It was so peaceful and beautiful in the Crystal Valley for the Holy
Kingdom of Harmonia had for a brief moment in time found it self at general
peace with the world around them. The defeat of the mad sorcerer Luc and
his followers had bridged many gaps and seemingly insurmountable walls
between the various republics of the land. In a word...life
was...perfect....
It was boring.... utterly and completely "I'm going to claw my eyes out just for something to do!" boredom. The great general priest Sasarai found even his eternal smile slipping more and more as biting irritation cropped its head up more and more often to disturb what little peace he could find. This day being much the same as the days before as he found himself fuming and seething from within as the various higher church clergy fluttered and postured about, trying to make themselves each look more important and more responsible for this calm swell that had befallen their country.
Of course they enjoyed it, with peace there was little for them to do and thus could they relax and be even more lazy then before! Stupid pompous fools! Sasarai visibly bit back a grimace and a soft growl of irritation, the faint drawing of his brows together in that fleeting scowl enough to alert Dios. His chief of staff was ever alert and attuned to Sasarai and even his odd mood swings as of late. The tine, wiry man leaned forward, his voice a low murmur pitched just for Sasarai's ears. "Are you well, Lord Sasarai? You seem out of sorts....." A tactful way to describe the pinched, slightly strained look the youthful priest's face had taken on. His sandy brown hair, which was normally immaculate and neat, was awry and mussed from impatient hands raking through them, that restless gesture betraying him once more as a slender hand rose to perform that now familiar gesture.
"Yes......" Sasarai sighed and shook his head, those clear green eyes shadowing before he abruptly stood from his hair in such a manner as to almost dislodge poor Dios from his seat. "Gentlemen...if you will excuse me...." His unexpected motion had shocked the posturing and tittering men into silence long before his shocking words reached their ears....one...did not just stand up in the middle of a council session and say you were leaving! The look of shock and outrage on some of the council members face was enough to even evoke a small shimmer of wry amusement in Sasarai's heart, almost making the hell he would no doubt have to pay later for this little spectacle worth it. But really...truly....who out of the pompous old men was going to stop him? "Dios will carry on in my stead...."
"B...Bishop...." The flummoxed Dios was unable to truly protest as his superior simply bowed curtly before turning with a soft rustle of azure fabric to hurry for doorway and exit from this stuffy room. The moment he was out of the room, Sasarai's mood began to lighten by small fractions and by the time he'd actually made it to the small refuge of his own personal quarters, he actually felt a pale ghost of peace settle over him. News did indeed travel swiftly through the Circle Palace in almost magickal ways for by the time he'd returned to his rooms, Sasarai found a chilled pitcher of his favorite fruit drink and a light luncheon awaiting him, no doubt left by one of his servants before the thoughtful creature had made itself scarce.
Sasarai momentarily felt a burst of warm appreciation for his servants, mentally making note to add a more generous bonus to their stipends the next upcoming church holiday. He poured himself a generous glass of the chilled drink before freeing himself from the stifling and stiff over jacket of his office. With a grimace he carelessly tossed the garment aside, enjoying the cool wash of the mild afternoon air as it slipped through the opened windows to pleasantly lift the light linen of his undershirt. Ah air...freedom....if only for ten minutes he was free of his duties and that blasted uniform.
One would think that after a few centuries he'd grow used to the stifling layers and ceremonial trappings of his office for while it was helpful at times, it still made for awful wearing during a twelve hour strait session of the church bishops. His boots were soon kicked off in a similar fashion, socks following to leave him delightfully bare-foot and cool in the face of that pleasant breeze. He carried the tray with it's delicacies and drink toward the balcony doors of his apartments, pausing in the open doorway for a brief moment to enjoy the glorious view his particularly tiered apartments offered him of the city.
The afternoon sun was slowly gliding towards it's demise and eventual surrendering of the day to the night, lighting across those light brown strands to pick up the individual glints of chestnuts and golds in his hair. How long had it been since he simply enjoyed the sun on his face....indulged in simply lying in bed till noon and staring off into space in pleasant daydreams? Beyond recall, that was for certain. Truth of the matter was...he was long over due for a vacation. A musing look crossed that youthful face as he toyed with the idea...why shouldn't he take a short vacation? Peace reigned in that country if only for a short period....he most certainly had earned one with his constant work over the past few years...why not indeed....?
