[Golden Dragon] This Hollow Life... (Akuaysun)

[Akuaysun]

54th Day of Summer, 509 AV

When the knights had mentioned that The Golden Dragon would likely suit a man of his tastes, Akuaysun thought very little of it. He wasn’t sure what the realms impressions of Myrians were but he hoped it wouldn’t be something completely ramshackle. Much to his delight, after the streets were navigated the ageless creature found himself standing outside a rather proper establishment. Near its doors a young man approached and offered to take his steed to the stables to which Aku kindly agreed after pulling his backpack from it.

Inside things were lush, well cared for and quite overwhelming to take in all at once. Smoke hung in the air and soft laughter and giggling filled the halls, broken only by the occasional moan. The Myrian nearly laughed realizing what exactly it was he stood in, before softly shaking his head. The knights had assured him that the place was priced fair and one had the option of spending the night in clean quarters while not having to pay the outrageous fares of other local establishments.

So to that note Akuaysun took another step into the hall and began letting his green-brown eyes scan the occupants and fixtures for one that could likely direct him to an open lodging. He hoped that being dressed in the fineries that Matthis gave him would afford some respect in the place despite his visual heritage, for he was extremely tired, and currently bordering quite irritable.

[Gossamer]

Akuaysun

Nilanv was watching the door when the Myrian slipped in. Her quick green eyes took in his appearance and attitude. She moved swiftly, in a seemingly unhurried way a woman would who was used to dealing with the tired, irritated, and those not knowing exactly what they wanted. The human was all of five feet tall, though incredibly pale of skin and hair. She curtsied before him, dressed in a comfortable pair of white silk trousers and a light summer top dipped in dyes that made it flow with bands of green up her torso. Her feet were bare though two silver rings encircled well-kept toes. A silver bracelet (rather than the customary gold) hugged her wrist with a symbol of the golden dragon on it - the same one displayed by the sign. "You look like you need a bath, a meal, and a comfortable bed all at the same time. Can I interest you in all three? I can have the cooks make you something to eat while we take care of the bath and get you settled into a room. There's a cleaning service here so we can have your clothing laundered while you eat, and there's plenty of time for some rest or conversation, depending upon how you feel after the bath?" She said, pausing to give him time to absorb what she was saying.

"Tell me what you prefer to dine on, I'll let the cooks know, and start drawing a bath if thats acceptable. My name is Nilanv, and I'll be your hostess tonight." She said gently, a friendly smile on her face though he could tell she'd not met too many myrians by the way she was watching him as if intrigued.

[Akuaysun]

Aku’s head dipped respectfully when the woman curtsied before him, his hands adjusting the bag at his back a bit as he did so. Her words were quick, and quite direct throwing about the many services the place had to offer. It seemed that the guard had been quite right in their suggestion of the establishment. At the remarks of bathing and washing something suddenly occurred to the man that he hadn’t much thought of since his rebirth. He would need more clothes and to wash himself, a habit he had not had for a very very long time. After traveling for more then a week he likely stunk much like a heap of rubbish.

“My apologies for my appearance, and all the things you listed sound quite nice, especially a lunch that is fresh rather then the rations I have been surviving on. Dried meats and water only do so much for hunger it seems. He paused looking down at what he wore while a hand absently scratched at the side of his head. The silver thread and blue cloth of his shirt were a bit dingy and would likely suffer a wash in the best ways possible, the black hid it a bit more but could be imagined to hold much of the same state. “Perhaps I should venture one of the local shops first, these are the only clothes I have and I think as it stands would leave me as an inconvenience to you. You see, my current circumstance has left me rather… unprepared for life.”

The girl was pretty in her own way, with skin that was comparable to his own under the moonlight, and eyes that danced, likely thanks to the flowing greens of her summer top. The silver band did not escape his eyes either, though he had little idea of what it meant other then possibly signifying she was an employee perhaps noting her position as a hostess as well. “Ah forgive me Nilanv…” The man had suddenly realized that he had ignored her introduction in the plethora of thoughts running about in his mind. “My name is Akuaysun.

