The Stars' Lament [Hadrian]

[Seven Xu]

Spring 52, 511 AV

The Stone Garden's round cobblestones glistened in the light of the moon that hung low in the early evening sky. The half-breed had discovered the garden earlier in the day, but it was rather busy with citizens paying homage to what Seven assumed was a type of graveyard or monument to their fallen kin. Regardless of what exactly the garden represented, Seven found it beautiful and was unable to bring himself to the potential disrespect of boldly asking someone what exactly the garden meant. He was, after all, merely a visitor in this castle city. The stones he walked soundlessly across were still warm from the setting sun, but now they and Seven were bathed in the cold light of Leth's round moon.

Seven didn't regret waiting to explore this place until the sun had set. It was simply enchanting in the dark.

The only downside to Syliras was that the night's sky wasn't nearly as breathtaking as the diamond blanket that covered Lhavit. It was different. That wasn't to say it wasn't gorgeous in its own right. It was something that needed to be recorded, appreciated, examined. Treated like an beautiful new friend, this dome of deep blue that hugged the city and as far as his eyes could see.
Despite Seven's burning fascination with the night sky there felt as if there was a knot in his stomach, flip-flopping and distracting his thoughts. In the few days he had wandered aimlessly throughout the Citadel he had not even seen another Symenestra, not a sliver of a clue or an idea as to if his mother could be here. Eighteen years had passed since Seven had been born. She quite literally could be anywhere or nowhere. Alive, or dead. The adventurous ideals he had when he set off on his journey had nearly all but dissolved, leaving despair in its absence.

Seven sank down to perch on the edge of a lavishly decorated fountain at one far side of the Stone Garden and peered into the glimmering water. A feeling of regret was beginning to bubble up in Seven's throat, causing his stomach to turn again and his head spun. The teen rocked back and forth from his toes to his heels precariously on the edge of the water, hugging his legs to his chest. If he sat still enough he could easily be mistaken for one of the white stone statues that surrounded the fountain. Although this statue is wearing clothing. The darkest blacks of fabric wrapped fitting around his small frame was a star contrast to the silvery glow of his hair, moonlight dancing through the shining tresses he always kept so clean.
Seven exhalted and leaned foreward to dip a hand into the cool water, ripples distorting his stone-faced reflection. He needed an outlet. Somebody to speak to. Perhaps he should go seek out the Squire Dimitri, that polite, calm voice would slow his heart and dissolve the lump in his throat -- or the angelic blond he'd bumped into within hours of making it into the city, quiet, uncomfortable, but graceful.

Although, right now he'd be willing to talk to anyone or anything willing to listen.

[Hadrian]

On the far side of the fountain, Hadrian sat with his back to the water, legs tucked under his knees, meditating. Even with his eyes closed, he could sense the auras of all the living beings around him, but he paid little heed. Even the stones beneath him had auras, old, staid emanations from Semele's little children. He wasn't unaware of the the approach of the Symenestra; in fact, his first instinct was to think that Vizyous had come looking for him, but no, it was another slender, spider-like descendant of the race. But the knowledge flowed past him without comment. But when the water began to move to the will of another hand, Hadrian began to exhale pale blue res until a swirling cloud of it hovered before his chest. With that, the fountain began to drain, water reaching up around him to churn around that ball of energy that seemed all but magnetized to water. The res still gleamed beneath that refracting shell of water, but yet Hadrian's eyes remained closed, his breathing measured and controlled. It was easier to effect one's will upon the world when one's own body was under conscious control.

[Seven Xu]

Water was an element that Seven had truly gotten enough of, namely the murky deep blue of the Suvan where the albino learned the true meaning of sea-sickness. Despite that, Seven couldn't deny the beauty of Leth's reflection in moving water. The white light playing over the ripples, glistening, moving. And when the water was calm, sky met earth in flawless unison. The journey was taxing on him in more ways than one, but then there were the nights where the sea was glass-calm and he could spend the night surrounded by a veritable globe of the cosmos.

Seven quirked a silver brow as the water left his fingertips and then the fountain entirely. As the water melted away, as did his thoughts of giving in to the daunting failure that was his search. A sharp, jarring cry resonated from Sevens chest and broke the silence of the garden when he noticed that the water was gravitating unnaturally towards a lithe male figure meditating on the opposite side of the fountain. "Aah!" The Symenestra half-blood shuffled away from the edge of the fountain in a flutter of fabric and leather on stone.
Had he been there the entire time? Why hadn't he noticed him? Seven began to scold himself for being so absent.

The realization that the abrupt yelp may break the man's concentration was as immediate as the guilt he felt for potentially disturbing him.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian was practiced enough at meditation to ignore all but the most surprising things, and he was aware of the other man enough that his shout was no surprise, nor of any particular worry. This was merely an exercise, and once a good deal of the water was rotating in an orb before him, it went back the way it came, slowly dwindling from his personal store to restore the fountain to its former depth. A few minutes passed in this way, until finally even the light of his res disappeared, drawn back into the fountain and changed into pure water. He came out of his light trance with a deeper breath then before, stretching his arms above his head before half turning around, chlorine blue eyes finally curious about his surroundings rather than just being aware of them. "Hello," he said, his voice rough with disuse. Clearing his throat, he repeated himself. "Hello. Sorry if I startled you. I was meditating and... well, my perception changes a bit then and... um... anyway, sorry..."

[Seven Xu]

Seven had watched the display with lips agape. When the half-blood realized that his carelessness had not soaked the stranger his heart rate slowed and he grew calm. Seven wondered what water that moved so freely of the confines of earth felt like. He also wondered what it was like to even be able to manipulate such a volatile element. Any element, for that matter.
"Hi." Seven stood still in a mild stare of shock and awe. Forcing himself back to earth, his lips curled into an unreadable expression. "You should not be sorry. I apologize for being startled. I just -- uh. You are good at ... that." Seven lifted a finger, motioning toward the water that had calmed in the fountain now and was mirroring Leth's grace on its dark, glassy surface.. "I have never witnessed something so choreographed and ... so interesting."

