Flashback Treading White Waters

[Estrellir Konrath]

Summer 65, 507 AV
Silver Lake

After years, Mura felt more and more like home to Estrellir. She’d gotten acquainted with her neighbors and various sisters due to her interest for different aspects of the local culture. Although her focus shifted from herbalism to animals to cuisine to faith as time passed, she’d still established some sort of routine throughout the seasons.

That day in late summer was no exception. Like many sisters, Estrellir rose with Syna, ate fruit, herbs and a mug of water for breakfast before putting on a white dress and filling her backpack with a few things that’d keep her company during the day.

Exiting her house, property of the Konrath family through generations, she greeted her neighbor who was working in a beautiful garden. With no particular aim in mind, she walked the paths and streets for a while and slowly drifted east in the process. Many days she’d simply walk where her feet carried her until a daily aim or task manifested out of thin air and her idle thoughts. She could try and work on whatever took her fancy for such was the purpose of her stay on Konti Isle. Thinking about nothing in particular, Estrellir crossed another bridge, turned left before reaching the temple and left the city center.

Before long, she had reached the shore of Silver Lake and enjoyed the view across the vast expanse of water, a solitary figure at the edge of a still mirror. Yawning and stretching a little, Estrellir wondered how water could take on so many different forms. Kenash had the swamp, wild, unpredictable and filled with dangerous species, and Mura had Silver Lake, its peaceful and calm opposite. Both were beautiful in their own way.

For the time being, however, she planned to enjoy the place she was in and get everything she could out of it. As she followed the shore, she happened upon a spot like a natural beach, sandy and flat enough to tread easily. There she left her backpack in sun and waded into the cool water. As always, vision water felt slightly different, although she couldn’t say how. Before losing the ground under webbed toes, she kicked her feet and swam out into the lake.

[Matthew]

The young student was dressed as well as he always was, possessing a sharp eye to detail that happened to make him stand out. Simple and well-fitted white clothes hugged his slim and tanned body, showing off definition in subtle little ways just about everywhere that the snug cloth could. It was definitely a comfortable way to dress during the hot Summers and it just so happened that it was a flattering way to dress as well. The clothing was only complimented by the person that wore them. Bright blue eyes and handsome features seemed to have been patiently painted onto the young man, though a certain amount of prepwork every morning certainly helped. His hair was styled as well, a simple fashion that looked windswept but was actually just another part of his every morning ritual. Interestingly enough, a man who took so much care of his appearance was something of an oddity in Mizahar. A male was something of an oddity in Mura, really. Not that they were rare, it was just strange to see one who was so young visiting the isle for so long. He had came to take medical classes, and now he was planning on staying the Summer. Hopefully he would be able to come back for quite a few more Summers. He gracefully moved through the city, having free time today. The place was perfect for practicing Meditation. While Matthew had found that it was traditional to sit and look inwards, he had found that everywhere in Mura had something of a serene quality to it. It was theraputic and meditative just to walk through the streets in silence, wandering about aimlessly, letting your mind empty and expand. It was hard to turn off the constant clicking and turning of his mind, but Mura managed to drown it all out and replace it with peaceful silence. It was quite amazing, really. His boots eventually found sand and he paused a moment to remove them, letting his feet relax in the cool material. Before him was a lake, oddly more serene than the rest of Mura, something that he wasn't aware had been possible. This thought caused him to pause, brow furrowing for a moment as he blinked at the scenery in front of him. While Matthew was usually opposed to swimming, this particular body of water called to him. Should he be worried about that? Matthew was just about to explore that particular urge when something caught the corner of his eye, snapping him from his dreamlike state. There was a girl, someone he had somehow missed at first glance. He peered at her, blue eyes intense and not at all awkward in their stare. They were focused and analytical, seeing something new and properly absorbing it. She was a Konti, and a short one. No, perhaps not a short one. Short when compared to the average height for human women (a totally useless piece of trivia that he couldn't remember how it had been learned) but perhaps not short for her homeland. She appeared to be wearing some sort of dress, even when swimming. Her cheekbones were the thing that stood out the most, prominent and forming her face in a sophisticated sort of way. He paused a moment and then softly spoke out, words slow and carefully pronounced, tone polite and formal. "Hello. I am Matthew, a medical student visiting from Zeltiva. Would you be uncomfortable if I swam?" He personally didn't understand the concept of being uncomfortable with such a thing, but that was him. He knew he was different.

[Estrellir Konrath]

Despite the warm weather, the lake water hugged her body like a cool shell, protecting it from the heat of the sun. Not that Konti got sunburned often, but the sensation was still refreshing. Moving her arms and legs through the water felt like being carried by a force greater than anything created or built by mortal hands. Observing such thoughts, she swam out into the lake at a relaxed pace.

