[Flashback] Of men, blood and flinders [Veldrys]

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

"Nice to meet you." The boy grinned shyly before leaning forward. When he spoke again, his voice was a whisper. "You are much more fun to talk to than most other adults I know."

On the question what his father had brought home from his travel Davariel had to think. "He did bring some fruits. There was so much honey on them you can not imagine. Father says that because they would spoil quicker without it, but I think they should put all fruits in honey." The youth nodded more to himself, apparently pleased by the idea. "Oh, and I got a drawing of Lhavit with its towers. It was made with charcoal. And I got a pretty stone. And some toys." With that the boy ended, smirking.

"It is always nice to have a few things to remind you about the places you have seen," his father agreed. "I have never been to Syliras," he admitted thoughtfully. "With Davariel I don't come to leave for longer periods of time anymore." With a smirk he looked his son over. "Or would you like to stay with your aunt any longer than you need to?"

"She always lets me stay up as long as I want."

"I am sure she also told you to not tell me that."

Davariel's face flushed in soft crimson.

Hid father shook his head. "No, I don't travel so often anymore. However I believe you could take a ship in Alvadas and save yourself a long, dangerous journey. Of course – I can't tell how dangerous the suvan sea would be. It can't be worse than Talderean Wilderness." On the man's question Velarian tilt his head to the side. "I have yet to find a place accepting of our kind. It is better in areas where our kind less known, but at best people are neutral to you. Most will only know harvesters and it taint their perception." A second it seemed the man wanted to say more, but then he halted, his eyes just briefly flickering into Davariel's direction. His son had given up playing with his bandages, instead turning his attention towards the shards of glass piling in the middle of the table. A soft clicking echoed through the room, caused by a long fingernail tipping against colored glass.

"Of course, I can understand their point, but it does not make dealing with them any easier," Velarian finally continued after a long moment of consideration.

When Veldrys mentioned traders the older man nodded. "If you have the chance to travel with merchants – that's certainly a chance to be taken. Safety lies in numbers. Also most traders who visit frequent have been lulled by the Aconite, they will be far less dangerous to deal with than strangers who might suspect you to do them wrong." He was used to people eye him suspicious, especially at times their young daughters, pretty sisters or healthy wives were around. It was something to grow used to, like seeing all of the former to get send from his very presence by concerned relatives. Or friends.

"I assumed wrong then, I hope you will look over my mistake. You just seemed to come into the right age for it," Velarian apologized, hearing the healer would not actually go on the harvest just yet. He reached out for the wine carafe to pour the man a second cup, but only if the man offered him his cup to do so. "I would be glad to hear about it for sure. It is rare to find worshippers of Viratas outside Kalinor. But please, there is no real need for presents."

His son winced. "I would like some presents though."


ErrorSeems I accidently switched the gender of the medic Davariel mentioned between posts, changed all references to female now. Sorry if there was any confusion.

[Veldrys]