[Gossamer]

Akuasyun

Nilanv listened quietly. While the gentleman didn't exactly answer her question - she hadn't expected him too. He had weighty things on his mind, that much was certain, and though he spoke of his current circumstance, she had no true knowledge of what his problems might be. "No, we'll send out for something if your worried about your current clothing. There's a shop near here that's not up at the Castle which can send something over to you. They do good work and I can guess your likes well enough by what your wearing now. It's part of our services." The Konti said, looking thoughtfully at Akuaysun. "Does your name have a meaning?" She asked, as she gently reached out to take the Myrian's elbow to guide him quietly towards a room he could rest for the night in. Each of their rooms had small bathing chambers off them - and one close by would definitely do the trick. As soon as she touched his elbow however, she understood acutely that he wasn't a myrian exactly. Ethaefal. It made more sense now.

"Right this way... it is not far." She said, her quiet voice and delicate step leading him past the maze of the main lounge and several 'guests' enjoying themselves towards a discrete stairway that lead to the upper floor. After traversing the stairs, they came to a wide winding hallway (that seemed to wind in a similar manner to the maze of alcoves downstairs) until she opened the first door on the right. A young woman with honey gold eyes and long dark hair was there already, having ran ahead to turn on the taps that filled the bathtub in the adjacent room. She wore a gold bracelet, and a dress so sheer there was no actual need to remove it see what the girl would look like without clothing on. She was beautiful - far more attractive than the Konti that escorted him who appeared a little plain in comparison. "Thank you, Sandia - We'll use the pull if we require anything else later." She said. The girl bowed to Nilanv then removed herself from the room gracefully, catching Akuaysun's eye and purposefully brushing his arm with her breast as she ducked around him to leave. She winked as she did so, a soft inviting smile on her face.

Heat and warmth rose from the curtained off area in the back where the sound of water splashing into a bath could be heard. Jasmin and the scent of something else... a smooth musk like something that might roll off whiskey filled the room. The room itself was done in dark blues and greens that reminded Akuaysun of Lapis Lazuli and Malachite interweaving. It was a bedroom and combination bathroom with a small sitting area consisting of cushions, a brazier, and a small balcony that overlooked the city. Stone lined the walls in a very similar patterning - dark blues and dark greens blending - leaving the overall feel of the place as masculine and peaceful. A large bed dominated a short dais, and a set of tall candelabras flanked either side of it. More filled the bathing chamber. While the room wasn't exactly wealthy, it was comfortable and functional.

"I will just be a moment. You can settle in." Nilanv ducked back out again, presumably to get someone to go fetch him some clothing. She was back a moment later, with an arm full of towels, soap, and a comb. "Do you require some assistance bathing? I'll gladly give you a hand. There is no extra charge for the service. Dinner will be up in about a half hour, so there is time - and your clothing will be here before we are done." The seer said, indicating a place he could set down his pack which was a chest near the foot of the bed.

[Akuaysun]

Still a bit confused about the circumstances, Aku allowed Nilanv to guide him down one of the halls. He wasn’t quite sure about everything that was happening so fast, it seemed that the staff here was quite proficient and leading their guests. At the explanation of clothing the man felt like interjecting to explain that the clothes had simply been given to him because they fit, and were not really a selection on personal taste but figured the fuss of the matter would be more of a hassle then it was actually worth. Telling someone you had crawled out of a lake and someone threw everything you owned at you in a matter of moments was likely not a story that would go without drawn out explanations… explanations that he did not truly have to offer.

As they slid through the halls, weaving by other occupants that were more then enjoying their time with the pleasures of the workers, Akuaysun said little. He was to busy taking in the sights, sounds, and smells. People here seemed genuinely happy, and he observed that many of the more, physical hosts wore gold about their wrists rather then silver, further solidifying that his particular host was someone outside of the general loop. Whether that was good or bad had yet to be seen but she did seem pleasant enough, likely a senior member. Gazing about absently they at last came to a door on the second level, his guide having been more then accommodating with his silence thus far, Aku imagined she was used to this series of events.

