Elagastus
Established
Roleplay posts: 19
Registered: Sept 21, 2021 10:56:26 GMT -5
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Post by Elagastus on Oct 28, 2021 12:09:10 GMT -5
On a small outcropping overlooking a green fields was a small stone home. It was clearly old, existing before the fiends had arrived. No fiendstuff covered the ground, beyond small, carefully tended patches, clearly some sort of crops. It was all pristine trees and grass, carefully tended.
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Elagastus
Established
Roleplay posts: 19
Registered: Sept 21, 2021 10:56:26 GMT -5
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Post by Elagastus on Oct 28, 2021 12:10:29 GMT -5
Nina would wake up in a warm bed, birds chirping in a window. Sunlight was streaming in from said window. It was a new day, and Nina was nice and safe in a way she presumably hadn't been for quite a while.
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290 
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Oct 31, 2021 5:21:35 GMT -5
Nina woke up in stages, eyelids fluttering open a few times, then closing back with the certainty that wherever she was, she was safe. Sometimes, when she closed her eyes, the girl woke up and realised she'd been dreaming. Gradually the light changed across her dreams, from a crisp blue to a warm honey. A sunray lingered on the back of her ear.
The first thing she noticed were the blankets. To the side of her head, right over her right hand that had just started stirring, she could glimpse partially-overlapping edges of at least seven. Some were plain in color, while others embroidered with drawings of gemstones and pirates and labyrinths. Even the plain ones had different textures under her touch. The overall effect was one of precious wrapping paper. Nina carefully peeled them aside.
The room around was just as cozy, she thought, from the vantage point of her giant bed. What she first thought was whitewash was actually stone, slightly cool under her touch, and it's sandy color contrasted nicely with the darker wooden floor and and a rocking chair and panels in the walls, which could be, she thought, doors or closets or entrances to the secret labyrinth. It smelled of linen and nutmeg and that scent that followed rain with a name that she could never recall. One of her feet hesitated a palm's width from the floor, while the other was curled under her. She chirped towards the birds in the manner of a good-morning.
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Elagastus
Established
Roleplay posts: 19
Registered: Sept 21, 2021 10:56:26 GMT -5
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Post by Elagastus on Oct 31, 2021 8:06:39 GMT -5
Nina woke up in stages, eyelids fluttering open a few times, then closing back with the certainty that wherever she was, she was safe. Sometimes, when she closed her eyes, the girl woke up and realised she'd been dreaming. Gradually the light changed across her dreams, from a crisp blue to a warm honey. A sunray lingered on the back of her ear. The first thing she noticed were the blankets. To the side of her head, right over her right hand that had just started stirring, she could glimpse partially-overlapping edges of at least seven. Some were plain in color, while others embroidered with drawings of gemstones and pirates and labyrinths. Even the plain ones had different textures under her touch. The overall effect was one of precious wrapping paper. Nina carefully peeled them aside. The room around was just as cozy, she thought, from the vantage point of her giant bed. What she first thought was whitewash was actually stone, slightly cool under her touch, and it's sandy color contrasted nicely with the darker wooden floor and and a rocking chair and panels in the walls, which could be, she thought, doors or closets or entrances to the secret labyrinth. It smelled of linen and nutmeg and that scent that followed rain with a name that she could never recall. One of her feet hesitated a palm's width from the floor, while the other was curled under her. She chirped towards the birds in the manner of a good-morning.
"Lass! You're awake!" He said with joy in his voice. He set the rage down and walked to where she was sitting on the bed. "I was beginning to think ye wouldn't wake up. How're ye feeling lass?" |
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Nov 2, 2021 16:47:43 GMT -5
The smile in Nina's eyes froze for a moment, in the manner of one losing their footing. For a moment, Elagastus's words made no sense. Surely, if he was concerned that she wouldn't wake up in time to help with the cleaning, then he could have called for her? She opened her mouth to say so, and got distracted by the shifting shadows of his horns against the wall.
Then, like a wet rag to the face, realization struck her that he hadn't said 'in time'.
She shuddered, and found that she could hardly stop even as she tried to speak.
"I-" The girl wrapped her seven blankets tighter around her. "Was it that bad?" She whispered.
"I'm fine. Now." She managed to get out. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, and let out a breath that was part laughter and part cry. "I don't know why I'm reacting this way." Part gasping for air. "I'm feeling. Great." She tried shifting her shoulders, and winced through a smile. "Bit weird, like I carried rocks all day yesterday. But great."
