Flashback [Memorial Library] Honesty is the First Chapter (Nira)

[Sybel]

Sybel was really not prepared for the ferocity of Nira’s curiosity. Her eyes went wide as dinner plates at the mention of the Benshira’s past exploits. She was honestly taken aback by her reaction. Unsure how to proceed, she nodded mutely as her new companion took the reins. “I’ve been here for a decade and a half,” the Konti replied excitedly. “My history isn’t… uhm, my history isn’t the best. I was born as a slave in Sunberth, you see, but fate was kind and sent me here. But unlike my other sisters, I have never been to Mura, instead I live with humans.” The words slave set a defensive tightening in Sybel’s jaw. No wonder this girl had such a poor reaction to being touched. A fresh wave of guilt washed over her. “That is…” She groped for the words. “Indescribably awful. I’m so sorry. At least you’re free now. Everyone is entitled that.” Her expression was contrition mixed with anger. “Slavery is a reprehensible practice.” It was difficult to curb the sudden vehemence that welled up inside of her. “Anyway, you have sisters?” She asked, attempting to swing the focus from the mention of captivity. “Are they living with you?” “Oh, which regions have you been to?” Nira spouted another question before she could even blink twice. This girl had a contagious enthusiasm. Despite the negative state of mind Sybel was in, the Konti’s bright expression was infectious. ”Have you been to Alvadas? I hear it’s such a fantastic place… oh, what about Syliras? I hear it’s the safest city to be! Oh, oh! Which city do you think is the best one to visit?” She giggled at the rapid line of questioning. It was like a very cheerful interrogation. Picking her own brain for answers, Sybel turned her gaze toward the sky. Or, well in this case ceiling. “Hmm.” She murmured thoughtfully. “No, I haven't been to Alvadas unfortunately. As far as favorites go, perhaps Mura. It is very safe and truly lovely. Everything radiates harmony and peace. Konti women can be somewhat stiff, but I see there’s an exception to every rule.” She teased. “I really want to travel! Tell me about what there is to see?” Nira’lia nearly pleaded. “In exchange I can show you around… maybe bring you somewhere you haven’t seen been to in Zeltiva!” It sounded like a fun plan. Without necessarily assenting, she began to address the question anyway. “Well, Syliras is a nice enough place, but not very beautiful.” Sybel explained. “Endrykas and Nyka are more dangerous places, both which you should take care to avoid. I think you might enjoy Riverfall. They have an entire holiday solely to celebrate beautiful women. You’d take first prize.” The final word was punctuated with a light laugh. “But seriously, I have yet to visit Ravok or Sahova and I abhor cold weather… So no Taldera and until I muster the willpower.” Before she knew it, her spirits had taken flight again. It was very easy somehow to talk to this mysterious person. “You don’t have to drag me around if you don’t want to.” She feigned a yawn. “I’m an awful bore.”

[Nira'lia]

Nira’lia smiled at Sybel. Her reaction about slavery was one that was common and mostly expected from a person not from the more harsh cities such as Sunberth. Sybel’s reply made Nira’lia happy. Even if most of the people she met these days abhorred slavery, it still made her feel utmost relief. She had only met a few of those who still thought that the awful deed was acceptable, and she found herself disliking these people the most.

If Sybel had given her any other reaction aside from the one she had showed, Nira’lia would have walked out immediately.

“Yes, I do have sisters! Yes, three of them are with me here in Zeltiva,” she replied. Nira’lia inwardly wondered why the woman was asking about her family. It seemed like such a trivial topic to ask about, especially when she, Sybel, has had such an interesting life so far. Perhaps she missed her sisters, if she had any? “I have others, but… I am not really sure of where they are at the moment.”

She didn’t even know if they were still alive. It was a topic that Nira’lia hated to speak about, more so even think about. For that reason, the Konti was relieved that the topic moved on.

“Konti women really are stiff!” she giggled, thinking of her own mother. Her mother was a strict and imposing figure. It was refreshing to know that Sybel had been to the Konti isle, and a tinge of jealousy crept into Nira’lia’s mind. Of course, she made sure not to make that thought evident. She continued, “That is interesting, that you have been to Mura. I have never even been to my homeland. Perhaps you have met even more of my kind than I have!”

The Konti listened to Sybel’s descriptions of numerous cities. The delight in Nira’lia’s face was clear to sea, her smile getting wider with every statement that Sybel gave. When she implied that Nira’lia would win the contest at Riverfall, the Konti laughed awkwardly, though she appreciated the compliment. “I do not know much about Ravok, though I do believe they also practice slavery. I do hope you never wish to travel there.”

She didn’t mention it, but more than a decade ago when she still lived an awful life, she had been sold to a family in Ravok and was being sent there from Sunberth. Nira’lia and her family had escaped on the trip to Ravok, and but just like Sunberth, the Konti would never diminish her awful opinion about Ravok. This was despite her not knowing anything else about Ravok.