When a voice called her out of the reverie, unusually male, Estrellir rolled around in the water as he spoke to face the man. Mild surprise painted her features, eyes a little wider and mouth a little softer, as she took in the visitor. All men were visitors on Konti Isle except few Akalak who married. That one was handsome, as far as she could see from her position, slender as an arrow and oddly refined like a Vian leaf. When he spoke, another aspect was added to his personality, a tendency to ask odd questions. Why wouldn’t she be? Her sisters at the old home were comfortable with their bodies and nudity couldn’t be avoided with so much water flowing through their lives.

Still, she understood where he came from as a webbed hand brushed wet hair out of her face. In Kenash, nudity was an entirely different thing. Depending on the situation, it could be an invitation, a subtle weapon, a challenge, even a threat. It carried so many facets of meaning which was precisely why Estrellir had first been confused at the lighthearted way the sisters treated it with.

She allowed the water to carry her towards the shore so they didn’t have to raise their voices. “Not at all, if you feel like swimming, by all means indulge. The water feels great today. I’m Estrellir. How long have you been here and how long do you plan to stay?” Of course, she was a Konti and all Konti knew their old home, but something prevented her from revealing where she came from – that she’d come from somewhere indeed and not lived her entire life on the isle. The longer she stayed, the less it mattered. Besides, a handsome young human she hadn’t seen or heard of yet had to be fresh meat.

[Matthew]

He nodded at her and uttered a quiet and polite thanks, then quickly stripped down. He was slow and methodical in his movements, almost as if putting on a show. Nothing else hinted at the fact that he might be attempting such a thng though, his face passive and his gaze focused on what he was doing. He was just comfortable with his nudity, but methodical with how he went about even the smallest of tasks. Soon he was gracefully slipping into the water, only venturing out as far as his feet could take him. He wouldn't go out far enough to be forced to tread water, not yet. He did make it a point to practice a bit though, pulling up his legs and swimming around just a bit. He always kept at a depth where he could immediately stand if needed, just in case.

Light blue eyes flickered over to her, his head tilting as she spoke to him. He was totally unaware of how many facets of meaning that his question had held. He was painfully simple sometimes, speaking exactly what he was wanting to communicate. Social interaction was hard enough for him already, no need to confuse himself by trying to be clever with hidden meanings.

"It is my pleasure, Estrellir." He pronounced her name quite slowly, dedicated to getting it right on the first try. "I have only been here for the season, and will likely only stay for the season. It is a nice vacation that still allows me to continue my studies, so I might actually see if I can make a trip here once every year until I finish my courses. There seems to be so much to learn. Are you a student of medicine? I am under the impression that it can be a popular choice for the Konti, with the Opal Order being as influential as it seems to be." Of course, this was only an impression. He didn't have a true grasp on how everything in Mura worked. He only had theories and ideas.

The student ducked his head under the water for a moment, going ahead and getting his entire body soaking wet. Best to get his flesh used to the water now. Amusingly, when he came up, even his soaking wet hair managed to fall in something of a fashionable style. It was unpeturbed by the disturbance, apparently.

[Estrellir Konrath]

Estrellir took in his appearance as Matthew undressed and got ready for the water. She couldn’t help but admire his good looks, although he strayed a little the typical human physique and was extremely different from the muscular and fit Akalak she grew up with. Instead, he was slender and elegant with facial features almost feminine. Still, he managed to look good instead of weak.

When he stepped into the water, she watched his attempts at swimming with mild curiosity. Despite having grown up in Kenash where the swamp was too dangerous to swim in most places, the Konti had had enough practice to move effortlessly through still water. So she stayed just at the edge of deep waters to show her interest in conversation while enjoying a good swim.

Her lips curled in amusement at his question. Medicine? Perhaps the only profession she had never tried out or even considered in earnest. “There are certainly many who take up medical studies at the Temple, but I’m not one of them. It has a lot to do with gnosis marks – most of us are marked by either Avalis or Rak’keli at birth. The Goddesses see aptitude earlier than any of us, it seems. So what moved you to study medicine?” If he was marked by Rak’keli he would’ve noticed how many Konti wore the same favor, so she figured it had to be another reason.

Kicking her legs and moving the water with webbed hands, she swam back and forth a little. Was he going to come into deeper waters? For now she was comfortable waiting and talking. “A season seems to be a very short time. I dare say it takes longer to fully grasp and understand Mura and its culture.” Of course, Estrellir knew few other races had the same amount of time available as she and her sisters. Still, she couldn’t help but think it a pity. She herself had only adjusted after many seasons and still felt like she hadn’t learned all there was to know about the old home of her ancestors.