As the door slid open it revealed much more then was expected. The girl, though looking a bit older then his current guide, was just finishing preparations for a bath. She was lovely in her own right, and the lack of clothes along with the nature of those she did wear left nothing up to the imagination. Soft flowing curves and supple form gave her presence and as she bowed to the whims of Akuaysun’s host and slid out, he felt the tender softness of said flesh. In the moment when they locked eyes Aku’s body tensed and his heart paused as any warm blooded man would before such a sight. He smiled politely back and quickly turned his attention back to the Konti that guided him. While most would have likely been deep in thought about the girl that had just left, pleasures of the flesh were far from this lost soul’s mind.

As she slipped from the room his gold and emerald eyes looked about. The place was lavish without being too much, a carefully crafted balance that held a relaxing aura. Stepping to the window he caught a view of the city, wonderfully laid out before him. It was large and beautiful, a gem founded in the aftermath of disaster. He wondered who ran it, why they had felt the urge to create something like this. Perhaps it was human nature to be bonded with others, even Myri had strived to give her people a home in the jungles… even the gods had a place for their people.

The thought brought over a wave of sadness, he had far too much time on his hands to think of such things, and not nearly enough answers. Just before the thoughts could turn to despair however, Nilanv returned with soaps and linens for the bath, and offered out her assistance. He smiled and looked her petite form over, while not as alluring as the more diverse Sandia this girl was still lovely in her own rites. Aku pondered what drew men to different women, how they saw each in a unique way. Since entering this hall he had the pleasure of soft touch from two distinct individuals, a choice that seemed to remind him a bit of each of his current lives. Beauty and grace against wild spirited nature, it was humorous to observe the situation unfolding about him.

“Thank you for all of the help.” Spoken softly they were the first words he had muttered since their greeting. Moving to the chest he sat, letting his bag slide from his shoulders and fall to the ground. Pulling one leg up to cross his other and allow him an easy grasp of the leather laces that bound his boot to foot Aku continued. “I do not need assistance bathing, and do not let me hold you if you needed elsewhere, though a bit of conversation would be nice. I haven’t had many to speak with since my journey started.” It was true; very few words had been shared to any real degree with others since his falling. Letting off a soft sigh he pulled the first boot free and went to work on the second. “You asked about my name, in the main hall. It’s not my actual name, I can’t pronounce my true name in your tongue, but it is very close. It means beauty of the moonlight… I was once considered a shining star to someone very important.” He smiled softly, a wicked looking grin because of his Myrian nature, but his eyes held the true softness in his soul.

Long ago had he tamed his bloodlust, and while short to temper and guided by emotion in this form, Akuaysun was still very much Ethaefal. He had contemplated life and the world for centuries and held dearly to those times with Leth. In many ways he was Myrian by appearance alone. Dropping the second boot, he moved barefooted with grace of nature to the Konti woman. He took the cleaning utensils from her, pausing to admire her scaled flesh the way it softly radiated in the dim light of the room. In a way it reminded him of his celestial form, delicate and lovely. Moving to the bath he continued to undress, unashamed of his appearance and happy to be sliding into the water. If she looked at his bare form she would see the scar covered and tattoo riddled skin of his past life, for just moments before he slipped into the tub.

If she did choose to stay he would ask, “What of your life Nilanv, what brings you to this city?

[Gossamer]

Akuaysun

Nilanv seemed disinclined to leave, nor did she seem overly bothered by Akuaysun's nudity. The bathing chamber had a tile floor and an overly large marble tub, but there were seats in it as well - long low slung benches that seemed suggestive in their own rights, even though they rested innocently enough. The truth was, they were positioned appropriately for someone to settle upon them in order to provide conversation or other entertainment to a bather who needed company after a long journey. The entire place was lovely, decorated with incredibly taste and allure without being overdone and somehow cheap. Nilanv settled on one of the twin benches, her pale eyes on Akuaysun as he slipped into the water. She leaned back, tucking one of her long legs up under her, making herself comfortable. The impression was of an old friend or sister visiting after a long absence. "It is a lovely name. There is strength and beauty mixed within it that is unusual for a man." She said, looking thoughtful. Nilanv did not advert her eyes as his clothing slipped away, nor did she seem anything but slightly intrigued by the intricate designs etched across his skin. She did not stare and there was no judgment in her gaze.