“You are not a bore at all!” she exclaimed, surprised. Nira’lia blinked at Sybel, confused as to how the woman could possibly arrive at such a conclusion. The Konti was nothing but entertained by her descriptions of the other regions and cities. However, Sybel did feign a yawn (and to the gullible Nira’lia, it seemed real). Perhaps she was the boring one between them? Of course, a woman like Sybel would find a Konti with no stories to be mundane. “But you must be tired, or perhaps you would wish to read…”

They were in the library, after all. And she had been keeping Sybel from reading all this time. Nira’lia grinned sheepishly, embarrassed for keeping Sybel here.

“I was actually going to go to Tanroa’s fountain,” she said, referring to a beautiful fountain that resided near the city’s center. “If you have not seen it, you really should! But I do understand that you came here to be with books, and I should stop being such a bother!”

[Sybel]

Nira seemed pleased with Sybel’s revulsion, reserving comment. The smile that lit her pastel features said it all, blue eyes sparkling and warm. “Yes, I do have sisters!” The Konti woman seemed thrilled to speak of them. ”Yes, three of them are with me here in Zeltiva,” she exclaimed. So many siblings! It would be impossible to get along if she were in the other woman’s shoes. Having been an only child, the Benshira had no frame of reference. Still, it was something she imagined to be nice, to always have a person to commiserate with. As the conversation progressed, Nira’s features shifted subtly. “I have others, but… I am not really sure of where they are at the moment.” Sybel frowned as she noticed the change. That topic seemed to really upset her, and concern slowly etched onto her face.

Mercifully, the Konti latched onto the next topic. “Konti women really are stiff!” She laughed lightly. It was a risk in saying, but Sybel was pleased to be rewarded for it. Upon the descriptions of the girl’s native island, another subtle change occurred. She was very expressive and lacking some guile, especially considering the atrocity of the ‘illness’ lie. As the two of them spoke, there was virtually no pretense made at being sick. In her excitement, Nira must have forgotten about her supposedly frail disposition. Sybel wasn’t even mad, just amused at how quickly the dishonesty ebbed out of her.

“That is interesting, that you have been to Mura. I have never even been to my homeland. Perhaps you have met even more of my kind than I have!” Though it was said with wonder, her words were laced with regret. The desert-dweller could relate. Sybel had seen many of her own people, but they never connected; she was a stranger among her own race. That too, could be lonely. She had higher hopes for her sweet-faced companion. Despite her pointed lack of formality, Nira would fit right in amongst the gentle, friendly throngs of Mura. Non-humans had that advantage available to them. The communities just seemed tighter. Well, the organized ones anyway.

At the Riverfall remark, her opposite just laughed it off. How shy, she thought. It was endearing. But when Ravok came to light, the conversation took that terse quality she’d been hoping to avoid. “I do not know much about Ravok, though I do believe they also practice slavery. I do hope you never wish to travel there.” Nira stated, eyes flinty. She nodded along in agreement. Ravok was a terrible place for anyone, but Konti especially. She shuddered to think what would happen to this lily of a person. They’d torture her first, maybe even rape her, then finally kill her. Rhysol was a pitiless god. He left an acrid taste in her mouth.

The idea seized the same expression from her friend, that distant look of recollection. Sybel felt a pang at the idea she conjured up some trauma from the distant past. But it was difficult to navigate around the horrors of Mizahar. For such a beautiful place to live, it was equivalently as dangerous.

“You are not a bore at all!” Nira’lia responded, clearly puzzled. “But you must be tired, or perhaps you would wish to read…” It seemed she took it personally. Well that was no good. Sybel frowned. She glanced around, as if noticing the books there for the first time since the conversation began. “Oh, I almost forgot. Well the library isn’t prone to growing legs and walking off is it?” She teased. “We have plenty of time, and I’m enjoying myself. I was only poking fun,” she said reassuringly. “I was actually going to go to Tanroa’s fountain,” Nira continued, “If you have not seen it, you really should! But I do understand that you came here to be with books, and I should stop being such a bother!”

Rising gracefully from her seat, she gave an irreverent little bow. “Lead on,” she grinned, straightening. “I would love to see Tanroa’s Fountain.”

[Nira'lia]

Just as Sybel had observed, Nira’lia had completely forgotten about her previous lie. The Konti spoke with excitement and made animated gestures, and she was clearly not feeling ill at all. This fact was lost on Nira’lia, and she was simply fortunate that Sybel chose not to point out her misgivings.

Nira’lia thought that Sybel was amusing. As they spoke, Sybel’s expressions changed many times. Even if the other woman chose not to say anything, her thoughts were visible on her face, and the transparency was something that the Konti could appreciate.

The Konti was a transparent one as well. As soon as the other woman stated that she wished to see Tanroa’s fountain, an expression of absolute joy spread over Nira’lia’s face. Nira’lia nodded and abruptly took a seat up.

“Oh, let’s go!” the Konti said. She would have reached forward and dragged Sybel by the hand if she was not so worry of touching others. Instead, she prodded Sybel by the shoulder and urged her to get up. The fountain was about ten chimes away, and even if they had a lot of time left, Nira’lia wanted to get there quickly.