Nina took a few deep breaths, trying to let the emotional overflow wash over her. It was not the first time that she had been so close to the edge, she told herself.
"I'm not used to magic taking quite as much from me." She admitted, in a level tone.
That chill was tempered by warmth, the impossible warmth of being cared for so much by someone she barely knew. Nina stared at Elagastus as if it was the first time she truly saw him. Thinking back of how much she hid from him, Nina could only feel shame.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry you." She mumbled.
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Elagastus
Established
Roleplay posts: 19
Registered: Sept 21, 2021 10:56:26 GMT -5
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Post by Elagastus on Nov 2, 2021 17:06:34 GMT -5
The smile in Nina's eyes froze for a moment, in the manner of one losing their footing. For a moment, Elagastus's words made no sense. Surely, if he was concerned that she wouldn't wake up in time to help with the cleaning, then he could have called for her? She opened her mouth to say so, and got distracted by the shifting shadows of his horns against the wall. Then, like a wet rag to the face, realization struck her that he hadn't said 'in time'. She shuddered, and found that she could hardly stop even as she tried to speak. "I-" The girl wrapped her seven blankets tighter around her. "Was it that bad?" She whispered. "I'm fine. Now." She managed to get out. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, and let out a breath that was part laughter and part cry. "I don't know why I'm reacting this way." Part gasping for air. "I'm feeling. Great." She tried shifting her shoulders, and winced through a smile. "Bit weird, like I carried rocks all day yesterday. But great." Nina took a few deep breaths, trying to let the emotional overflow wash over her. It was not the first time that she had been so close to the edge, she told herself. "I'm not used to magic taking quite as much from me." She admitted, in a level tone. That chill was tempered by warmth, the impossible warmth of being cared for so much by someone she barely knew. Nina stared at Elagastus as if it was the first time she truly saw him. Thinking back of how much she hid from him, Nina could only feel shame. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry you." She mumbled. "It's quite alright lass. All that matters is that you're alright now and from the sounds of it better than ye've been in quite a while. The king would tell me what happened to ye, the old bastard, just that you need looking after." |
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Nov 3, 2021 16:16:46 GMT -5
For a moment, Nina thought about leaving it all behind. The Clocktower would crumble to dust, in time. Among its ruins, Gray would perish, but perhaps it was better that way. New Isra could find its own way out of fungal mind-control diseases, minor starvation and its ruler's whims. She could step away from all that.
She could stay here.
Of course, the fiendstuff would make most areas of Helsreach impossible for her. And the traveler feared she wouldn't be as welcome once she wanted to stay. But a small hut at the edge of everything, at the edge of the sea...wouldn't that be nice? Hadn't she suffered enough?
"There is magic I am responsible for." Nina quietly explained. Her right hand reached for her chest, feeling the small shape of the clock hand against her breastbone. So, it had been real. "It wasn't something I was born to - if anything," she said with a wistful tilt of the head, "I would have liked to have inherited my father's sea-magic, - but someone had to do it." The magic of pain of the Clocktower was nothing that most would learn willingly. "And I am...sensitive." She admitted, hiding between her shoulders.
Yet as she said that, it occurred to her that the peace of this room stood on more than golden light and wooden panels. She dared not reach out with her mind, not yet, but even so she could read the crisp air from between her long eyelashes.
"There is no fiendstuff here." Nina stated. She trusted Elagastus enough that he would not judge her strangeness.
Although perhaps he should.
"You shouldn't care so much for me." She sighed. "If you knew me...Selfish, I am so selfish." Nina said, wringing blankets between her fists. "I asked for help against magical danger that may never come to pass. Just because I am involved. When people need help now, now..."
She shook her head. Nina felt tired, not physically, but in the manner of one faced with many choices to make.
"Is there...a market around here?" Nina attempted. "I was thinking...I could try to exchange my paintings...for some supplies?" She looked up at her host, eyes darting to and fro, pausing as she tried to gauge just how laughable it would be to present her sketches to folks who might've seen art from more worlds that she ever knew existed.