„Thank you“, Veldrys whispered back as Davariel confided in him that he was much more fun to talk to than most other adults he knew. „You are fun to talk to as well.“ He glanced at Velarian briefly, as if there was some kind of conspiration going on, and that was why they were whispering. „I agree. They should put all fruit in honey. I wonder what blood would taste like if you added honey to it as well“, he mused. „Honey is quite healthy by the way.“ As a healer he had to point that out. With that he drew back and raised his voice, as if they were finished with their secret discussion. „Lhavit is amazing, isn’t it?“ he asked. „I don’t have any children yet and I'm relatively unattached. I’ve decided to travel now, as long as it’s still possible“, Veldrys replied. He hoped that it would stay this way and that he’d have no obligations, but he doubted that he would be that lucky. „I never had an aunt that would let he stay up as late as I wanted“, he remarked to Davariel. „My aunt was rather like an old army general and made sure I always obeyed. As is my stepmother, actually. But she isn’t a bad woman“, he added. „ She just values discipline greatly which is important in its own way. She’s treated me well enough, and I was never lacking anything.“ He wondered what his mother would have been like if she had survived. Would she have been kind? Unfortunately he would never know, and it always pained him a little when he thought of her. „I’m not familiar with the Suvan Sea“, he admitted. „And ships make me fairly uneasy. I prefer to travel over land, I think, for most of the journey at least. If it weren't for the fact that it's almost impossible to reach Denval over land, I'd stay away from ships entirely.“ He’d never been on a ship. He preferred climbing mountains or subterranean caves to being surrounded by a large body of water with unknown beasts somewhere below him. His body was much more suited to the former. „Neutral is all I ask for“, he said. „Our reputation is justified, at least in part.“ That was all he said on this rather complicated topic for now. Although his opinion differed from that of most – he was rather sympathetic towards the Esterians – he had no interest in rubbing it into everybody’s face and try to be the one Symenestra that changed the way their race was perceived and how their society worked. He valued his life the way it was too much to openly proest a practice that they didn’t question. „I don’t intend to do anybody wrong“, he remarked and shrugged. „Although I can see why humans might think so.“ Another shrug. It would be obvious to Velarian that this wasn’t the healer’s favourite topic. „I’m the right age“, he confirmed. „But the women of my Web are all younger than I am, and I’m not married, and thus I will not have to go on a harvest immediately.“ As Velarian offered him another cup of wine, he accepted. „Thank you. I’ll be sure to tell you about my journey to Lhavit. I’m curious as to how they worship Viratas there.“ As he noticed Davariel’s reaction regarding the presents, he leaned over to the boy and whispered, „How about I bring you something from Denval, and we just don’t tell your father? It would be our secret!“

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

"You could always try to put blood into honey," the boy suggested seriously. "I like meat and fruit better than blood alone though." Davariel dropped the shard he had been playing with and looked towards his father over the healers shoulder, before he continued with lower voice. "You could let me try if you do though. I tell you if it's good." A conspiratorial smile began to turn the corner's of his mouth upward. "Maybe you can put some pieces of meat into it too. Venison or so. That would be great." Again he looked over to his father, but the older man just smirk.

Velarian had watched the exchange between his son and Veldrys with quiet amusement. His son had learned from his aunt, more than his father wanted to admit. His sister always got what she wanted. Right now he could see traces of her talent picked up by the youth sitting across the table, his legs so casually dangling inches above the ground. He could have warned their newest acquaintance, but he could not quite get himself to. The boy enjoyed the game and Velarian figured talking with someone outside the family would do him good.

"My aunt is not like a general," Davariel admit. "She has something of a silk dealer. And she always gets her price." The adolescent tilt his head to the side. "Of course – she does sell silk so that might be the reason why."

His father had to suppress a smile. "Lhavit is an interesting city. In many ways the opposite of Kalinor. I can imagine people to visit the city just to see it." He could not think the same would ever come true for their home city. The Aconite might wish to lure traders and travelers into the dark depth of the underground city. "I believe one has to travel while there is still time for it," he agreed more quiet a moment later. "You wont get as many chances anymore once you have children." Even when one had a wive which Velarian did not.

"I could not say I know a lot about the sea either. A few merchants I came to meet prefer to go by ship rather than over land. But I figure it might depend on ones reason and means for travel. Men on horseback always travel easier than a merchant with a cart. For them a ship poses a great advantage." He had never asked how long it actually took.

"It can not hurt to show them a few new... facets to our reputation," the animator admit. To clearly he could sense the other man's dislike of the topic. The older man let it slide, instead nodding to what the man said next. "You still have a lot of time." Even he had time still and he was almost ten yours the healer's senior. "Maybe you will learn useful skills on your travel, harvesters don't always bring more back than their intended quarry. It would nice to read a foreign book at some point, although I have to admit my common is shaky." More than that, although he felt he was slowly growing better.

"...and I would enjoy to hear about your travels."

"I would enjoy presents," Davariel pointed out, eying his father. His voice dropped again. "And we just wont tell him, right."

Across the table his father shot him a questioning glance. The boy just smiled wider.