[Matthew]

He noticed the Konti examining his form. He did not react to it though. He knew he was pleasant to look at for most, but took no real pride in it. He had done nothing to gain this appearance. It was something he had been given at birth, not something gained through any skill of his own. He felt that it would be silly to be prideful over something that had been blessed to him through pure chance.

He also noticed she had smiled. Why had she smiled? Had he made a joke? A quick review of his words did not immediately reveal anything to him, but he didn't linger on it for long. Humor was usually impossibly high above his head, so he had long since learned not to hopelessly reach for it.

"My parents. My mother is the Head of Medicine at Zeltiva University. It seemed to be a natural fit." The reason certainly wasn't an exciting one. He had done it because it was the obvious one to do. He didn't have a problem with this, nor did he ever curse his choice. He did sometimes wonder if it was a tad boring, but he wasn't one to be put off by boredom. No, he would only deviate from his path if he ever felt like there was nothing more for him to learn. When that time came, then he would find something else. He was a curious creature above all else, a creature that craved knowledge. Mura and Zeltiva still held quite a bit for him to discover, as did the realm of medicine. He paused for a moment, then glanced back at her, blue eyes holding her own once more. "It is a short time. I am not interested in the culture though, merely what I can do to help support my studies. The library here definitely has more information about medicine than the library at home. It has proven to be a great resource."

He paused for a short moment and then tilted his head slowly at her. He did not move further out, but instead continued to test his treading skills every so often. He would lift his legs and tread water until his muscles began to burn, then he would lower his feet to the ground and gather his strength back. Over and over like clockwork, just testing his skills with the basics. "What are your own skills and interests? I would not want this meeting to be a trade of breath and words. Perhaps we can find something to learn together."

If it sounded rude, he hadn't meant for it to sound rude. His voice remained as soft and polite as ever. He really did just want to make the most of their time. He was bad at idle conversation, in any case. He knew he didn't have much longer to go before he was at a loss for words. Best to find a focus before then.

[Estrellir Konrath]

As she listened to his answers and the way he spoke, Estrellir couldn’t help but think his words revealed a narrow mind. He’d started studying medicine because his mother did and he’d only come to Mura to further his skill and knowledge in that particular area. Wasn’t there more than what he seemed to focus on? Nevertheless, she kept her thoughts to herself and wouldn’t judge him for what she thought was part of his personality.

“I see. If you wish to learn all about medicine, Mura’s definitely the place to go, although I imagine Zeltiva isn’t bad for learning either.” As she swam in slow circles, trying to face Matthew all the time, it came to her. His motions were like clockwork, repeating over and over again, and his words sounded the same. Of course, Estrellir was aware of the fact that after mere chimes she wouldn’t be able to fully grasp how another person ticked. But she observed and noted little quirks with the honest interest of one who indulged in that pastime regularly.

The next question added another part to the puzzle, a rather unexpected one too. “You could learn to swim properly, for a start. If you’re afraid of losing the ground under your feet, I’ll tell you a trick: Just swim and when you’re tired, relax your muscles until you float with your backside in the water and face towards the sky… Like this, see? You won’t sink.”

Talking gave Estrellir time to arrange her thoughts and wishes. What could she give? What would she share comfortably and readily with a stranger? The desire for a smoke was bubbling up in her belly, but she pushed it aside. “I’m sure there are other things we could share though. If you’re curious about Kenash, which is in fact my birth place, I can tell you about it. Information gathering too. It comes with the neighborhood.”

Gnawing at her lower lip, she wondered if that had been too much. At the same time, she was curious what he’d offer in turn. Learning certainly was a good thing and the opportunity to do so from a foreigner even more precious.

[Matthew]

The student nodded in agreement, not at all put off by her comment on his lack of swimming skills. She was correct, after all. He could learn to swim properly. His head tilted and blue eyes glimmered a bit as she started to give instruction, and a rather visible change could be noted in his stare. While he had been a blank slate of sorts before all of this, the very tick that she began to share her wisdom, his gaze lit up in motion. Wheels turned behind his stare, his mind churning to correctly assess all of her statements and properly file them away. He listened and watched closely, and waited until she was fully finished with her demonstration before making his own movements. He wasn't scared of drowning, he was only scared of what lurked beneath the surface of the water. Had he been told one too many stories by his father when he was younger, perhaps? He wasn't sure. This water was clear anyways, so it was easy to see that nothing was lurking.

He took a breath and then slowly slipped backwards, closing his eyes. He used what little meditation techniques that he knew to control his breathing, to keep his mind free from the nervousness that tried to assault him. This was a minor sort of fear, so it shouldn't be any trouble to push down. With a sort of calm solidifying in his mind, Matthew let himself drift. It was an odd sensation. He felt close to slipping underwater, but the clear surface just barely managed to somehow support him. He floated, seemingly weightless.