Wariness tugged at the edges of his mind as he moved to sit on the crystalline bench situated beneath the cool, arching branches of the sweetly flowered fruit trees that filled his small domain of peace and tranquility. Yes...a vacation would be most welcome...no more stolen minutes and hours...just a small eternity stored in a matter of days just for himself. A wistful little sigh passed his lips as he set the tray on the bench beside him. A mighty yawn rose in his throat as he stretched surprisingly well-toned arms high above his head in a mighty and luxurious stretch that left his stiff and tired muscles feeling warm and delightful for a moment.
The light shown favorably across his form and that youthfully handsome face as silken strands of hair as they feathered in shining wings across soft cheeks that had never truly lost the gentle roundness of childhood to give that youthful mien a sweet air to it. Not that he minded particularly since there were none in the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia who didn't at least know his name if not his face. A fact that often brought a chagrined look to his face now that he thought about it for he was not as oblivious to the giggling gossiping of the various chambermaids and servants. He knew he cut a handsome figure but really...he was older then their ancestors!
Even thinking about that brought a faint flush to his cheeks and he grimaced faintly in dismay before turning his attention to his lunch. The cool juice helped to calm the flush to his cheeks as he sipped from the chilled glass in a slow, savoring manner. Ahh...the simple pleasures in life...it was a shame he hadn't the time to truly enjoy them anymore. In fact he was so utterly enwrapped in enjoying the light meal and drink that he didn't even notice the faint rustling in the rose bushes lining the edge of his private garden.
It was actually the soft sound of animal distress, a little mewl of pain that broke through the pleasant spell of serenity he'd woven about himself to bring him back once more to the real world. A dark frown lit upon his features for a moment before fading away with a heavy sigh as he set the glass aside so that he could turn his full attention to the bushes. Clear, translucent green eyes narrowed fractionally as he peered intently through the thick green of the leaves to catch the soft spots of dove grey and white-blond as it peeked through the nest of thorns and leaves. He could see one pale crystalline blue eye peer at him from the bush and he was taken aback to realize that a child had intruded upon his secret garden.
"Hello there little one...." His voice took on a gentle, coaxing tone as mystified amusement flit through him...out of the hundreds of people in the Circle Palace, this tiny little child had managed to breech his inner sanctum...he didn't know whether to be bemused or worried. Whatever the case however, the little creature had obviously found itself in a predicament by trapping themselves amidst the prickly barbs of the roses. "You're stuck in there aren't you...." His trademark smile curved his lips as he slid to his feet, those bared toes sinking into the lush grass as he walked across the small grove to approach the bushes.
His assumptions were proven correct as he found himself staring down at the wide-eyed figure of a small girl as she sat huddled and frozen in the middle of the bushes. Her pale skin was scratched in a multitude of places, dirt smeared across the bridge of that pert nose as the child peered up at him in anxious uncertainty. She knew she wasn't supposed to be here and the arrival of the man into her secret hideout had forced her into brambles in hope of escaping detection. Sasarai smiled gently and reached into roses, heedless of the thorns. He could sense the angry grumbling of the roses through his rune and his smile took a wry turn.
The thorns were merciless all the same, roses after all being known for their cruel vanity and merciless vengeance against any who dare trespass too closely to them. They snagged and caught in his shirt as he leaned in close, his face all but planted into the flowers as he reached for the child. "It's alright little one, just hold onto me and we'll get you out of here..." The child did as bidden for she was anxious to be free of the horrific thorns even in the threat of being in trouble....again....tiny arms slide about Sasarai's neck in a sweetly trusting manner and he gathered the child carefully in his arms to lift her safely from the thorns as carefully as he could.