[Veldrys]

„I definitely have to try that“, Veldrys decided as Davariel suggested putting blood into honey. As far as he was concerned, it would either taste divine or make him sick and unable to work for the remainder of the season. „Although I agree, meat and fruit are better than blood alone. I really only drink blood when I’m working, and there isn’t time for a proper meal.“ Indeed blood was a poor substitute for a real meal, and Veldrys doubted that any Symenestra could thrive on it alone. „And I’ll be sure to give you a little, maybe when I visit again to check on your wounds.“ As Davariel talked about his aunt, Veldrys had to suppress a laughter. „My aunt isn’t really a general. She just acts like one. My Web are merchants as well, although they mainly deal in things that the traders bring from the surface.“ One of the merchants that had visited Kalinor when he had been a little boy had been the reason why he left Kalinor every once in a while. Of course the underground city of the Symenestra was amazing, and its architecture was unique, but there was something about the world of the humans that fascinated the healer beyond measure, even though he always returned home in the end. „Did you know that Denval was isolated for centuries following the Valterrian?“ he asked Velarian. „They only discovered it by chance a few decades ago. I wonder if our kind are even known there, if the stories about the harvest have spread or if they still think that we live in trees.“ He glanced at Davariel. Was the boy familiar with the history of their race? Did he know about the harvest, about the human women that were sometimes brought here or had Velarian not told him yet? He decided not to mention anything about it. „That definitely can’t hurt“, he agreed. „We are not only about the harvest. I sometimes wonder what they would say if they could see our city or the works of art that we create. Would they think differently about us then?“ Of course the reputation of their race was partly justified, but the Symenestra weren’t all harvesters, and they didn’t all agree with such a practice. Unfortunately it was unlikely that the surface dwellers knew that there was dissent, even among the Symenestra, and that factions like the Esterians existed. „I hope to find accounts of the way that the world was before the Valterrian in Denval“, he admitted. „A settlement that has been isolated for so long must put a great emphasis on history and try to keep the memory of what things used to be like alive. Maybe they’ll allow me to copy some of their notes so that I can bring them back here for others to read. My Common isn't perfect either, but I get by on most occasions even though the people on the surface probably think my accent is strange." „We won’t tell him“, Veldrys assured Davariel. „I’ll bring you something especially nice.“

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

"I would be very grateful if you did," Davariel said with a wide grin, then he nodded. "My family family deals in fabric and we have many good weavers." Pride leaked from the youth voice. "Grandfather was an Animator though. Father is one too, he is really good at it."

"...Davariel," his father threw him a warning glance. For the briefest of moments it seemed the boy would yield since he hesitated to continue, but then he shrugged.

"You already told him what you are doing." He tilt the head to the side. "Also you never said it would be a secret. You only said I shouldn't boast with it. Or talk about it. Or mentioned it at all," he added for the last few words mimicking his father's voice and serious expression.

"Does sound like a secret to me."

"In that case you revealed it already," Davariel pointed out generously. "Don't worry about it. He does not seem to mind." Light ruby eyes found the healer, resting on him intently. "Do you know about Animation?," he asked curiously. "You can make all soft of thing come to life. Like toys or well, everything really."

"Not everything," his father threw in, looking over the rim of his cup. The older Symenesttra did not seem happy with his son's enthusiasm, yet he did not try to stop him either. Sipping from his water he watched the boy go on about his work. One he was not half as interested in when no one was around to tell about it. Velarian did not mind. Magic was none of the things he imagined to do his son any good. Not now at least.

"...but what he can animate is fantastic," the child nodded to what his father said. "Maybe he will show you something at some point." Again the boy's voice has dropped, throwing a smirk in his father's direction. The man did not raise to the bait.

"I don't know much about Denval," Velarian answered Veldrys' question instead. "I heard merchants talk about it, but those are more interested in the goods they sell than the history of the places they met." A pity really, seeing most merchants saw more of the world than other people ever would. "I am not sure if they know about the harvest," he admit, but stopped with a look in Davariel's direction.

