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Post by Remus on Apr 16, 2015 20:55:41 GMT -6
It had been a..long day? Long wasn't quite the word. Eventful! That was the word. Er..technically it was accurate to call it that, even if the events were comprised of Owain and Amelia being abducted and he stabbed twice over. However it felt a bit weird thinking of it so light-heartedly. Stretching out a bit, the priest had a great weight burdening his shoulders that he couldn't easily relieve. As he tried to imagine ways to alleviate it by distracting himself; Amelia simply kicked her legs a bit from atop her priestly perch of Remus'es shoulders. Owain simply walked at the priests side, tugging on the sleeve of the arm which the staff was held from. Remus broke what had been a brief silence by speaking up.
"Nayru. What is your favorite location that you've visited within Elibe? You mentioned that you were a traveling historian, and I imagine you've found many nice places in your travels."
In earnest, upon learning she was a historian the priest had developed many questions for her. None of which were lessened when he learned she was a historian that enjoyed sight seeing all over Elibe. Her knowledge of the creatures within Lycia, the Rebellion of Bern, the state of Etruria and beyond were all far more than his own; though he wasn't surprised. Nayru was a confident woman that could easily defend herself, so it simply seemed appropriate to Remus. The priest shifted his gaze occasionally to the womans while mulling it over, walking down the path as he waited for her answer; left in silent speculation. Then again except for a brief portion of Sacae, and the small path up through Ilia Remus had only ever seen Etruria. Did he really know anything about the sights of Elibe? He highly doubted it.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Apr 21, 2015 17:29:10 GMT -6
"My favorite...?"
Nayru trailed off, catching herself partway through repeating the question as her mind caught up with her mouth. As ever, she had been locked within the labyrinth of her own mind to some degree, from which Remus's query had gently extracted her, but it was still taking a moment to parse it. It was, in some ways, similar to an older human, though less due to deteriorating mental capacity so much as simply having far too many concurrent processes running simultaneously and not necessarily pausing easily.
Well, that, and the question was actually a pretty hard one, requiring more of the aforementioned processes than a question like 'how's the weather up there?' The spectrum of criteria that could be used to identify a unique answer was immense - she had visited countless memorable locations, each one notable for something else; beautiful vistas, intriguing legends etched in crumbling ruins, bustling cities... truly Elibe held great beauty even amidst the endless horror and atrocity that plagued so much of it. Much like humanity to entwine the greatest highs and the direst lows into one.
"Too many to count, and I ill like to pick a city over a mountain, or a sea over an ancient ruin." Nayru smiled ethereally - f**k water, seriously, ruins were much more interesting - but continue onward rather than simply rebuffing Remus's question entirely; while she took issue with his perspective and had felt the need to deny it, she had no issue whatsoever with answering the question she believed he had actually meant to say. "I could speak for a year and a day of the sights I have seen and barely scratch the surface of what I found memorable in its own way. But there will always be gems that shine above their kin, and Elibe is host to a rich variety of kinds of beauty. The trading city of Khan Yunis, the breathtaking and austere majesty of Ilia's greatest mountains and the... strange individuals who call them home," Dragons, not that she would say as much - Lynessa, Taiel, and their ilk - "...and while I have not visited it recently, I recall more than its share of manmade wonders in Etruria even before more recent constructions."
And so many more besides; ancient ruins far and wide, not to mention the wonders of Arcadia on which her lips were sealed. She could get going on THAT pretty bad, though, and while Remus would probably be interested... eh. Maybe later. "Tell me, Remus, what do you know of Khan Yunis?"
