Chapter Two - Water and Green
"What is it?" Clavis demanded languidly as the woman from last night was escorted into his chambers. Used to his moods, the aide who had accompanied Selene turned and closed the doors as he left.
"Uhm...I'm Selene. I was...that is....I woke up here..."
Clavis didn't need her stammering. Julious' Light this morning had given him a raging headache and he feared he would lose his favorite night-blooming orchid to that flash of Light too.
"I found you outside last night. It seemed best to bring you indoors," Clavis explained. "You should go. I..."
Clavis pressed a hand against his temple in the universally helpless gesture of someone suffering a headache.
"Oh!" Selene muted her surprise in deference to his suffering. "I will go. Thank you for...taking care of me." She turned, opened the chamber door and left without a sound, closing it softly behind her. Alone in the hallway, she decided to peer into the garden she'd noticed on the way to Clavis' chamber. She was fascinated with how the garden was indoors, situated within the rooms as just another room. A bit eccentric, perhaps, but she liked the effect.
The room was dim, sunlight filtering weakly through darkened windows, offering just enough light to nurture the night-loving plants. In the center of an ornate marble garden bed, a once-thriving plant drooped listlessly. Its black petals, hanging on weakly from the looks of it, reminded Selene strongly of Clavis suffering with his headache. The black cat who'd waken her this morning with mute appeals to be pet wandered in to curl around her ankles. She reached down and picked the affectionate creature up, stroking him gently as she gazed at the plants and blooms in this twilight garden.
"Midnight likes you," a soft voice stated behind her. Though she hadn't been aware of the man coming up behind her, Selene took no fright. She turned.
He was smiling gently, cradling a lap harp against one shoulder. Selene wondered a bit at the culture of Sanctuary, as yet again here was a man dressed in what appeared to be ornate floor-length robes. The predominant color of his outfit, blue, exactly matched his eyes and brought out the pale, luminous beauty of his long, light blue hair. Selene thought he was one of the most beautiful people she'd ever seen. Though, upon reflection, Clavis' black and purple and Julious' vibrant white, dark blue and gold color choices suited their distinct beauty just as well. Maybe Selene liked this person so much because he wore her favorite shade of blue.
"I am Lumiale. I was with Clavis-sama last night when he found you and brought you here," Lumiale smiled suddenly. "I even got to tease him, before playing a song for him...and you."
Selene couldn't help but smile back, "It's too bad I didn't realize it at the time! Uhm...Midnight?" she asked.
"Ah! Clavis' cat. Midnight. I think he likes you. It's an honor really," Lumiale stepped forward and stroked along the cat's head himself. "Like his master, Midnight doesn't take to just anyone."
"Ah," Selene uttered herself. Lumiale clarified a bit for her the odd animosity she'd sensed this morning. Julious had told her he was the Guardian of Light. Everything here, the darkened and quiet rooms, the cat, Midnight, and his own appearance was leading Selene to realize Clavis was the Guardian of Night...or maybe Dark.
"It seems that, despite my unusual arrival, I'm here to stay for a bit. Lumiale-sama...are you a Guardian?" Selene asked.
Lumiale beamed at her, "I am. I am the Guardian of Water."
"I spoke, just a few words actually, with Clavis-sama just now. Uhm...if you are allowed to tell me...is he the Guardian of Night?" Selene asked hesitantly.
"No," Lumiale shook his head. "But you are close. He is the Guardian of Darkness."
Selene turned to look at the dying plant again, "So...when Julious used that flash of light this morning..." she stopped in thought.
"Were you here? What happened?"
"I was dozing, with Midnight purring in my arms," Selene smiled at the thought and stroked her head along Midnight's head at the memory, "when I heard Julious' voice and a great flash of light woke me up."
"Oh dear! He used the Sacrea of Light in here?" Lumiale exclaimed is dismay, turning this way and that to glance around the garden.
"There was a bright light. It blinded me for a while."
"Oh!" Lumiale stepped forward to touch one of the subtly shiny black petals gently. Even at his careful touch, it parted and fell to the ground. "Clavis' favorite plant. It couldn't bear the Light. No wonder Clavis has a headache!"
"You know about that? I just saw him...he's in a lot of pain."
"He sent for me to play for him. Sometimes it helps," Lumiale explained.
"OH! Don't let me keep you! I shouldn't make things any worse for him!" Selene exclaimed. "I've done enough already from the looks of it..." she looked at the ruined plant again.