"I believe the Aconite would be just to happy to change our people's reputation among those above." The Animator pursed his lips in an amused expression. "Can't imagine it would be easy however. Maybe it would be a good idea to take some smaller pieces of craft with you when you travel. Nothing large to hinder you on your journey but some pieces to trade or gift. I am sure Laudavyn would appreciate it when someone spread such information." Also because it would make luring surrogates toward Kalinor easier. Dragging a woman through Kalea was hard business, making her follow along, ignorant about their true nature on the other hand was almost too easy.

When Veldrys' declared he would bring something special for Davariel, the boy's eyes started to shine. He nodded, while his father had to be careful not to shake his head.

[Veldrys]

"Maybe I will buy a new robe from your family then", Veldrys decided as Davariel mentioned that his family had many good weavers.It seemed like something that would make the boy happy. The young healer really found himself warming up towards the boy and enjoying his company, even though he had vowed that he would never have children himself, out of fear that his wife would die in birth, just like his mother. And he couldn’t bring himself to using a surrogate. He’d seen a few really bad things at the Purging, surrogate whose arms or legs had been amputated because they’d tried to run away, surrogates who’d tried to cut the baby out, who’d tried to commit suicide and had been locked up for the remainder of their pregnancy as a consequence. It wasn’t something he could participate in in good conscience. "An animator?" he repeated, glad that he had been distracted from his dark thoughts. He remembered that Velarian had already mentioned it briefly at the beginning of their meeting, but he had seemed rather unwilling to talk then, and thus Veldrys had decided to let it be. Velarian still didn’t seem to be particularly keen on talking about his magic, and for a moment Veldrys wondered if he should point that out to Davariel, but then the little boy seemed so excited that he couldn’t bring himself to doing it. "I’m not familiar with Animation", he admitted. "I know that you can animate things with it, but that’s about it. I’ve never seen an animator at work. My experience with magic is comparatively small." He had to admit he was rather curious about Velarian’s art – and it would be quite obvious to the other man - but at the same time he was worried that he would have to show him his own magic if he asked for a demonstration. He was worried that Velarian would ask if he practiced magic as well and that he would think him strange because what he did allowed him to change aspects of himself. And thus he didn’t say anything, but left it entirely up to Velarian whether he wanted to show him his magic or not. "I think history is just as important", he remarked. "We need to be familiar with it so that we can learn from it and avoid making the same mistakes all over again. It’s impossible to understand the way the world is – or even your own race – without being aware of the past." As Velarian suggested taking some smaller pieces of craft with him, the healer looked at him thoughtfully. "Maybe I will take some silk with me, a few pieces of clothing", he decided. "That is something that I think most humans can appreciate. I don’t think the inhabitants of Denval who have been isolated for centuries have anything as beautiful." He wasn’t entirely sure if trading with a small city like Denval would be worth it, but it seemed like a good idea to at least give it a try. The Aconites among others would probably appreciate his efforts, even if trade was not the main reason for him to leave Kalinor.

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

The boy nodded. In Davariel's eyes the healer had made the right move to trust his family's talent at the loom and sewing table. "You should do that," he agreed with a wide smile, pride evident in his voice. He liked to talk about his family. "I can show you around my aunts place. She sewed some fine silk robes a fortnight ago and not all have been claimed yet. She says she has not managed such a vivid shade of red in good a season's time. Just let me know when you have an hour to spare and I will take you round." Light red eyes came to settle on Velarian. "If father don't mind that is," he asked in a sudden display of demureness.

"Sure. Why not." His father said slowly, an eyebrow risen. "I would even say your aunt would welcome your support more often. You could give her a hand at the Orchard Market on the morrow. She could need a helping hand."

His son tilt his head from one side to the other. "We will see. Maybe. Don't want to tell uncle I ran out of time for his lessons," he finally said innocently, the slightest smile of victory showing on his pale features.

Velarian smiled, lowing his cup. "Of course, of course. Maybe I could lift some of your household chores in turn. How does that sound?"

Somehow the youth managed not to grimace, barely so as the older man noticed. "Sounds... great," Davariel said a little weakly, falling silent. His father studied him a long second before narrow features turned to Veldrys, thoughtful.