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Post by Remus on Apr 21, 2015 20:42:12 GMT -6
Khan Yunis. A name he hadn't heard of, or read save maybe five or so times total. Ever. In his entire life. Though Remus didn't stop walking he shifted his gaze upwards as he spoke out allowed. Expressing thoughts before actually answering; more or less commenting upon her words prior. "It is a goal of mine to be able to say the same some day. I realize I'm not the best equipped for or adept at traveling..but I feel understanding can only come through directly having been there. To see, touch, feel, interact...haha..it's funny. My sister used to berate me for reading all the time. Told me that I wouldn't find the world I wanted in my books. She was right, but I guess it took me a while to give her any stock. Now though as I've started seeing a bit more of the world I've felt a stronger desire to see more. I confess myself Envious that you've seen such things."
However the priest chuckled a bit as he smiled in a relaxed way, leaning forward to adjust Amelia and keep his balance properly as she sat upon his shoulders. He continued talking a moment later. "Khan Yunis. I've..vaguely heard of it. All I know is it is a city within Nabata. A trade city I already knwew but a port city I believe? I could be mistaken on that, though I'm simply trying to dredge up from my mind what things I can recall. There have been few points in time where it's occurred to me honestly to read or research any real details upon Nabata. I take it you are fond of the city? "
The things she spoke of though. Great cities and mountains, and sights he could only imagine to accompany journeying to them and back or inbetween. It truly gave him a sense of wanderlust. Something he'd surely get a dose of soon enough or; have sated as he was supposed to travel to Laus and back. That would send him through a fairly large percentage of Elibe.
He could only imagine, the talks he'd be able to have with Nayru upon their next meeting. Perhaps they'd meet upon his travels. One couldn't be sure; but he knew that when they met up next it would be great. If she had traveled to such great places, it left him with a yearning to know what places she had seen. If only to know where he himself might be able to look into traveling to. Perhaps he would though. Perhaps he would.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Apr 22, 2015 14:13:14 GMT -6
"I've always thought more people should travel... it grants a certain perspective that is difficult to comprehend for those who have been locked to a single location. No matter their age, gender, or race, there are similar limitations in having a worldview based solely on... us versus them, on knowing Sacaens as nothing but savages, of Etrurians as simply religious fanatics, of Ilians as amoral mercenaries, of Bernese as wild wyvern riders." Nayru's words were quiet, but filled with deep conviction born of centuries of thought and experience.
"So long as your neighbors across the border are 'just' Etrurians or Ostians or Sacaens, it is all too easy to dehumanize them, to see them as the enemy. It is only when you actually visit them - when you travel the continent - that you truly realize they are nothing more and nothing less than human." There was no guile in her words, just a strange combination of ancient experience and a sort of youthful naivete that coexisted in a curious fashion. "Your sister was wise beyond her years... though there is great value in books as well; as a supplement rather than a sole source of truth."
It was probably for the best Remus hadn't asked about her opinions on many authors - Nayru was VERY opinionated on most historians, and not all of her thoughts on the subject were entirely appropriate for casual conversation, mostly because it was one of the things she grew most heated about. There was also the problem of her talking about men of centuries past as if she had known them - which was true, as it happened, but not necessarily great for keeping her cover.
"Khan Yunis is... perhaps one of the more telling examples of my beliefs. The Jewel of Nabata, the oasis of the desert; shipping superhighways between Etruria and Bern often stop there, and the relics of ancient Nabata are often shipped out through Khan Yunis rather than taken over land through Lycia due to bandit activity... it is a city of a thousand worlds all coinciding, ethnic Nabatan culture mixed with others from across Elibe. An ever-growing city, one still relatively young, but infinite in possibility. A place where the old world and the new become one; not a paradise, but a possibility."
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Post by Remus on Apr 22, 2015 18:24:11 GMT -6
Etrurians as religious fanatics? Remus chuckled as he smiled upwards with the inwards thought of growing up in the church. It wasn't far off. If only Nayru knew. What it was like, to be within the presence of High Inquisitors and Bishops who stood in upon sermons or morning prayers. Sometimes they had this..fire in their eyes that seemed so great, if it would be devoted to singularly positive goals. However deep down Remus knew that she was still right. Ignorance of social labels and stereotypical brands was from a lack of immersion or contact. His tone held the same bright almost upbeat attitude he usually housed. "I agree with you entirely, in earnest. Though not all my experiences traveling thus far have been pleasant...I've come to learn far more than if I had simply sat home idle. Haha..My sister..ahh..."