"I came to Syliras years ago. I had a curiosity to meet others and to practice my healing and seeing. I stayed with Kaylana for a while up at Stormhold - she is my cousin and adviser to Loren Dyres, the Grandmaster of the Syliran Knights - but there was something not quite right about the fit. The castle is entirely too large, a city within a city, and I longed to be out of its stone confines. I met Tyres, the owner here, a few years ago while he was still building The Golden Dragon. I should have been offended, really, when he asked me to come work here. After all, a good Konti woman would not consider such a thing proper ... but it has grown on me." She said softly, smiling. "I am not one of the traditional women. I am here in the capacity of a healer, keeping disease away and the men and women' who work here, and their overall health up to our strict standards. But there is more to my job." She said, leaning over to pluck a large silver scrub brush with a long handle off an elegant tray of bathing tools. She handed it to him across the distance, but did not otherwise offer her assistance. "My skills run towards the mind. I can heal, like any good follower of Rek'keli, but I can also see problems in people. I can acutely feel their worries. In you, I sense your loss mixed with sadness. I can tell you have not fully accepted your rebirth, but it is coming... slowly. You are newly reborn, aren't you?" She said gently. Nilanv reached up and brushed a stray lock of pale hair out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear. She rose then, and walked about the room, turning down the hurricane oil lamps that lit the place and instead lighting candles as the sun disappeared and cast shadows across the city. It turned the simple bathing room into an almost surreal place, comfortable and somewhat more intimate if that was possible.

"Sometimes, people just need someone to talk too. There is a real pleasure in a good conversation. I've found that men especially sometimes appreciate that more than some of the sex offered here." She said, having completed the circuit and settled back on the bench. "And I know I have often been curious about your kind. My questions are probably ones you cannot answer, but I still find myself willing to ask them. Why you? Why were you chosen to come back, over so many other people?" She asked, her blue eyes so pale in the dim light, she almost looked blind.

[Akuaysun]

Akuaysun didn’t bother looking at the woman as he dipped into the water. The tub’s warmth rolled over his skin, enveloping and surrounding his form. The heat relaxed his muscles and loosened his hard flesh which gave way to a soft sigh of relief. After the journey south from Ravok it was nice to have a moment of peace, to know that after the bath he would be clean, and that the bed he slept in would be comfortable while his stomach was full.

Leaning back in the tub his emerald and gold eyes swirled about as gazed out the window. He had arrived in the late afternoon, still quite a bit of time before he transformed but the sky and city darkened as the sun was just starting to slide behind the shroud of the wall. His fingers ran along the smooth marble that lined the inner well, feeling out its mirror surface, they had spared little expense when it came to the extravagance of this building. Aku was beginning to wonder what exactly the higher end venues included.

Taking the brush with a smile, and listening to her words Aku went to work on scrubbing himself down. Taking the block of soap and lathering into the bristles of the scrubber. As he washed his eyes were caught by her subtle curves moving across the room. She was a lovely woman, though he was more captivated by his curiosity then her beauty. This was the first time he could recall seeing a Konti. Whilst she moved and set the lanterns to their new soft glow, he scrubbed deeper, pushing the bubbles into his flesh and letting the dirt and foam turn the pool translucent. With each dip he could feel more of the filth drifting away.

“You’re right Nilanv, I am recently reborn and by knowing that you know more of my kind then I do. Outside of suddenly waking in a pool of water and fighting for my life to survive I have little recollection of the events right before and after my rebirth. After I pulled myself from the lake around the city of Ravok I met a man who called me an Ethaefal and said that I should be careful of myself, and that my kind was rare to be seen. He was a follower of Leth and handed me what few possessions I have but outside of that I know nothing of my kind. I can barely remember my past lives, only flashes here and there; things come and go depending on my form.