Choreographed? Interesting? Not exactly flattering words. Certainly weak to describe such a magnificent display of control and discipline. At least until you disturbed the water. The albino's stomach flip-flopped.

Seven's eyes darkened as the realization of his inner dilemma came rushing back into his mind as quickly as that water had re-filled the fountain. For a split second his desperation spilled out onto his face and his knees felt weak. Just leave before you further embarrass yourself. A forced smile immediately replaced this twisted expression and he wiped his wet hands off on his hips. The half-breed still oozed an aura of discomfort, not in the situation but in his own skin. It completely contradicted his overly polite and cheerful voice. "I should let you get back to your meditation."

[Hadrian]

"Thank you," Hadrian said, and then fell silent for a few awkward moments. "Oh, no. I'm finished with that for the evening. Just trying to stay in practice. If I minded interruption, I wouldn't be out in public, but I, ah, appreciate the sentiment." There was another pause before his etiquette prodded him back into action. "Oh, I'm Hadrian." He stood up politely. "Hadrian Aelius." His chlorine blue eyes were dark in the moon- and torchlight, flickering with reflected light, but he peered at the albino as if he could see him perfectly. In a sense, he could, his Auristics engaged to try to figure out the man's blood, what he might want, what he was feeling, perhaps even what he was thinking. The discipline that had taken him so long to make those first few steps had exploded of late, his skill and power in that arena now surpassing all his other arcane talents.

[Seven Xu]

It was likely Hadrian could sense the boy's complete sense of defeat in his seemingly ridiculous search for a woman he had never met. In fact, there was very little positive energy holding the frail half-blood's body together in this moment. When Hadrian stood, Seven had to crane his neck upwards to look him in the eyes. Seven could feel those deep blue eyes almost staring into his very soul. It was an unnatural feeling. What was he doing? Auristics came to Seven's mind. Those skilled in such types of magic could read minds, couldn't they? Of course. They could find out everything about you. Seven looked uneasy for a moment. It was judgment in its purest form. Then again, this was merely an assumption based on the content stare of the dark-haired man and more likely, all in Seven's head.

Silence grew between them again. Seven cleared his throat and forfeited the staring contest. Hadrian. Hadrian. Where have I heard that name? The blond in the bar drifted into his mind and his eyebrows perked momentarily. Interesting. "Nice to meet you, Hadrian. My name is Seven." A smile cracked again and he extended a pale hand in greeting. Most thought his name stranger than his appearance. To be named after a number, often it was assumed it was just a nickname or that he had sadistic parents. Seven's smile grew a bit at this thought.

"You must have to have practiced a lot to have become so good at that." The compliment was genuine. The half-blood's eyes wandered from Hadrian's face the stars above. "This garden is beautiful. I was too afraid to ask a complete stranger what the significance of this place was, but since I have disturbed you anyway..."

A flash of fangs appeared in a playful grin.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian saw a woman in the strange boy's aura, but he didn't think it polite to ask too many questions. There was some sort of bond between them, blood and longing, but once he was sure that Seven meant him no harm, he stopped looking for clues in the energy he projected. He shook hands politely and nodded. "A pleasure to meet you, Seven," he said, and then shrugged with self-deprecation. "Most who have been practicing it as long as I have are better, but thank you for the compliment. As for the garden, the stones commemorate those who have served Syliras and died. A sort of macabre place, but less so than an actual graveyard, I think." The flash of fangs only gave him momentary pause. Though no longer observing his aura, he had seen patterns that reminded him of Tyrgan, the half-Zith hybrid, but moreso of Vizyous, who he knew he could trust despite his Symenestra nature. "I hope you find her," he offered. "For what it's worth."

[Seven Xu]

The garden was beautiful in its simplicity. Leth's moon kissed the cobblestones under their feet, a rolling assembly of blue-white memories. As Hadrian explained the significance of the garden, Seven's smile widened and his eyes rolled skywards. "I still think it is beautiful." As the thought of stones representing the memories of lost love ones, Seven's thoughts turned to the stars. To him, they represented Zintila's fall to Mizahar. Her sacrifice in the name of her mother. The hydromancer's voice pulled the half-blood's attention from the sky, life and a familiar warmth filling his once absent gaze again.

I hope you find her, for what it's worth.

Seven turned and stared at Hadrian for a moment. How did he ...? Then a knowing grin crept over his face and he bowed his head politely while he inwardly cursed himself for wearing his heart on his sleeve as he did. "Thank you. I appreciate that." Arms crossed over his chest and he shifted his weight from his right to his left foot, worn black leather boots making no sound as he moved. A pause, then Seven threw bangs from his eyes with a flick of his head and nodded once more in Hadrian's direction. "It was nice speaking to you, Hadrian. I should get myself some sleep. It has been difficult to adjust to a city that is more active during the day." Seven turned and took a few steps towards the entrance of the garden before turning again, lifting a hand in a friendly gesture and another grin. The compliment was an afterthought, but he felt he would rebuke himself later if he did not say anything. "Try not to be so hard on yourself. I thought it was amazing, what you just did. Good night."

[Hadrian]

Hadrian was known for pooching the deal where interpersonal relationships were concerned, as in he didn't know how to have them. Lately a few people were actually sticking around, which was a new phenomenon, but here was proof that he was not suddenly some savant of socialization. Blinking pale blue eyes at the abrupt departure, he lifted his long-fingered hand in silent farewell, stunned by the speed of things. "Thanks," he said. "Good night. Sorry..."