She made no sound as one particularly vicious set of thorns raked a painful trail along her bare leg though Sasarai was alerted to her distress by the abrupt stiffening of the child in his arms before she curled into a little ball, unintentionally curling into his arms. He paused long enough to free her from the thorns and soon enough they were both clear of the rosebushes, the little child daring to peek up as he fully straitened. "There now...that wasn't so bad now was it?" It Dios or the various other members of his staff had happened to come across the pair right now, they would have been shocked speechless at the cheerful manner the highest ranking priest beneath Hikusaak was handling the bedraggled little waif.
"Nuu....t'ank yuu....." Her voice was the high, sweet reedy tones of a toddler, the lisp of babyhood still holding sway over her words as he was gifted with a gap-toothed smile. "I'm Sewa....." He'd saved her from the biting plants and was nice to her and to her child's mind that translated him to a friend. "Whas your name?" Those large liquid blue eyes were so wide and innocent as she smiled up at him, the troubles of the world a passing thought at best to her innocent thoughts and the warrior priest found even his heart melting a bit in response to her quiet radiance.
He awkwardly shifted her in his arms to cradle that tiny body in a more comfortable manner before grinning down at the child. "My name is Sasarai....it's a pleasure to meet you Sera...." Rich amusement lit those pale emeralds, sending them dancing and glittering in that sweet visage in a way that had not been seen in many a year. "Are you alright, little Sera? Should we take you to a healers?" His knowledge of children was vague and limited and he had no idea what sort of physical limitations they might have...the idea was rather....intimidating actually...they seemed so...delicate so....breakable and tiny. The little girl shook her head solemnly, those willow-wisp strands of white-blond hair flying freely about her face.
"Nuu...I fine...." She smiled again in that oh so sweet and trusting manner before leaning upwards to kiss him on his cheek, unintentionally leaving a smear of dirt across that gently curved visage. "T'ank yuu Sas'rai...." His eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected kiss before a warm smile curved his lips in answer, gentle eyes studying that dirty yet still heartbreakingly sweet visage. There was something hauntingly familiar about her features, the ghost of a remembrance in his mind though of what he couldn't quite place his finger on. She was truly a beautiful child with those luminous crystal blue eyes that stared out so trustingly upon the world, that downy head of pale, pale silvered blond hair almost washed white in the light as they fell in soft tendrils about her face.
"You're most welcome little one but come...we should get you cleaned up no?" His suggestion was met with a look of utter disgust and dismay as the child flailed slightly in his arms. "Nuu! Nuu baf!!" He laughed quietly at her indignant cries and moved to sit her at his place upon the bench. "Alright...no bath...but stay here a moment and I'll go get a fresh cloth to at least clean you up a bit? We don't want you to get sick do we?" His look of wide-eyed dismay and fear was comically exaggerated as he looked down at the suddenly mystified child who shook her head. "Okay....then I'll be right back!" He hopped nimbly to his feet and hurried back inside the apartments to fetch a small basin of water and a small pile of clean bandages he kept out of habit in his bathroom.
"You must be a brave girl to sit in those nasty roses and not even cry...." He murmured with gentle warmth as he soaked the edges of one of the bandages in the water before capturing one tiny leg with his hand to hold it still as he dabbed gently at her wounds. "I wish I'd been as brave and clever as you when I was a kid...." She didn't seem to find his wide- eyed look of wistfulness out of place though it would have been comical to anyone else....the great and powerful Lord Sasarai having reduced himself to tending the wounds of the tiny little waif that had broken into his personal garden....it was most singular and particular that was for certain.
"I not bwave...I din wan get in troubu...." She admitted with an odd solemnity as she lay still there, perched carefully on the edge of that crystalline bench as the mage treated her wounds with a surprising tenderness. Sasarai smiled softly, those soft green depths peering up at her from beneath those dark lashes as his hands moved in gentle motions to clean both the dirt and the clotted and dried blood that had sluggishly seeped through the skin in places.
"There are many forms of bravery little one..and I think that you..are indeed a most singular and special child..tell me.where are your parents? I see you're wearing temple robes.are they clerics here?" At his gentle, but thoughtless words, the child wilted, a small look of shame crossing her face as those dandelion soft curls fell across her cheeks. Where once a sweet and delightful child had sat, without warning a withdrawn and dark eyed young girl stared off into a middle ground.