Aku paused once more his eyes drifting from the woman to the pool of water he lounged in. A bit of the soap was swirling about beneath the surface, a barely visible fog that hazed and obscured the view below. It was like his mind, a cloud that blocked out part of the picture and kept the imagination wondering. His life was not some distant dream however. It was a collection of memories buried within his old soul, a picture book of curiosities that were somehow all tied together. The question was though, how… how did the series of events lead him to the celestial realm and then after so much time, why did he have to return from his blissful retirement of life. What was so important, or what had happened that was so foul to cast his soul back into the flesh. It was all so distant, all so vague.

“So to answer your question of why me, well I have no answer for that. It is the reason I am so confused, so lost and unwilling to accept this life. I have no guidance in this form, and it is why I will seek out Leth and ask him what it is that needed my hand over others or if this was all some grand mistake.”

[Gossamer]

Nilanv nodded, rising to fiddle with something that looked like pipeworks at the edge of the room. A current mysteriously manifested as Akuaysun began to soap himself, whisking away the greying water and replacing it with clean water via a slight waterfall faucet at one end and a drain at the other. The cleverness of the tinkers device was unusual, thought the water pipped in was a bit hotter than that which steeped in the pool itself.

The konti listened to the Ethaefal's words, and moved to settle on folded legs beside the pool when she got done opening valves and adjusting the flow of water into the tub. A pattern work of scales winked in the candlelight highlighting her throat, arms, and the intricate patterning of them on her legs. If she was any more pale, she'd be the white of death or marble. But the flush of pink in her skin from the heat and the steam of the room shattered the surrealism of her otherwise almost impossible coloring. Nilanv offered Akuasyun a smile, then softly spoke.

"It must be true then, the stories my people tell about yours. We are great lovers of music and art, often finding the transitional nature of your kind intriguing. Where we are always as we are, you are in many ways like trees that shed their leaves or change their colors to match the seasons. And while we are lovers of nature, there are no greater emulators of it than your people. We... have a great fondness for love stories. Stories of forbidden or ill fated are some of our most pleasant... and Leth and Syna's tale is one of our favorites. But we have other stories, of their children who dwelled on the sun and moon... people who were faithful that were just as much affected by the Valterrian as we were here on Mizahar. Even as our world was torn apart, theirs was too, and though ours is whole and functioning, there are still great rends in the pathways between the stars. Our people say yours fall into these rends, sometimes... and then appear from hence you came, rising up out of the seas. We have found a few, not many, but some have stayed on in Mura for a time, or at least regained their will to continue on with their life. Each one is the same though... like you... a bit sad and lost. I would feel the same too, I think, being so far from my home. I had hoped it wasn't like the stories... that it was a choice to be here rather than there." The konti woman said, sighing softly.

"But why do you need guidance? I would take it as a gift and run with it, doing what I wanted when I wanted in whatever manner holds true for me. I would see far off places, have the daughters I never had, and not let anything stop me in living a second life as beautifully as I could." She said, leaning over to pluck a bottle of oil from a basket near the bath, uncapping it, and adding a few drops to the water. A sheen of iridescence covered the top in a film, and infused the steam coming off the heat with an exotic scent that was both masculine and relaxing.

"Life is too short to do otherwise... or to spend it searching for answers you may not like. you should live it instead. Make the rules up yourself. If you are meant to have the answers, they will find you all in good time." She said gently, as she recapped the bottle and replaced it in its basket.

[Akuaysun]

Aku basked in the warmth that surrounded him; it was near overwhelming to feel the heat swirling about, relaxing his form and mixing with the oils to add more fragrance to the room. All the scents combined with the heat and dimming, flickering light slowly worked him into a trance like state where the sights that filled his eyes seemed more like a memory then actuality. Thus far, it was the closest thing in this world he could compare to sitting with Leth. A soft sigh broke the dark flesh of his full lips and pushed a bit of the rising steam away whilst his body sunk lower into the water, the dirt scrubbed from his flesh draining away as the tub filled anew.