What could he say? She was almost his complete opposite. Anything he couldn't do, he would wager gold she could. Betting wasn't his forte..but in this instance..His tone almost mimicked that. "Ahh..she..is quite the traveler herself. Was able to join the best of Etruria's magical schools off of talent alone practically. Learns at a rapid rate, and disappointing many simply because she chose not to enlist in the army or inquisition with her talent but travel instead. I envy her for it, and she'd claim no other life is worth living for her."
Shifting his poise a bit as he walked but keeping his staff on stride and step he tilted his gaze as he listened to Nayru further. The fact that she mentioned books had almost instantly peeked the priests interest. Had he been a dog, which was an odd and slightly disturbing thought or comparison; his ears would have perked. There was something he COULD relate to. How many hours of his life had been spent lingering by candle-light and reading into the darkest segments of night's dark embrace. Even sleepless ones simply because a particularly fascinating tome entranced his mind or captivated him into a desire to know the end. His tone had a bit of an excited edge to it. "Are there any historical texts you've read recently or found particularly educational beyond the traditional telling of history? Say, like the ones that delve into the philosophies which triggered or developed because of events in history?" Remus ceased speaking however as she talked of the Nabatan trade town. It sounded like a magnificent place. Once again Remus spoke up with a smile on his face; even chuckling again. "I admit, until this conversation I've never felt a tug to visit or experience Nabata beyond passing interest. Most even then fleeting fancies or speculated interest at best. Now however after hearing your description of it I wouldn't be able to decide first what place I'd like to visit of the few within my mind. Perhaps it's the way your speak of it; it seems quite grand regardless. "
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Apr 22, 2015 19:21:06 GMT -6
"Yes. You spoke of her earlier." Nayru's response was almost automatic - a tacit admission that she had heard and understood Remus's words more so than a reply. Truth be told, she wasn't entirely sure how to react; perhaps she had even met the woman at some point - or perhaps the girl was lying dead in a ditch anywhere. It was a strange and uncomfortable thought, but one that had consumed her for many years. So many people met over the years, so many paths that had converged for a brief instant in time before diverging once more. What had happened to each of them over the years, decades, centuries? How many had been mugged and left to bleed out the next day, or reached a limited degree of fame later?
...Hopefully his sister was not one of the unfortunates. Sometimes - she couldn't say that she wanted to be religious, but Nayru was not entirely blind to its allure. Had her longevity not given her perspective she very likely would have ended up a devoutly religious individual as a means of attempting to make sense of the horrors of the world. Unfortunately, Remus ruined everything by bringing up a subject far from mind but near to her heart - books. Specifically, historians and their work. "Bunch of frauds," the dragon grumbled in a complete change of mood. "For each good man trying to keep the truth alive, there are ten charlatans simply selling a story."
There was steel in her tone, something else she felt strongly about. "History is written by the victors, the saying goes, but the truth is that history is written by those with an agenda, usually long after the fact - the victors oft tell little more than the tone. Facts give way to fiction in pursuit of a better story; justifying atrocities or demonizing good men and women, a trap which very few authors escape entirely."
In some ways she was grateful to Remus for offering her an alternate path to the conversation, if only for a moment before his own response inevitably turned back to it. Nabata was something she could speak more affectionately of - it was her home, as much as she had anything resembling a home. But it was more than her home - more thana place to live - she had always been able to feel something very old, very familiar, calling to her from within its endless expanse. There were secrets buried beneath the shifting shands, and among the myriad ones unrelated to her, Nayru had always felt there was one that was meant for her specifically.