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Elagastus
Established
Roleplay posts: 19
Registered: Sept 21, 2021 10:56:26 GMT -5
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Post by Elagastus on Nov 4, 2021 14:42:43 GMT -5
For a moment, Nina thought about leaving it all behind. The Clocktower would crumble to dust, in time. Among its ruins, Gray would perish, but perhaps it was better that way. New Isra could find its own way out of fungal mind-control diseases, minor starvation and its ruler's whims. She could step away from all that. She could stay here. Of course, the fiendstuff would make most areas of Helsreach impossible for her. And the traveler feared she wouldn't be as welcome once she wanted to stay. But a small hut at the edge of everything, at the edge of the sea...wouldn't that be nice? Hadn't she suffered enough? "There is magic I am responsible for." Nina quietly explained. Her right hand reached for her chest, feeling the small shape of the clock hand against her breastbone. So, it had been real. "It wasn't something I was born to - if anything," she said with a wistful tilt of the head, "I would have liked to have inherited my father's sea-magic, - but someone had to do it." The magic of pain of the Clocktower was nothing that most would learn willingly. "And I am...sensitive." She admitted, hiding between her shoulders. Yet as she said that, it occurred to her that the peace of this room stood on more than golden light and wooden panels. She dared not reach out with her mind, not yet, but even so she could read the crisp air from between her long eyelashes. "There is no fiendstuff here." Nina stated. She trusted Elagastus enough that he would not judge her strangeness. Although perhaps he should. "You shouldn't care so much for me." She sighed. "If you knew me...Selfish, I am so selfish." Nina said, wringing blankets between her fists. "I asked for help against magical danger that may never come to pass. Just because I am involved. When people need help now, now..." She shook her head. Nina felt tired, not physically, but in the manner of one faced with many choices to make. "Is there...a market around here?" Nina attempted. "I was thinking...I could try to exchange my paintings...for some supplies?" She looked up at her host, eyes darting to and fro, pausing as she tried to gauge just how laughable it would be to present her sketches to folks who might've seen art from more worlds that she ever knew existed. "Of course lass, all of us have responsibilities." He stated in response to her first statment. "Ye,s there's none of that here. As much as I need it, I much prefer the way it looks now. It's much calmer." When she began talking about her selfishness, Elagastus simply squeezed her tighter. "We're all selfish lass, it all simply comes down to how we make the best of it. You did alright lass, asking for help. No shame in that. Trying to hold up a mountain by yerself is just askin' to be crushed eh?" He paused to let her talk about the market. "aye, there is, I'm sure they'd like that. This is the first time from the surface for most of them. If ye need supplies, all ye needed to do was ask. I'm more than happy to help ye out." |
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Nov 7, 2021 9:54:15 GMT -5
Nina nodded, and reached up to grip Elegastus's hand. She held it tightly, tensing a few times as she worked through things in her mind.
'Trying to hold up a mountain by yerself is just askin' to be crushed.' The words repeated.
"I guess you're right." The girl whispered, clearly struck. A thoughtful look remained in her eyes for a while afterwards.
She thought of the Clocktower and its lonely Masters. Of how it had not been her choice to be in this position, a heir to Gray's machinations who had been told too little until it was too late. Could it be really possible to share that burden? She supposed she already had. But if only that had been the only issue...
"Not for me." The supplies, she thought. Nina pulled back her hand to gesture expansively. "In the country neighboring mine...Well, the entire country just washed out onto the shore roughly a moon before. Somehow they're still organised," she admitted, a rare concession to Naoki's competence. She looked down. "Some people just fell through the cracks. I can just about gather food for myself, but I can't-" Nina's voice faded, and she wasn't sure what she wanted to say. Find food for the poorest Israns? Research medicines against the fungus that played people on its strings? Help everyone?
She had ran away from responsibility. Her lips trembled. Was it too hypocritical to speak of it, still?
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Elagastus
Established
Roleplay posts: 19
Registered: Sept 21, 2021 10:56:26 GMT -5
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Post by Elagastus on Nov 7, 2021 10:38:19 GMT -5
Nina nodded, and reached up to grip Elegastus's hand. She held it tightly, tensing a few times as she worked through things in her mind. 'Trying to hold up a mountain by yerself is just askin' to be crushed.' The words repeated. "I guess you're right." The girl whispered, clearly struck. A thoughtful look remained in her eyes for a while afterwards. She thought of the Clocktower and its lonely Masters. Of how it had not been her choice to be in this position, a heir to Gray's machinations who had been told too little until it was too late. Could it be really possible to share that burden? She supposed she already had. But if only that had been the only issue... "Not for me." The supplies, she thought. Nina pulled back her hand to gesture expansively. "In the country neighboring mine...Well, the entire country just washed out onto the shore roughly a moon before. Somehow they're still organised," she admitted, a rare concession to Naoki's competence. She looked down. "Some people just fell through the cracks. I can just about gather food for myself, but I can't-" Nina's voice faded, and she wasn't sure what she wanted to say. Find food for the poorest Israns? Research medicines against the fungus that played people on its strings? Help everyone? She had ran away from responsibility. Her lips trembled. Was it too hypocritical to speak of it, still? "Is that so?" He said, looking down at her. "Did you ask anyone for help? The king, or any other influential people you met on your travel here? Or did you decided it was solely your duty to find what they need?" |
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Nov 13, 2021 16:18:21 GMT -5
Nina shifted uncomfortably.