Listening to the additional information she shared, he continued to drift while pausing a moment to think and then reply. "I welcome learning anything I do not currently know. I know very little of Kenash, I have only heard sailors speak of it. I know a bit about information gathering myself, but I do not think I am that skilled. I also study medicine, as mentioned, and the socialization habits of just about everyone I can lay eyes on. I've also recently taken a liking to meditation. It helps clear my thoughts."

After a few more moments of the gentle bobbing, Matthew rotated his arms and swept his feet underneath himself, standing once once. "Do not let me interrupt your swim, though. We can always meet in a different location, at a different time, or both." The look in his eyes had vanished and was once more replaced by that distant politeness. In a way, their social habits were similar. They were both polite but slightly cold to most, even if it wasn't really intentional. It was just who they were.

[Estrellir Konrath]

After the demonstration, Estrellir returned to a vertical position in the water to notice the change in his expression. Had it been impartial and distant before, it was coming to life with something like curiosity or even excitement. When he mirrored her movements, he did so with precision.

As Matthew offered more of what he knew, Estrellir was thinking. Information gathering was a good skill to have in and around Kenash. You never knew who turned against you behind your back or which petty intrigue would threaten to destroy your social status next. Of course, Estrellir had noticed her sisters in Mura cared little about such things, but the swamp city was waiting for her. Like bad luck or a scorned lover, it was lingering just out of sight and confident she’d return one day. For the moment, she was eager to learn everything that could aid her survival.

As he mentioned medical studies once again, Estrellir didn’t brush it aside. It was true she had no particular interest in physical injuries, illnesses and their treatment, but she had to admit knowing how to treat minor wounds could prove useful in the future. The Konti had no taste for violence, but in Kenash she was surrounded by people who had. “It sounds useful to be able to treat your own wounds when in the middle of nowhere or in a dangerous situation. I guess that’s something I’d like to learn with your assistance.”

Tilting her head in an unspoken question, she moved closer to him. “Meditation sounds like it could be useful in many different ways. Interesting too.” Usually Estrellir went for her pipe and a bit of Rajor tobacco, but it certainly couldn’t hurt to learn different methods to relax and focus.

When Matthew was talking about interruptions, Estrellir had already circled him and was looking at the shore. It was clear where she was heading, although she managed to shake her head at him. “It’s quite alright. If we met here and now, that means we should make the most of it, no? I don’t believe in coincidence. It’d be nice if you could show me how to meditate.” With that, she planted her feet on the soft ground and pushed out of the water. The white dress clung to her form in a way that concealed so little that she could be naked as well.

Like Matthew, Estrellir didn’t seem to care as she sank into the sand and pebbles near the water. If he decided to remain in the water longer, she’d sit and watch, but if he followed her, she’d lie down and let the sun dry her.

[Matthew]

He appreciated the way she was, in a way. They seemed strikingly more similiar as time went by. She didn't mince words, something that he was quite thankful for. She was open with what was on her mind, as least as far as he could tell. He followed her out onto the shore, a brief and intense stare focused on her body as a whole. There was not exactly a glimmer of lust in his eyes, more of an oddly scientific study of appreciation. She had the appealing curves of a young Konti and his bold gaze was a compliment to that. Then it was gone, not pursued or pressed, the oddly almost-apathetic young student moving his bare body into the warm air. He was still perfectly comfortable with his body, the two of them sharing that simple quality as well. Blue eyes studied her own for a moment as he sat across from her, pondering the best way to approach this.

"I am not incredibly skilled in meditation, but I do know basics. I have found it handy in focusing, in blocking outside distractions and so on. I enjoy learning, and what meditation techniques I do know have helped focus and improve the learning mindset that I use." He began to focus as he spoke, taking a bit of time to slowly start to strip away the world around them. It was a slow and difficult process, but he did the best that he could. He removed the rest of the world piece by piece, working his mind to a point where all that existed was the two people and the small patch of sand and pebbles that they shared. Reaching down with his finger, he took a bit more time to slowly draw a circle in the sand. There was a moment where his finger slipped, ruining the previous perfection of the simple drawing, causing Matthew to wipe out his work and start over again. It was subtle peek into the inner workings of his personality, but a peek nonetheless.

Drawing and focusing, his eyes pointed toward the sand while he worked but his words were directed at the Konti. "Do you know anything about meditation? In what ways do you think you could put it to use?" He wasn't trying to pry, and certainly didn't even consider it being taken that way, even if it easily could be. While he wasn't skilled in meditation, he did find he was skilled in teaching. First he wanted to find out her current level and perhaps her intentions, therefor allowing him to focus the lesson. In hindsight, it didn't really matter what her level was. If she was even a bit skilled, she might very well be beyond his capacity to teach.