"Dey went to da next world .da nice people take care of me.dey say Imma be a pwiest someday.." She murmured softly, her brows knitting together in a frown. "Da other kids dun like me...dey say I'm weird and dey throw rocks at me.." Those shimmering blue eyes looked up at Sasarai, a painfully vulnerable look in those crystalline depths as she stared at him. "You don't t'ink I'm weird do yuu?" The priest's eyes clouded and he shook his head slowly, a slender hand dwarfing her shoulder to awkwardly offer comfort.
"No little one.I don't think you're weird at all..actually..you know kids used to make fun of me too because I didn't have parents like you.." He gently scooped her up in his lap, snuggling her there just because it felt strangely right to feel that tiny weight curl so trustingly in his lap. Heh..how odd.he never really considered him the parental figure.indeed the idea of truly settling down with anyone, even without the looming fact of eminent death for them as he lived on as young as always, had never occurred to him. Children had never interested him, nor had the idea of continuing a familial line he knew nothing about. But suddenly.it did..or perhaps it was just with this one special child.an obviously excluded and lonely youth who'd no doubt shown early potential for the magickal arts just as himself to have been accepted so readily into the church. She..was just like him.the idea was a bit humbling and frightening.but he'd never had anyone to turn to.every adult had kept him at a cool arms length so as not to distract him from his studies.and look where it had gotten him..
"Sera.if you ever need a friend or just someone to talk to.you can come visit me.." He offered tentatively, one graceful hand rising to comb softly through those willow-wisp strands of silvered blond. The child looked up at him with wide eyes, a look of shimmering adoration and hope gleaming oh so brightly there as she looked to him.
"Y.Yuu mean it? I can.rewwy? Oh Sas'rai! Yuu my bestess fwiend in da whole wide wowrd!" She squealed as she wrapped her arms about his neck, hugging him tightly like the attention starved child she was. He smiled an odd, bittersweet little smile and gently clasp her back.
"Yes little one..I promise.and if you ever have trouble seeing me." He reached beneath the finely woven linen of his shirt to pull out a delicately wrought necklace, the glittering silver pendant that hung from those delicate links glittering and refracting the light. Nestled in a bed of silver the enameled symbol of the true earth rune shown in rich golds and browns. "See this..this signifies my station.see how I have that marking on my hand?" He held up his hand so she could see the runemark on the back of that slender hand and those wide blue eyes stared intently at it with open curiousity.
"Whass that?" She breathed, catching his hand in her much tinier ones to peer at the marking much closely. "Dat looks famiwier.." Her words got a soft smile from him and he tugged his hand free gently so he could clasp the necklace about her neck
"It's something called the true earth rune.I'll explain about it later how about? I'll tell you a tale about a boy who was very similar to you and how he woke a great power that changed his life forever.but for now.keep the necklace with you and don't show it to anyone unless you need to see me. It's not something to be taken lightly, little Sera.do you think you can handle such responsibility?"
She nodded excitedly, happy and delighted to have been given such a pretty necklace and to have been treated like such a grownup! "You pwomise to tewl me next time?" He laughed quietly once more, having laughed more in the last hour then he had in the past year.
"Yes you have my solemn promise.however now I hear someone calling for you." And indeed.in the distance.someone was.the faint testiness of the young acolyte's tone was obvious to Sasarai's ears and he stood once more with the child in his arms. "You should get back to the priests before they worry about you.and Sera.remember...keep close watch of the necklace and only use it when you need to..I'm sure a pixie such as yourself won't have to use it to find your way back to my garden again, hmmmn?" He playfully beeped her nose as they reached the doors of his apartment and he set her down gently before peeking mischievously out the door. "Alright..those cost is clear..you head back to the dormitories alright?"
"I will..t'ank you Sas'rai.." She hugged his leg gently, unable to reach any other part of him before scuttling off with surprising speed on those tiny little legs to hurry down the corridor. Sasarai watched her go with a mingling of bemusement and outright chagrined surprise.what had come over him..? The little pixie had obviously bewitched him.he smiled an odd little smile once more and shut his door. He felt better.more light hearted and simply content then he had before.how.curious.the warrior priest shrugged slightly before turning away once more to walk back to his gardens to finish his meal with a much lighter heart and perhaps even a less grim outlook on life.