Perhaps it was strange that her bond to Nabata was not due to feelings of home, but attraction to its secrets, but the difference was of minor import regardless. It was, if nothing else, at least a subject from which she could speak with great authority - perhaps even by dragon standards given her tendency to explore its depths. She began anew, almost dreamily. "Nabata is a... world forgotten by time. A portal to the past, but no one remembered to tell those from millennia past that the world now is a different place, and so they live on, wrapped in their own worlds, in each other, as Elibe passes them by."
"In some ways, Khan Yunis is the... portal to that world. An injection of new life - of change - but also a way for Nabata to remind the rest of the continent of truths long since forgotten. So many ruins, scathed by the sands but protected from scavengers. Relics of those past worlds. To see them is to stand astride the twain, simultaneously viewing past and future. It is a wondrous feeling."
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Post by Remus on Apr 22, 2015 22:59:06 GMT -6
"Bunch of frauds. For each good man trying to keep the truth alive, there are ten charlatans simply selling a story" He had to admit he hadn't expected her tone to change so much. Then again given their conversations the night prior where she showed a rather constant theme of realism within the worlds workings could he really be surprised? Just as he had expressed his differences in Etrurian faith, he noticed here that her opinion was uniquely distinct and not only different from the norm but educated and thought out into what was obviously a well informed opinion. Though he heard her out, and would have liked to delve into a broken down conversation of different historians and the motives behind their publications he realized it might be better to focus upon a single topic. Especially if it bothered her in such a way. Switching between two topics constantly that were pleasant and unpleasant respectively wasn't okay.
As she described Nabata, and Khan Yunis Remus attempted to imagine it. He could only imagine the sheer number of ruins or secrets that had been undisturbed for so long. How many things were there? How many had changed? Perhaps since the Scouring even. Remus slowly spoke, his tone thoughtful and his words slightly hesitant as he fully thought of the proper phrasing. "While I can only imagine the countless things buried within the sands. Is it possible that cities are preserved beneath them? That is to say, the desert is a vast place. Even with years of exploration..what if there was a city..or even multiple cities yet to be connected to us? Or perhaps others inhabiting ruins within the desert. Perhaps a foolish notion given my naivete towards exploration; however with your talk of pasts and present I can only wonder if there were people about living as if untouched by time. Seeing them, and knowing that is how we once lived ourselves. Mayhaps I'm just rambling now though. "
True. He was indeed but the idea was sticking fairly well. He couldn't exactly shake it.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Apr 23, 2015 8:34:55 GMT -6
Entire cities...? Nayru wasn't sure - the only major legends she had heard were of the gilded city of Arcadia, lost sometime during or before the Scouring, in what was now modern-day Lycia, but there were always rumors and legends of others. "Much of Elibe's history lies shrouded in shadow... even myths barely penetrate the veil of history. Monsters, dragons, other races, entire civilizations - which were simply myths and which were truly lost to us?"
"They say that once upon a time, Nabata was not a desert, but an oasis - but the tales of its fall are as varied as grains of sand. One tale claims it was a strange and terrible magic that drained the water from everything inside - man, animal, even the earth itself left bone dry. Others say it was a war on a scale unfathomable by modern standards, that Nabata was merely a side effect of magical resonance or the result of a glancing hit from some unknown weapon. Others claim that it is the eternal tomb of a civilization wiped from history for reasons unknown - that some of the ruins there are forged by neither man nor dragon, but some mysterious third party, and could we but comprehend their strange scripts we would learn the truth."
Nayru smiled, chuckling to herself. "Of course, legends should always be taken with a grain of salt... that so many contradictory legends can exist simultaneously is itself proof of that." She looked at Remus seriously. "But I have seen strange things in that desert - ruins ancient beyond even the dragons, scripts not even I can understand, etchings of creatures with no modern analogue. I don't know if there are entire cities lying under the sands, but given what I've seen barely scratching the surface... I cannot deny the possibility."