"It wasn't you. I'm certain Clavis doesn't blame you," Lumiale reassured.
"I think maybe he blames Julious though...and it was really me," Selene murmured. "But please, go. If you can lessen his headache..."
Lumiale smiled that she was concerned for his friend, "He will be fine. I'm sure I will see you later!"
Lumiale picked his was softly through the garden beds and out the door. Selene looked at the dying plant again, regretting that she had any part in its demise. Midnight squirmed in her arms, so she crouched to let him go. She took one long, slow, sad circuit through the garden, noting the damaging effects of Julious' Light. It looked like everything would recover, except for that one orchid.
"I feel so bad!" she exclaimed aloud.
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Musing about plants and how little she knew of them, Selene wandered back outside. Sanctuary was full of carefully tended garden beds full of blooming flowers. Selene aimlessly followed them, noticing how they were congregated in a beautiful walking park and clustered in front of many impressive manors.
"Pardon me?" Selene asked a man gazing at the fountain in the park. "Do you know who takes care of all the flower beds here?"
"Ah, miss! That would be Marcel!" the man answered amiably.
"Marcel? Do you know where I might find him?" Selene asked.
The man turned and looked at a small hill in the park, "He's not here playing with his paper airplanes today. You might find him at his Manor...or perhaps his office."
After getting directions from the helpful man, Selene found Marcel's Manor. A young man, dressed in green, tended a flower bed in front of the Manor, tying delicate vines to a trellis.
"Good day," she greeted.
"Hi!" the young man smiled, dusted his hands off and got up, extending his hand as he stepped forward. "I'm Marcel! You're Selene, right? I just got Julious' memo about you!"
"There's a memo about me?" Selene asked, surprised.
"Oops! Was I not supposed to tell you? That should have been written in there..." Marcel blushed.
"No, no, I'm sure it's okay. I was just surprised," Selene reassured. Julious had written a memo to the Guardians? She was creating more work for him!
"Well, it was very short, telling us your name and how you look, and directing us to help you in any way we can. So, what can I do for you?" Marcel explained more thoroughly.
"Oh," now that she'd found him, Selene wasn't quite sure how to ask him her question. "Uhm...please forgive me, Marcel-sama..."
"Stop," Marcel held up one hand. "You don't have to call me that. Just 'Marcel' is fine. And I know you are new here. I admit, it's a strange place, until you get used to it. So don't worry about how to ask me questions. Just ask, okay?" Marcel grinned.
Selene smiled, relieved. Marcel was very kind!
"Actually...I had been hoping to find the gardener of all the flower beds. I never dreamed it would be another Guardian!"
"I'm the Guardian of Green, so tending plants and blooms compliments my Sacrea. Besides, I like to garden!" Marcel grinned again. "But why were you looking for a gardener?"
"Oh, a rather tragic thing happened this morning and I feel like I am to blame for it. So I want to make it right if I can..."
Selene found explaining her concern to the smiling green-eyed youth was easy.
"I think I know which plant it is. It is Clavis' favorite too. I don't know if I can save it from a flash of Julious' Light..."
Selene's unconscious smile fell at that.
"But I'll try. Because you asked and because it's Clavis' favorite!" Marcel smiled at her again.
"Marcel...can I ask another favor?" Selene asked. He nodded.
"I'm learning about Sanctuary in bits and pieces. I'm afraid...I might not find something important...or I might end up hurting someone else like I hurt Clavis..."
Marcel frowned at that. Selene hadn't hurt Clavis...Julious had. But how to tell her without sounding critical of the Guardian of Light?
"Could you...is it possible I could learn all about the Guardians at one time instead of accidentally discovering them...looking for a gardener for instance?" Selene smiled.
"I'd love to take you around to meet everyone, but, I had better go look at Clavis' plant before I meet with Randy and Zephel. I have to be there. It's too complicated to explain right now, but Randy and Zephel can't be together without me."
Selene filed that bit of information aside for reflection later. Marcel's voice had been rather grim.
"But, here! Go to this Manor, I think he's in, and meet Luva! He'd certainly love to tell you all about Sanctuary!" Marcel gave her hasty directions and dashed off. Selene had to smile at his enthusiasm and wondered if she'd remembered to thank him for trying to do something with Clavis' plant.
Sanctuary was beautiful, Selene had to admit it, but it was so darn big! She was getting heartily tired of walking...
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