It was boring.... utterly and completely "I'm going to claw my eyes out just for something to do!" boredom. The great general priest Sasarai found even his eternal smile slipping more and more as biting irritation cropped its head up more and more often to disturb what little peace he could find. This day being much the same as the days before as he found himself fuming and seething from within as the various higher church clergy fluttered and postured about, trying to make themselves each look more important and more responsible for this calm swell that had befallen their country.
Of course they enjoyed it, with peace there was little for them to do and thus could they relax and be even more lazy then before! Stupid pompous fools! Sasarai visibly bit back a grimace and a soft growl of irritation, the faint drawing of his brows together in that fleeting scowl enough to alert Dios. His chief of staff was ever alert and attuned to Sasarai and even his odd mood swings as of late. The tine, wiry man leaned forward, his voice a low murmur pitched just for Sasarai's ears. "Are you well, Lord Sasarai? You seem out of sorts....." A tactful way to describe the pinched, slightly strained look the youthful priest's face had taken on. His sandy brown hair, which was normally immaculate and neat, was awry and mussed from impatient hands raking through them, that restless gesture betraying him once more as a slender hand rose to perform that now familiar gesture.
"Yes......" Sasarai sighed and shook his head, those clear green eyes shadowing before he abruptly stood from his hair in such a manner as to almost dislodge poor Dios from his seat. "Gentlemen...if you will excuse me...." His unexpected motion had shocked the posturing and tittering men into silence long before his shocking words reached their ears....one...did not just stand up in the middle of a council session and say you were leaving! The look of shock and outrage on some of the council members face was enough to even evoke a small shimmer of wry amusement in Sasarai's heart, almost making the hell he would no doubt have to pay later for this little spectacle worth it. But really...truly....who out of the pompous old men was going to stop him? "Dios will carry on in my stead...."
"B...Bishop...." The flummoxed Dios was unable to truly protest as his superior simply bowed curtly before turning with a soft rustle of azure fabric to hurry for doorway and exit from this stuffy room. The moment he was out of the room, Sasarai's mood began to lighten by small fractions and by the time he'd actually made it to the small refuge of his own personal quarters, he actually felt a pale ghost of peace settle over him. News did indeed travel swiftly through the Circle Palace in almost magickal ways for by the time he'd returned to his rooms, Sasarai found a chilled pitcher of his favorite fruit drink and a light luncheon awaiting him, no doubt left by one of his servants before the thoughtful creature had made itself scarce.
Sasarai momentarily felt a burst of warm appreciation for his servants, mentally making note to add a more generous bonus to their stipends the next upcoming church holiday. He poured himself a generous glass of the chilled drink before freeing himself from the stifling and stiff over jacket of his office. With a grimace he carelessly tossed the garment aside, enjoying the cool wash of the mild afternoon air as it slipped through the opened windows to pleasantly lift the light linen of his undershirt. Ah air...freedom....if only for ten minutes he was free of his duties and that blasted uniform.
One would think that after a few centuries he'd grow used to the stifling layers and ceremonial trappings of his office for while it was helpful at times, it still made for awful wearing during a twelve hour strait session of the church bishops. His boots were soon kicked off in a similar fashion, socks following to leave him delightfully bare-foot and cool in the face of that pleasant breeze. He carried the tray with it's delicacies and drink toward the balcony doors of his apartments, pausing in the open doorway for a brief moment to enjoy the glorious view his particularly tiered apartments offered him of the city.
The afternoon sun was slowly gliding towards it's demise and eventual surrendering of the day to the night, lighting across those light brown strands to pick up the individual glints of chestnuts and golds in his hair. How long had it been since he simply enjoyed the sun on his face....indulged in simply lying in bed till noon and staring off into space in pleasant daydreams? Beyond recall, that was for certain. Truth of the matter was...he was long over due for a vacation. A musing look crossed that youthful face as he toyed with the idea...why shouldn't he take a short vacation? Peace reigned in that country if only for a short period....he most certainly had earned one with his constant work over the past few years...why not indeed....?