[Sybel]

Their strides were out of pace, Sybel’s long and fluid steps carrying her slightly ahead as the two women exited the library. She withdrew into her mind, eyes tracing the different patterns of the shelving in their wake. The sections were simple enough, and with each passing category she committed it as well as she could to memory. Her light eyes were penetrating as they crossed into the daylight. Sybel took to internalizing the different streets as they wove back through the crowds, continuing to orient herself with the city. It’d been long enough for her to learn without needing the help of a guide.

After a bit she fell behind the scaled woman, keeping to her thoughts. The dishonesty on Nira’lia’s behalf still puzzled her. There was a possibility she was on the run from someone and much to Sybel’s credit she hadn’t asked what her purpose had been for even staying in Zeltiva in the first place. That transparency was some indicator about the chipper young girl, and it was something she couldn’t quite get a handle on. Whatever the true reason was, it would remain a mystery for the time being. The Benshira indulged herself by maintaining her quiet reverie.

The street signs were at least one solid indicator that they in fact, headed toward the center of the sprawling capital. There were other factors as well, as more people began to move torpidly rather than hustle. As people slowed their frantic pace, you knew you were headed into a more relaxed aspect of the municipality – a park or fountain of some kind. Sybel thought it wise to memorize this too, making note of the more distinct landmarks along the way.

The most troubling part of the whole affair was that she’d lost an afternoon that had been entirely reserved for reading. It was a selfish thought but an honest one. Up until that point she’d never been to the library. It was only too perfect that the day she finally worked up to visiting it, she got hopelessly sidetracked instead. It was also too true to her character, being as mercurial as the wind. Life was for the experience at any rate and with luck the sea-dwelling woman wouldn’t gut her in the middle of a public rest area. Sybel was naturally suspicious of anyone who presented a lie up front. But perhaps it was symptomatic of her experience with being enslaved. That was a sad thought.

At long last they arrived and her eyes traced the detail on the ornately carved fountain. It was a grand testament to both Tanroa and Laviku, the god of the sea and the goddess of time. Zeltiva was entirely too populated to have one overarching religion, but Laviku was the frontrunner for the position as it had been blessed with three active ports. A steady stream of liquid tumbled from the top, which she found a marvelous ingenuity. Those small droplets eddied in the fountain proper, the impact rippling outward on an otherwise placid surface. With a few steps she was at the water’s edge, assuming a seat there. Deftly she produced a copper, flipped it in and wondered - what laid in store next? After all, Sybel had followed.

[Nira'lia]

As they walked to their destination, Nira’lia wore a look of complete satisfaction on her face. Her eyes twinkled with delight, and now and then, she turned her head to get a look at Sybel. Was the woman as excited as her, she wondered? Nira’lia was oblivious to all the thoughts that were currently going on in Sybel’s mind, and remained clueless throughout their entire walk. The Konti had no idea that the woman thought her suspicious at the moment. In great contrast, the Konti held trust in the stranger. The difference in their impressions was a strange and interesting one.

“Oh, look!” exclaimed Nira’lia with a light-hearted gasp. She pointed a finger towards the fountain.

It was an absolutely beautiful sight. There were a few people around them, some praying to the goddess of time and the god of the sea. Tanroa had an ageless grace to her, and Laviku looked powerful and imposing. The two statues melded together beautifully as the water cascaded down in gentle but stunning ways. The bottom of the fountain shone with the coins that had been offered by previous visitors.

Nira’lia watched Sybel approach the fountain and take a seat near it. She brought out a copper coin. Smiling, Nira’lia followed after her, rummaging in her own pocket for something to offer to the god and goddess.

“Laviku is our father… did you know that?” she inquired, albeit quite absent-mindedly. She was referring to her race, the Konti. Her eyes were focused on the floor of the fountain, mesmerized. The light reflected on the coins and on the face of the water, causing an intoxicating image. Nira’lia didn’t even know why she was offering up such a random piece of knowledge, but it had slipped past her lips before she knew it. “And Avalis is our mother. I wonder if she ever grows envious of this fountain?”

The Konti gave a giggle. Her thoughts had drifted away from her and had arrived at such a silly thought. She brought out her hands and resting between the tips of her finger was a single gold coin. Nira’lia tossed it gently at the fountain and watched it flutter to its floor.

“I am so sorry if I took you away from an afternoon of reading… I just thought you might appreciate the fountain,” she said with a grin. Nira’lia looked at Sybel. “It’s nice, is it not?”

[Cloud]

XP Reward!

From the sky falls your reward!

PC Name: Sybel

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Socialization	+3
Rhetoric	+2

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Nira'lia The Mercurial
•	Nira'lia (Acquaintance)

PC Name: Nira'lia

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Socialization	+3
Interrogation	+1

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Sybel's Memory: First Love
•	Sybel (Acquaintance)

Seeing the two interact made this fun to read. Sad it ended abruptly though. If you have any question of concerns, feel free to pm me!