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Post by Remus on Apr 23, 2015 10:11:01 GMT -6
That was an interesting thought. Things beyond mankind or dragon both? A civilization perhaps not only predating both..but even laid groundwork's for humanity and Dragon kind? It was an enticing thought, and hearing her explanations and breakdown he realized that here was a woman that had (as he already knew prior; now expounded) vastly more experience in life than he had. Suddenly however Amelia pipped up, Remus somewhat impressed that she had kept quiet as long as she had. With one hand upon the shaggy blue hair of the priest whom shoulders she sat she lifted the other into the air excitedly suddenly speaking out. Her tone brimming with energy and clearly with a knowing nod as if she had uncovered the true telling of events.
"What if they were like dragons and people combined! The Amelians! They coulda taught humans and dragons how to do stuff, and when they got hungry they all went to get food. Until they come back humans and dragons decided to look after their house and then they got into an argument so the scouring happened! "
It all made perfect sense. Historians all the world over could rest easy, knowing Amelia had settled the world's greatest mysteries all in a single stroke. Remus laughed a bit before inputting his own opinion, and speaking a bit softer than the excitedly shouting girl. "I believe, that while I'm a bit hesitant on the name..and er...going out for food....I would almost wish to explore it further. While there are, as you've said countless notions I'm sure as to origins it would be one thought. A civilization predating dragons and humans both? Perhaps comparing their remnants to ours, and seeing if any trace resembles that which we now use? Though honestly, a race different of humans and dragons that would set a foundation for both...only to have both come out so different? It leaves room for doubt as well. Ah..but I ramble on. Haha.."
With his free hand he lifted it to rub the back of his head smiling quietly while looking to Nayru with a bit of a chuckle. :"I can understand your fascination with history. Simply talking of possible theories has seemingly siphoned me into such thoughts. I...can see the appeal surely. How much of Nabata have you explored? Err...that is to say how much of it do you recall visiting?" Nabata was a vast place. An ocean of sand and heat. He knew the concept of plotting it out was nigh impossible from a personal perspective. To tour the entire place would likely take several life times. It was a shame. Would it be that any one historian couldn't perhaps they could leave the task up to others? Here he was though, getting wrapped up so easily in a topic he knew so little about.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Apr 23, 2015 11:10:10 GMT -6
"The Amelians..." Nayru smiled mischievously, glancing at Remus before addressing the young lady with her response. "I suppose there is no proof your theory is incorrect, Amelia, and by basic logic that means it's probably right. We'll just need to look harder to find the evidence for it. Maybe your future goal should be archaeology."
Despite Amelia's silliness, it was a bit of a chilling thought - what if there actually HAD been another race, perhaps even progenitors of civilization, and they returned in the future? Would they take umbrage to what the younger races had done to their world in the interim? Would they be understanding of the myriad mistakes of man and dragon alike? There was so much she didn't understand - and even the things she thought she did were not necessarily true.
Aerious seemed convinced monsters were born from the negative emotions of humans and that the dragons had selflessly defeated them - but what if monsters predated humanity? What if they were manifestations of the world's will, or simply native fauna, or even a set of engineered races used by this precursor race for... what? War? Agriculture? The latter seemed ridiculous, but without any true facts, she could no more say the Tarvos were bred for war than that they were bred as intelligent mounts, or even as simply an arbitrary aberration accidentally born of ancient science.
Regardless of which of those was true, though, it meant little in regards to the present. Monsters were a clear and present danger that had to be dealt with appropriately. If there was some ancient race, and their return heralded bloodshed, the remaining races of Elibe would simply fight for their existence. Funny how many things could be boiled down to us versus them despite all her philosophizing, but that was the nature of the world sometimes. "I am more concerned for the consequences of their return than the mechanics of it," she commented neutrally, not entirely eager to share the specifics with Amelia in close attendance. "Certainly much could be learned from their ruins, but I fear for their reaction if they return from their food run to find out us guests have trashed their house."