Wariness tugged at the edges of his mind as he moved to sit on the crystalline bench situated beneath the cool, arching branches of the sweetly flowered fruit trees that filled his small domain of peace and tranquility. Yes...a vacation would be most welcome...no more stolen minutes and hours...just a small eternity stored in a matter of days just for himself. A wistful little sigh passed his lips as he set the tray on the bench beside him. A mighty yawn rose in his throat as he stretched surprisingly well-toned arms high above his head in a mighty and luxurious stretch that left his stiff and tired muscles feeling warm and delightful for a moment.
The light shown favorably across his form and that youthfully handsome face as silken strands of hair as they feathered in shining wings across soft cheeks that had never truly lost the gentle roundness of childhood to give that youthful mien a sweet air to it. Not that he minded particularly since there were none in the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia who didn't at least know his name if not his face. A fact that often brought a chagrined look to his face now that he thought about it for he was not as oblivious to the giggling gossiping of the various chambermaids and servants. He knew he cut a handsome figure but really...he was older then their ancestors!
Even thinking about that brought a faint flush to his cheeks and he grimaced faintly in dismay before turning his attention to his lunch. The cool juice helped to calm the flush to his cheeks as he sipped from the chilled glass in a slow, savoring manner. Ahh...the simple pleasures in life...it was a shame he hadn't the time to truly enjoy them anymore. In fact he was so utterly enwrapped in enjoying the light meal and drink that he didn't even notice the faint rustling in the rose bushes lining the edge of his private garden.
It was actually the soft sound of animal distress, a little mewl of pain that broke through the pleasant spell of serenity he'd woven about himself to bring him back once more to the real world. A dark frown lit upon his features for a moment before fading away with a heavy sigh as he set the glass aside so that he could turn his full attention to the bushes. Clear, translucent green eyes narrowed fractionally as he peered intently through the thick green of the leaves to catch the soft spots of dove grey and white-blond as it peeked through the nest of thorns and leaves. He could see one pale crystalline blue eye peer at him from the bush and he was taken aback to realize that a child had intruded upon his secret garden.
"Hello there little one...." His voice took on a gentle, coaxing tone as mystified amusement flit through him...out of the hundreds of people in the Circle Palace, this tiny little child had managed to breech his inner sanctum...he didn't know whether to be bemused or worried. Whatever the case however, the little creature had obviously found itself in a predicament by trapping themselves amidst the prickly barbs of the roses. "You're stuck in there aren't you...." His trademark smile curved his lips as he slid to his feet, those bared toes sinking into the lush grass as he walked across the small grove to approach the bushes.
His assumptions were proven correct as he found himself staring down at the wide-eyed figure of a small girl as she sat huddled and frozen in the middle of the bushes. Her pale skin was scratched in a multitude of places, dirt smeared across the bridge of that pert nose as the child peered up at him in anxious uncertainty. She knew she wasn't supposed to be here and the arrival of the man into her secret hideout had forced her into brambles in hope of escaping detection. Sasarai smiled gently and reached into roses, heedless of the thorns. He could sense the angry grumbling of the roses through his rune and his smile took a wry turn.
The thorns were merciless all the same, roses after all being known for their cruel vanity and merciless vengeance against any who dare trespass too closely to them. They snagged and caught in his shirt as he leaned in close, his face all but planted into the flowers as he reached for the child. "It's alright little one, just hold onto me and we'll get you out of here..." The child did as bidden for she was anxious to be free of the horrific thorns even in the threat of being in trouble....again....tiny arms slide about Sasarai's neck in a sweetly trusting manner and he gathered the child carefully in his arms to lift her safely from the thorns as carefully as he could.
She made no sound as one particularly vicious set of thorns raked a painful trail along her bare leg though Sasarai was alerted to her distress by the abrupt stiffening of the child in his arms before she curled into a little ball, unintentionally curling into his arms. He paused long enough to free her from the thorns and soon enough they were both clear of the rosebushes, the little child daring to peek up as he fully straitened. "There now...that wasn't so bad now was it?" It Dios or the various other members of his staff had happened to come across the pair right now, they would have been shocked speechless at the cheerful manner the highest ranking priest beneath Hikusaak was handling the bedraggled little waif.