"Influential people?" She snorted, and threw the man an incredulous glance from the reflection of a window. "I'm a vagabond, Elagastus. Most respectable folk would think I'm out to steal their valuables." A sprinkle of laughter and a dash of old tears shimmered in her eyes. "I work on the levels on which it's still possible to fix things."
Nina sighed, shook her head, and calmly answered what she suspected was the fiend's actual question. Whether she had worked with others.
"I talked to people." The girl said. "Listened to them, you know," she gestured, "many people have great ideas, others have the skills, but most need someone to listen to them and reassure them that they're good to go ahead." Sometimes, her contributions were to do the things that only a foreigner would do. Breaking the laws that needed to be broken. The stolen seeds, she remembered. She looked out of the window, and breathed in the crisp air. "The community garden meant to provide food for the mess hall, that wasn't my idea, but I tried to help make it real. I felt it was meaningful." She took a deep breath.
"When the kitchen staff were too scared to talk to their Empress about it, I went instead. She helped." There was the slightest dryness in her voice. "But there was only so much I could suggest without implying that she's part of the problem. She didn't like that." Her voice was very dry.
And, of course, the barely-planted community garden could not solve the problem of hunger now, Nina admitted. Her shoulders slumped slightly.
"Your King...your king is very different, I think." She whispered.
But that didn't matter now, did it? Her heart ached, and Elagastus' arm around her bore the weight of judgement.
Her tongue could've been more silvered when talking to Naoki, and she could've been strong enough to bear the weight of the magic. But it hadn't, and she hadn't, and now people were going to die.
"By the time I realised he wasn't going to kick me out or kill me or raise an invading horde, it was too late." She quietly said.
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Elagastus
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Roleplay posts: 19
Registered: Sept 21, 2021 10:56:26 GMT -5
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Post by Elagastus on Nov 13, 2021 16:39:32 GMT -5
"By the time I realised he wasn't going to kick me out or kill me or raise an invading horde, it was too late." She quietly said. "You can still ask him you know." Elagastus said with a kind tone, "He's not cruel, if they're having that much of a crisis, we have food to spare. Fiendstuff has take well to this climate, we can subsist on that and send the other crops we grow. It would be good for both of us to get off on the right foot. You can still solve this issue, you've just got to be willing to not give-up." He gave her a small squeeze. |
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Nov 20, 2021 16:57:22 GMT -5
A tremor went down Nina's back.
"I'm not sure," she spoke rarely, "whether other people might be equally happy to subsist on fiendstuff." Eyebrows raised. She felt hope like a swirling whirlpool in her chest that threatened to engulf her. They couldn't all be so generous, could they? They'd have long burnt out that compassion among the endless flames of hell. She felt her heartbeat. Or perhaps, she thought, it was on the Island that some finally felt safe to fully indulge in the softer facets of their personalities, and they hadn't practiced them enough to know when to stop.
The traveler's eyes narrowed, as she thought back at Port Argentium. "The main dangers are with what remains of spring, and then again in winter." She mused. Spring was a hungry season. "Not enough is growing quite yet. Summer, with some luck, we can forage. Some semblance of crops are growing." Some, she recalled, would barely be enough to sow next year's harvest. She tensed her fists. And that's if the seeds took. "Even with that harvest..." Nina shrugged, and looked ahead, months ahead, and her eyes were hollow. "I doubt it'd be enough to prepare the winter stores."
She thought of Alix, the cheerful old lady in charge of the glasshouse, and of how young and old people were the first to go in a famine. She thought of Theodosia, her friend, with her cheeks sunken in. But here, now, together, they may be able to change that future.
"Also...I'm wondering if I could convince some of the hunters to visit for a while." Nina said with a tilt of the head. "The people I'm talking about, many are skilled tradesfolk and artisans, but few ever hunted." She took a deep breath, and imperceptibly lowered her head. "Yet quite few had to, in order to keep the others fed. Some didn't come back."