She shook her head, trying not to focus on that too much. It was probably just a myth anyways - more likely there were different strata of dragon society and the older ones were so different from the newer varieties that they were mistaken for different races. Certainly humans seemed to have forgotten that dragons could even assume human form - who was to say that the dragons of old did not have greater powers that the dragons of today had likewise forgotten? Perhaps shapeshifting - true shapeshifting - had actually been a power afforded to all dragons, and the limited variety dragons of today could do was little more than a vestigial remnant of the protean nature of their ancestors.
Heh. Maybe her tendency to shift forms would lead to a breakthrough. And maybe bandits would turn out to all be good people, while they were on the subject of stupid crap. "Nabata is... was... my home. Much of my childhood was spent exploring it, with a special knack for finding the most dangerous ruins and rarest monsters and nearly getting myself killed, to the great aggravation of my caretaker. I imagine I have more experience with the area than most." More than any human in history save Athos himself, more likely, and most dragons to boot.
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Post by Remus on Apr 23, 2015 12:36:02 GMT -6
"The Amelians...I suppose there is no proof your theory is incorrect, Amelia, and by basic logic that means it's probably right. We'll just need to look harder to find the evidence for it. Maybe your future goal should be archaeology." Remus didn't need to see her to know Amelia was beaming with accomplishment. He could tell by the way the girl perched upon his shoulders kicked her legs a bit and swayed which; luckily for her meant he was able to keep balance but required more thought for a moment as he moved his hand back to her knee to keep her upright. After which however he chuckled with a light-hearted grin on his face. Amelia attempting to be an authority on anything scholarly? A horrifying thought. She'd have people believing horses were secretly dragons keeping an eye on humans still. Remus spoke up as Nayru began to ponder allowed.
"Certainly much could be learned from their ruins, but I fear for their reaction if they return from their food run to find out us guests have trashed their house." Remus pondered for a moment, as he lifted his fingers to his chin once his hand was free and Amelia's squirming settled. Nayru certainly had a point. As their conversation the night before reiterated, Humanity had not done a good job settling things consistently. They could be reliable sure, but consistency just wasn't one of their strong points. Though if they did return, assuming there was a "they" to be returning...would humanity be able to fend them off? Nayru's mention of Nabata tugged his mind back from such thoughts though. Looking to her as she spoke, it dawned on him. She had yet to mention much of her past as far as childhood. Imagining a younger version of her seemed oddly difficult without drawing parallels to Amelia. Perhaps it was just Remus being limited in experience, couldn't be too sure.
Gaze lowering to the path ahead, he looked to her with genuine curiosity as he spoke up. "What was it like, growing up in Nabata? If you don't mind me asking." He knew he was asking a personal question and delving into her past some, but his curiosities were getting the better of him. It felt as if Nayru was this great well of knowledge and experience and he found himself hard pressed to remain quiet. Naturally he felt full of questions around her with her being able to provide answers not only fascinating and each almost prompting their own tale but offering a bit more insight as well.
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Apr 23, 2015 15:03:19 GMT -6
Amelia's antics were a pleasant distraction, one that gave Nayru something to do as she considered Remus's unexpected question. While she probably should have seen it coming, it turned out being old DIDN'T give you prescience, unfortunately, and she had been too distracted by her own thoughts to really prepare for it anyways. From ancient alien civilizations to her childhood - wasn't that a change of subjects? Perhaps she was secretly an alien princss from a continent far away, or perhaps even another world, if there were indeed others out there as Nax had claimed... heh, it was an amusing thought. If true, though, she would have liked to have some more unique powers - eye lasers, maybe, or at least the ability to do the same crap that every other dragon could do.
"...Paradise," she impulsively replied to Remus without allowing herself to get bogged down too much in thoughts of exactly what would be appropriate to disclose. She had to face her past somehow; no matter how much she worked to do so there was always more to come, but being able to speak of it would be another step forwards. "Ignorance is truly bliss - I knew nothing of the world, nor of the darkness that lies in the hearts of others... or my own. The sand was harsh, but the people were kind, and we were too busy relying on each other to have the luxury of conflict."