"Animation is an interesting field of study, that much is for certain. Time intensive however." The Animator might have left it at that, but the healer seemed to hold little in the way of prejudice when it came to magic, so he continued. "I appreciate the longevity of objects created with it. Unless the body of an automaton suffers damage, the magic worked on it will remain intact. Compared with Alchemy, the art to create new materials, or Morphing the ability to change ones very body effects tend to last a long time, even when you are just a beginner."

The older Symenestra liked the idea of creating something lasting, something to pass on to his children one day, even when they showed little interest in magic themselves. Davariel was certainly a little to careless as of yet, but Velarian was hopeful he would grow more reliable with age. And then there was also the possibility for him to become father again. After his son's birth his family had stopped to pressure him about children, yet he knew they would all be pleased if he decided to sired another time. Or two. He was not entirely opposed to the notion – given the chance.

"If you like I can show you a few of my works some day. There are a few projects I pursue at the moment, yet not all have reached a stadium worth displaying." A small smile curled the man's lips. "The other week I came to realize, that while I was able to make a harp produce sound I would need more talent playing the instrument myself to actually have it generate something akin to a melody."

To Veldrys' words the Animator nodded."History is important although I don't think we are bad preserving it." Admittedly he had to add some notes to their family chronicle soon, over all though the thick tome presented a good overview over decades past. At least from his web's point of view.

"I will still be interesting to hear what you learn in Denval and I hope you journey will turn out a success in all regards."

[Veldrys]

"I would love to see your aunt's place", Veldrys admitted. Was Davariel's aunt the woman that had brought him here or did Velarian have more than one sister? He'd forgotten to ask. Maybe he would do so before he left. "As I said, I'm interested in buying a robe from her." The healer noticed that the boy seemed to be quite excited about his family and their business which was a good thing in his opinion. Had he been like that when he'd been a child? No, he didn't think he'd ever been that enthusiastic. Veldrys had been a quiet boy who loved his family, but had otherwise been more interested in his studies than a conversation with a stranger. "All magic is time intensive", he pointed out. His own studies certainly took up a considerable portion of his time, and he was nowhere near the level where he would be able to affect bigger changes yet. It would probably take months and years. Maybe he'd even have to leave Kalinor again and find another teacher, but that was a problem he would think about another day. "You cannot master it if you only dedicate an hour every other week to its study. Animation seems an interesting field. It's certainly one of the more profitable and easily accepted ones. I cannot imagine a single child that wouldn't smile at the sight of an animated doll. Even adults would probably find themselves fascinated by it." Despite his previous decision not to talk too much about magic, out of fear that he would be rejected and misunderstood, he found himself fascinated by it now and murmurred, "I've often wondered if it's possible to combine two different kinds of magic, Morphing and something else to change others for example, to make those that have been disfigured by an accident or a disease look normal again, at least for a while. It's strange that nobody has considered that yet." That was actually the second reason for him to take up Morphing, besides the desire to make himself look different every once in a while. There had to be a way to affect others. "I would appreciate that", he replied as Velarian mentioned showing him a few of his works some day. The hint of a smile was visible on the healer's face. "As for your problem, I'm ignorant where Animation is concerned as you've probably noticed, but couldn't you involve somebody else in this, somebody that knows how to play the harp? There are bound to be a few musicians that would be willing to aid you in this city." "Thank you", he answered as Velarian said that he hoped his journey would turn out to be a success. He rather hoped the same. He was not particularly worried about Denval itself and whether spending time there would be worthwhile - he was convinced that it would - it was getting there that made him fairly uneasy. But if the gods were willing he'd survive and reach his destination.

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

Davariel nodded. Seemingly satisfied with the answer he had turned his attention back to the pile of glass piling in the middle of the table. Picking up a few other pieces he started to built a colorful mosaic before him. With a lot of fantasy it might have been a bluish green cat – or really any smaller animal with four legs, a tail and two pointy ears – but there were not many animals the boy had actually seen, so his father's guess was either a cat or a wet raccoon. Velarian kept a few animals for his animation, creatures caught in the swamp and bought from hunters and merchants, but it were rarely more than half a dozen at a given time.