Through heavy eyelids Akuaysun turned his gaze on the Konti, her shimmering scales adding to her otherworldly beauty. This was the first time he had seen one of the alabaster women and in ways she reminded him of his own appearance, but at the same time she was very much of her own. As she spoke softly to him, he picked out these differences, it was true that now in these days his hair was very much the opposite of hers, even in his Ethaefal form, and the horns that grew from his head shone with milky brilliance, if such a thing was possible. The thoughts roused others, about the transformations, it was good that the time was a bit off yet, perhaps a few hours as the sun was just starting to linger behind the city walls before dipping into the horizon.

As she continued however, her words begin to send his mind back into that deep spiral of thought. Eyes saddened as he forced a smile to his lips, a thin one, the kind put up for appearances alone. The Myrian even let a soft chuckle escape his lips before pulling in a deep breath through his nose to help hold back the tears forming about his eyes. “That would often be the case I imagine, though it is not the life that I live. If one knows the greatest peace in the world how could they then turn their back upon it? I was Myrian in my last life, my people live for our queen, but I chose to live for the god of change, of thought and of the moon. I loved him so deeply that he chose me to stand at his side, to give me the greatest gift any man could ask for. For over five hundred years I was allowed to see the cycle, the people within it and the workings of the gods. You say that time is limited but it truly is not, only the time one spends in a body is limited.”

He paused, scooping up the water in his dark hands and pouring it across his bronzed facial features. The tiny streams wiping away any signs of emotion and adding color to his flesh. Again his lips slowly parted to speak, hanging slightly open for a minute before his deep voice was pushed through. “I am outside of the cycle of life and death, I do not belong here. If you cut my flesh it bleeds but from what I hear age has no barriers upon me. A cruel fate it is that I can move time forward for anything but myself…” Again Aku paused, this time turning to look into the eyes of his host. He stared into them as if peering deep into her soul, looking for answers held within. “Tell me Nilanv, you say that would have the children you never had, and speak casually of those you know of that share my form, but have you ever seen a child of the chosen? If we have been around for so long, would our numbers have not grown as the other races born of the great cataclysm did?”

Looking back into the pool of water his hands lifted to rest just beneath the surface. Emerald and gold scanned them, trying to remember all of the markings that they bore. Aku tried to remember what all they meant but the memories simply did not come. Again they fell deeper as his body rolled back and his head looked to the ceiling that hung above them. “If I have no task, if I was not put here for some purpose, and this was not a mistake, then I may as well be damned. A forsaken soul cast out by the gods… I wouldn’t expect you to understand, but to be here is anything but a gift for me.”

[Gossamer]

Nilanv nodded, thoughtful of his words. "It is true that I do not know your existence. I cannot. And yet, looking upon you, a thing of wonder and mystery, I do understand one thing. You do have a purpose. You are not cast adrift in the sea of life, a fallen log without even the ability to rot in the sea's salty brine." She reached forward and touched his forehead, brushing a strand of wet hair out of his eyes. It was an intimate touch, but yet not sexual. It was a living thing, reaching out to another living thing, seeking to comfort it even though she knew such comfort would be elusive to one such as he.

"Your kind have children. I know that. There are sisters on Mura who have sprang from konti wombs seeded by males of your kind. And I suspect that your females bare children as well, though I doubt they are blessed with the graces Leth and Syna give their first children. I would suspect they resemble your former lives and the auspice of your lovers. But if you dwell on the curses and not the blessings, you narrow your world down - painfully so, and make your existence useless and unnecessary." The konti said softly, shifting to sit back and look thoughtfully out at the late afternoon sky. She stared through the gossamer covered window for a long moment, before turning to look at him again.

"It would be a shame to waste the gift of a life here in the world on pining for what you cannot any longer have. And while you might think it a curse that you have had such peace and fulfillment, its a blessing to remember such things. You can seek to find a semblance of it again, or perhaps spread it to others. The world is crazy with violence and loss. Pain infuses the world. Someone who knows true peace could change that, and not just a little bit, but a whole lot... one life at a time... one person at a time. It seems selfish and hard-hearted to mourn the past when you have a future. There are countless lives that can't even say that, Akuaysun ." The Konti said, her voice sterner now, as if she had decided something she was uncertain of before.