Which was true, as it happened - Arcadia lived on a knife's edge of fragile balance, one that could be torn apart by ambitious upstarts or bitter elders alike. While she knew little of the specifics, it was well known that Athos and other council members took the task of protecting Arcadia's peace very seriously, and while no utopia could forever escape tragedy, Arcadia's list of incidents had been relatively few and far between as a result. The eternal irony of one of the greatest architects of the Scouring being personally responsible for the survival of the remainder of Elibe's dragons would forever encapsulate the strange dichotomy of the ancient archsage - if she ever had the chance, it was something she would have liked to have asked him about.
"Of course, my singular goal was to get into as much trouble as I could manage, I suspect in an attempt to drive everyone near me into an early grave. Perhaps the most cold-hearted of murder attempts in history, though frightfully ineffectual... at least against everyone but myself." Nayru giggled. "I was not a smart child - but entirely too clever for my own good. Whether it be fate, the Saint, or sheer dumb luck, I must have had something watching over me to survive to adolescence."
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Post by Remus on Apr 23, 2015 17:21:18 GMT -6
He could feel a slight shift in the weight existing in the form of Amelia; a literal bundle of energy at the moment. The raven haired girl was eagerly shifting around on the priests shoulders while he spoke to Nayru. Mentioning her childhood, or rather he probing her about it drew prying ears once more with the girl leaning forwards to better hear and hone in on the conversation. Remus rolled his eyes a bit, knowing all to well Amelia's history for listening in. It wasn't even worth pretending not to notice. Lapis strands of hair now messily matted to his head thanks to Amelia's hands resting upon his face; Remus huffing once just to blow them away before listening to Nayru. She was absolutely correct. Ignorance was bliss.
How happy had he been serving in the Church before he learned of corruption within it? Then his happiness turned into a desire to act. Surely the persistent ideal that righteous acts should be standard or even expected within the church would maintain; yet the lingering distaste for his inability to change at that moment was still a constant frustration. It was hard seeing the world as a darker place. That reality would strip humanity of this comforting bliss spoke volumes as to the world's honest workings. After all, could he doubt it? No, he couldn't. He'd seen the effect of Etruria's crusader mentality and it's legacy upon the average citizen outside of Etruria. Sometimes even just being a man of the Elimine faith had warranted others to treat him with a reverence he felt undo. It frustrated him. Deeply. His train of thought continuing, his words grew a bit quieter as he found himself ensnared within thought. "I can believe it. What time have you to throw down your neighbor or cast him aside, when he offers you a supply of shelter..or food..or comfort? When all rely on one another, they would ill-afford I am sure the notion even of scorning one another."
A chuckle thrummed within him as he smiled warmly however towards the woman while she mentioned with jovial tones her propensity for finding trouble. Surely enough he was reminded of Amelia while she spoke. Pranks, roamings..yes. Certainly trouble involved. Remus chimed in with a smile as he looked forwards once more. "I get the feeling though, Miss Nayru that these endeavors to find trouble are what helped turn you into who you are now. Those experiences clearly shaped you for the better. Even if you may have disliked them at the time. However, which ever saint or patron it is that watches over you...when I prayer next I shall deviate some prayer into thanking them. For by watching over you, they inadvertently watched over me. For which, I am obviously grateful. My fortunes were quite great by having encountered you Nayru. "
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Apr 23, 2015 18:22:03 GMT -6
"You might be surprised just how deep-rooted of divides can be bridged by simply helping one another." Nayru's words were carefully neutral, but there was a great sadness in her eyes that she struggled to hide by looking away from Remus, even if it might not have been in time to keep him from catching a glimpse. And yet, despite the harsh truths of Arcadia - that it was nothing more than a scar left behind by the infinite cruelty of the Scouring, the last survivors of a once-proud race, so too was it something so much more: proof that those scars could be healed. Arcadia was tragedy and hope entwined into a single entity, an eternal reminder of the past every bit as much as it was a glimmering beacon to a brighter future.