"It is time intensive," the animator agreed. "It might also be more widely accepted. More profitable though – I am not sure. There are still many who can't afford more than the goods and tools they need to survive. Buying toys and gadgets, no matter how fascinating, is of no priority to them. Of course... sometimes you are lucky and find someone willing to pay a reasonable price and the occasion makes up for all the meager months previous."

Many harbored prejudices when it came to magic and not all qualms people had were without reason. Customers accepted his kind of magic, if only because the automatons he created mostly seemed to be one thing: harmless. They did not seem more complicate than the iron and copper creatures gadgeteer could let come to life with their springs and cogs and Velarian took advantage of such misconceptions. Automatons could be dangerous, he had no reason to share his knowledge in that regard with just anyone however.

"I would even say most my creations will end up the toy of an adult and not a child's plaything," the animator said thoughtful his eyes on the the remains of glass slowly spreading all over the table. Involuntarily he had to think about his late wife and the moment he had handed her the vase. She had been so happy back then, although he had merely brought trinkets home rather than the surrogate he and his brother had tried to find instead. His brother had continued searching. He had returned home, spending winter with his wife. Shaking his head ever so slightly he forced his attention back on the topic of conversation.

He nodded. "I happen to know that one can combine different kinds of magic. I know for certain that you can combine it with Glyphing to ban a magic's effect into a scroll, although I know no details beside that. You can also instill personal magic on a magecrafted item, yet I know even less about that procedure." The animator fell silent for a long moment. His prudence battled with his pride and in the end the later won out. Veldrys obviously had a good understanding for magic, so much that the older Symenestra wondered if he wasn't talking with another scholar of the arcane."A master animator can also craft an golem able to learn magic. To my knowledge no one has managed such a task since the Valterian however."

Pushing back from the table, Velarian stood, heading towards his work area. Over his shoulder he continued to talk. "To my understanding that is the main reason. The effect wears of to quickly. You have to teach the patient to mastery or you need an item specifically crafted for him. As you said studying magic is time intensive. Medicine can hardly be better. You would need a very dedicated individual to pursue near mastery in at least three fields."

The curtains rustled softly when the animator vanished behind them. "Yes, someone playing the harp would indeed be helpful. However I am not sure people would enjoy playing for endless hours teaching a tool to do exactly the same thing they are able to do." Again a rustling was to be heard and then there was a moment of silence.

"Now I think I might have something interesting here."

[Veldrys]

"In this part of the world maybe", Veldrys conceded as Velarian doubted the profitability of his magic. "But in a city like Syliras with tens of thousands of inhabitants there would probably be many that would buy your creations." He shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t consider it worthwhile to dwell on the issue further. Velarian, being the father of a small child, would hardly ever make it to Syliras, and Veldrys would never earn any money himself with his strange kind of magic. He considered it wiser to keep the majority of his arcane studies to himself and pretend that he was just a healer who was occasionally curious about it. As Velarian stated that it was possible to combine two different kinds of magic, the younger Symenestra’s amethyst eyes widened for a moment. This was something he hadn’t known. "It is possible to store a spell in a scroll so that others can use it?" he asked, to make sure he had understood him correctly. What that be a way to achieve what he wanted, to give others a chance to look normal? Maybe, he decided, he would research glyphing, maybe even find a teacher the next time he left Kalinor. "A golem that is able to learn magic?" he repeated. He wasn’t sure how he felt about such a thing. The fact that it was theoretically possible to create beings that functioned almost like real people was fascinating, but on the other hand he couldn’t help but shudder a little. Part of him found it frightening. It was good that nobody had managed to craft such a golem since the Valterrian, and in his opinion it would be even better if it stayed that way. "No, medicine isn’t any easier", he agreed. "But at least it is safer for the one practicing it." He had never heard of a healer that had died because he had healed too many people in too short an amount of time. For those that practiced magic however overgiving was a risk. It was another reason why he was so careful with his magic studies and had decided to take it slow. If there was a way to achieve a certain result without magic, he preferred that. "What is it?" he asked as Velarian disappeared behind the curtain. He had no idea what the other man had found. Did he want to show him one of his creations after all? Something that he had animated with his magic?