Winter 42, 514 AV
As Estrellir glanced around, a smile started to bloom on her features. They were tugging at her mind, the things she saw, inviting her imagination and fingers to prod and pry.
She had ended up in the middle of an unlit room or hall. The echo of her footsteps only confused its proportions instead of revealing them. There were no torches or lanterns burning, everything was plunged into utter darkness and a vague feeling of smoke somewhere high above. With the exception of the lights. Whenever the Konti moved, strange lights seemed to flare up, white reflections of Avalis knew what, the dull glimmer of solid gold, the shimmer of diamonds the size of a fingernail.
Those sensations had sketched out most of the room before her eyes, stiff faces standing out against the shadows, a pointed nose here, a sapphire there. They were masks, she knew without knowing how, and they all hung at eye level to greet her. Countless masks. She was fairly sure she’d discover more and more if she began walking in any direction.
She didn’t though. Instead she approached one to her left, a motionless face of an ancient God, probably long forgotten with all his names and ceremonies. His face, however, she could admire and caress with her violet gaze. White boots carried her towards it and she leaned in until she nearly kissed the tip of its nose. It radiated cold, she felt it even before touching it. A finger connected with its temple, tracing the curve of its cheek and its lips. A majestic face it was, still and forever silent. No nonsensical everyday talk to it.
Estrellir almost drowned in the act of observing that face, its frozen beauty. She loved it, but more than that she loved what was behind, the things it covered. The secrets humming under her fingertips, she loved those most of all. They existed behind each of the masks in that room and she didn’t know where to start.
As Estrellir glanced around, a smile started to bloom on her features. They were tugging at her mind, the things she saw, inviting her imagination and fingers to prod and pry.
She had ended up in the middle of an unlit room or hall. The echo of her footsteps only confused its proportions instead of revealing them. There were no torches or lanterns burning, everything was plunged into utter darkness and a vague feeling of smoke somewhere high above. With the exception of the lights. Whenever the Konti moved, strange lights seemed to flare up, white reflections of Avalis knew what, the dull glimmer of solid gold, the shimmer of diamonds the size of a fingernail.
Those sensations had sketched out most of the room before her eyes, stiff faces standing out against the shadows, a pointed nose here, a sapphire there. They were masks, she knew without knowing how, and they all hung at eye level to greet her. Countless masks. She was fairly sure she’d discover more and more if she began walking in any direction.
She didn’t though. Instead she approached one to her left, a motionless face of an ancient God, probably long forgotten with all his names and ceremonies. His face, however, she could admire and caress with her violet gaze. White boots carried her towards it and she leaned in until she nearly kissed the tip of its nose. It radiated cold, she felt it even before touching it. A finger connected with its temple, tracing the curve of its cheek and its lips. A majestic face it was, still and forever silent. No nonsensical everyday talk to it.
Estrellir almost drowned in the act of observing that face, its frozen beauty. She loved it, but more than that she loved what was behind, the things it covered. The secrets humming under her fingertips, she loved those most of all. They existed behind each of the masks in that room and she didn’t know where to start.