The girl turned her head to look at Elagastus.
"Would you happen to know anyone interested in sharing their skills?"
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Elagastus
Established
Roleplay posts: 19
Registered: Sept 21, 2021 10:56:26 GMT -5
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Post by Elagastus on Nov 20, 2021 18:39:38 GMT -5
A tremor went down Nina's back. "I'm not sure," she spoke rarely, "whether other people might be equally happy to subsist on fiendstuff." Eyebrows raised. She felt hope like a swirling whirlpool in her chest that threatened to engulf her. They couldn't all be so generous, could they? They'd have long burnt out that compassion among the endless flames of hell. She felt her heartbeat. Or perhaps, she thought, it was on the Island that some finally felt safe to fully indulge in the softer facets of their personalities, and they hadn't practiced them enough to know when to stop. The traveler's eyes narrowed, as she thought back at Port Argentium. "The main dangers are with what remains of spring, and then again in winter." She mused. Spring was a hungry season. "Not enough is growing quite yet. Summer, with some luck, we can forage. Some semblance of crops are growing." Some, she recalled, would barely be enough to sow next year's harvest. She tensed her fists. And that's if the seeds took. "Even with that harvest..." Nina shrugged, and looked ahead, months ahead, and her eyes were hollow. "I doubt it'd be enough to prepare the winter stores." She thought of Alix, the cheerful old lady in charge of the glasshouse, and of how young and old people were the first to go in a famine. She thought of Theodosia, her friend, with her cheeks sunken in. But here, now, together, they may be able to change that future. "Also...I'm wondering if I could convince some of the hunters to visit for a while." Nina said with a tilt of the head. "The people I'm talking about, many are skilled tradesfolk and artisans, but few ever hunted." She took a deep breath, and imperceptibly lowered her head. "Yet quite few had to, in order to keep the others fed. Some didn't come back." The girl turned her head to look at Elagastus. "Would you happen to know anyone interested in sharing their skills?" "Well, the head huntress might, and I'm sure she could organize a party to send over and assist." He said, thinking a bit, "Yes.. Yes she'd do it. You met her when you first arrived, if you tracked her down, she'd definately do it. If not, tell her I sent you. I may not be the king, but I reckon his Uncle has some authority." He said with a smile. |
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Dec 1, 2021 15:22:58 GMT -5
Nina slipped down onto the floor, with blankets still clinging on to her shoulders like a dazzling array of capes.
“I’ll talk to the archhuntress, then,” she mused, trying to ignore the elephant in the room. Or rather, the king’s uncle in the room. She opened her mouth to say that she wasn’t comfortable beating people over the head with hierarchies, then simply inhaled. When the costs were so high, comfort alone didn’t matter. Not hers. Not Muvror’s.
There were two quests, then. Talk to the king. Talk to the archhuntress. Her eyes narrowed in focus. That, on top of figuring out a way to get back to Argentium, and hope that Gray hadn’t died in the meantime from choking on his own secrets. But there was something more important, right now.
“Would you…Do you…” She gestured, as if trying to grasp words with her hands, and stood up. Turned around. Her legs were still shaky. Brown eyes searched the room for her leather backpack. “Could I offer you a painting, Elagastus?” The words burst out.
The traveller shifted from one foot to another, placing each sole on the opposite calf in turn, a bit like a water bird. She wished she had spoken out before being told the news. It made her look mercenary.
There were landscapes of rain, in vivid colours that seemed to drip down the pages, very soon lying spread onto the bed. All sorts of paintings that she'd take out from the drawing block in her backpack, and spread around. There was a painting of the sky leaning against the pillow, burning blue apart from a single wisp of cloud, apart a single tree in the distance. The courtesans of the Azure Archipelago walked along their pebbled street, on the floor, their embroidery and layered robes captured on paper in exquisite detail. Right beside them, the sun shone through a mist-veiled forest canopy. A barren northern steppe, the rusty polearms of an ancient battlefield stretching as far as the eye could see. Swirling shapes of magic. An underwater scene, with the painter’s two hands drawing tantalizingly close to translucent, gem-like, razor-sharp coral. There were a few other paintings, most of them landscapes, and strangely none of them showing faces.
To be forced to part with her memories would feel like having her soul ripped asunder. To offer them in gratitude was to make new memories in turn.
Nina smiled.
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