finger on his lips. ”I see… so sarcasm it is for you. Interesting.” The tone was soft, as if he was taking notes to himself.
The Azenth frowned, registering that something was… off about the entire encounter. Had he really just delivered that line to a perfect stranger? Had he always been like this? He couldn’t remember. He hadn’t a real conversation in ages, at least not with someone not trying to kill him. He said nothing.
”The name’s Straif Davin. I saw you sitting there, all alone, and couldn’t help but come over and ask if you, too, have a resolution for the coming year,” Davin continued, flashing his teeth.
”Well, Mr. Davin, my name is Leo Zaital and you are being very disrespectful to my friend here.” Leo picked up his gnarly stick and held it out to the other man. ”He may not be very talkative, but he’ll always support you in times of need, which is more than you could say of most people. As for my first resolution, I wish to spread awareness that when I am sitting alone, or with select friends such as in this case, I am perfectly content with sitting in the aforementioned state. I mean, I don’t exactly look like someone seeking company, do I?”
David stroked his chin, pensively. ”So, THE Leo Zaital, eh?”
Leo blinked. ”Proper nouns don’t rightfully take articles, but yes. I am he.”
”I’ve read your account of Ivak’s liberation at the library, actually.” The man did not seem to mind Leo’s ruined state at all. ”A tale of passion and suspense! Epic fights! Mystery! Betrayal!”
”Are you making fun of me?” Leo asked in a low voice.
”No, not at all!” the man cheered up, ”it’s just great to know you’re in this city. It opens up so many possibilities. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime before the season’s over. You and your friend, that is. Have yourself a wonderful day!” And with that, he gave the slightest hint of a bow, turned around and went back to mingling with the group.
Leo gave another sigh, now thoroughly fed with sitting in that bench. He stood, took his stick and ventured deeper into the park, away from that bothersome presence and into the quiet. Something about the man truly rubbed him the wrong way; there were things he could not quite put a finger on, not the least of which was the fact that Leo himself felt… strange. Had felt strange since walking past the gates, actually. Different, changed somehow, but he did not understand how or why, or whether the feeling was even justified. It was all very odd. Maybe he just needed some silence to collect his thoughts.