Just one of the many things she had never realized while she lived there. "...You really don't realize what you have until you lose it." It was an unplanned thought, one that slipped between her lips before she realized it had escaped, but the feeling was the harshest and yet most absolute truth she had ever learned, one she had struggled with for centuries now. Throwing things away only to learn how valuable they had truly been was a harsh burden to live with, especially as it wore for decades and centuries compared to the relatively brief flickers of human lives.
Remus really was a kind person... too kind, especially for one like her, whose well-being stood on the corpses of countless mortals. What numbers would it take to show him the truth? Ten? A hundred? A thousand? More? Nayru did not know the truth extent of her berserk rages, and even now, even with that madness behind her, it still terrified her to consider that despite it all, she still could not bear the true burden of those wasted lives. But she refused to drown beneath the tide of that sea of sorrow just yet. Might scar Amelia to watch someone literally perish in a figurative pond. "If getting stabbed is your idea of good fortune, I shudder to even attempt to comprehend what a bad day must be for you."
She turned back to Remus with a warm smile, her expression of a moment before evaporating into the wind; while she had much to consider, she at least had the ability to better understand and control her emotions now, and so she could manage in her own way. "But I am grateful to have met you as well. Talking philosophy while being attacked by assassins is arguably a step up from moping around while being attacked by assassins... there may be a pattern there but I can't quite figure it out."
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Post by Remus on Apr 23, 2015 19:50:12 GMT -6
"Your probably right. I would be..and I'm sure I'll learn it some day." He spoke thoughtfully, gazing to the sky as he quietly thought to himself of thoughts so similar to Nayru's..yet so very different. Despite his lack of experience, and his understanding of the world Remus knew very well that within him was a single unbridled will to help heal. He had long since been grateful for the art of magic he was gifted proficiency with. However what he wished to heal, he could not with a single stave. All of his bodies worth of might and all his prayers alone could not heal Elibe. Would it be that he could..he would have taken unto himself the worlds suffering thrice over just to bring Elibe a day of simultaneous unhindered and unwavering peace. Perhaps some day that dream would be easiest realized...maybe...
Remus turned to look to Nayru once more as she looked away. It was the first time he'd seen anything beyond her veil of discernible fortitude. That she was human after-all, and felt other emotions beyond a powerful resolve did not surprise him as much as he might have imagined. Perhaps it was that she seemed so strong a personality? He couldn't be sure. However while Amelia had shifted her gaze and was absently harassing Owain with periodic swats to ruffle his hair from atop her perch of priestly shoulders; Remus looked with a softer smile as he spoke quietly. He did not know the sufferings she had undergone, nor did he know the pain she would have experienced or potentially even caused. Yet he knew of healing. He knew of it's process to a degree and even some of life's wonder in such regard. When he spoke it was a tone of genuine intent. "It is true. We don't know what we have until it is gone...but we gain a greater appreciation for what remains. That which is no longer with us, has helped us with it's parting gain a greater value for what still is. At-least..that is what I believe."
Quietly chuckling he looked upwards once more to the sky. Before he chuckled a bit louder as Nayru commented upon his idea of good fortune. She was almost right. Almost. He'd have to correct her a bit however. "Surviving getting stabbed is my idea of good fortune. A bad day? Well..I'm not particularly fond of being high up. So I suppose...getting struck in a tree? That'd be pretty bad I think. At-least getting stabbed can be healed on the spot. Being stuck in a tree? That's brain damage that never leaves!"
Smiling widely again he laughed before retorting merrily. "Well I happen to enjoy the philosophy bit more than the assassin. I suppose however a good conversation must by equivalent exchange warrant an assassination attempt? Perhaps next time we'd best be more expecting! One could never be too wary these days it would seem. Ah..but look at me. Making light of such things. I fear I'm getting over-confident."
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