"Nuu....t'ank yuu....." Her voice was the high, sweet reedy tones of a toddler, the lisp of babyhood still holding sway over her words as he was gifted with a gap-toothed smile. "I'm Sewa....." He'd saved her from the biting plants and was nice to her and to her child's mind that translated him to a friend. "Whas your name?" Those large liquid blue eyes were so wide and innocent as she smiled up at him, the troubles of the world a passing thought at best to her innocent thoughts and the warrior priest found even his heart melting a bit in response to her quiet radiance.
He awkwardly shifted her in his arms to cradle that tiny body in a more comfortable manner before grinning down at the child. "My name is Sasarai....it's a pleasure to meet you Sera...." Rich amusement lit those pale emeralds, sending them dancing and glittering in that sweet visage in a way that had not been seen in many a year. "Are you alright, little Sera? Should we take you to a healers?" His knowledge of children was vague and limited and he had no idea what sort of physical limitations they might have...the idea was rather....intimidating actually...they seemed so...delicate so....breakable and tiny. The little girl shook her head solemnly, those willow-wisp strands of white-blond hair flying freely about her face.
"Nuu...I fine...." She smiled again in that oh so sweet and trusting manner before leaning upwards to kiss him on his cheek, unintentionally leaving a smear of dirt across that gently curved visage. "T'ank yuu Sas'rai...." His eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected kiss before a warm smile curved his lips in answer, gentle eyes studying that dirty yet still heartbreakingly sweet visage. There was something hauntingly familiar about her features, the ghost of a remembrance in his mind though of what he couldn't quite place his finger on. She was truly a beautiful child with those luminous crystal blue eyes that stared out so trustingly upon the world, that downy head of pale, pale silvered blond hair almost washed white in the light as they fell in soft tendrils about her face.
"You're most welcome little one but come...we should get you cleaned up no?" His suggestion was met with a look of utter disgust and dismay as the child flailed slightly in his arms. "Nuu! Nuu baf!!" He laughed quietly at her indignant cries and moved to sit her at his place upon the bench. "Alright...no bath...but stay here a moment and I'll go get a fresh cloth to at least clean you up a bit? We don't want you to get sick do we?" His look of wide-eyed dismay and fear was comically exaggerated as he looked down at the suddenly mystified child who shook her head. "Okay....then I'll be right back!" He hopped nimbly to his feet and hurried back inside the apartments to fetch a small basin of water and a small pile of clean bandages he kept out of habit in his bathroom.
"You must be a brave girl to sit in those nasty roses and not even cry...." He murmured with gentle warmth as he soaked the edges of one of the bandages in the water before capturing one tiny leg with his hand to hold it still as he dabbed gently at her wounds. "I wish I'd been as brave and clever as you when I was a kid...." She didn't seem to find his wide- eyed look of wistfulness out of place though it would have been comical to anyone else....the great and powerful Lord Sasarai having reduced himself to tending the wounds of the tiny little waif that had broken into his personal garden....it was most singular and particular that was for certain.
"I not bwave...I din wan get in troubu...." She admitted with an odd solemnity as she lay still there, perched carefully on the edge of that crystalline bench as the mage treated her wounds with a surprising tenderness. Sasarai smiled softly, those soft green depths peering up at her from beneath those dark lashes as his hands moved in gentle motions to clean both the dirt and the clotted and dried blood that had sluggishly seeped through the skin in places.
"There are many forms of bravery little one..and I think that you..are indeed a most singular and special child..tell me.where are your parents? I see you're wearing temple robes.are they clerics here?" At his gentle, but thoughtless words, the child wilted, a small look of shame crossing her face as those dandelion soft curls fell across her cheeks. Where once a sweet and delightful child had sat, without warning a withdrawn and dark eyed young girl stared off into a middle ground.
"Dey went to da next world .da nice people take care of me.dey say Imma be a pwiest someday.." She murmured softly, her brows knitting together in a frown. "Da other kids dun like me...dey say I'm weird and dey throw rocks at me.." Those shimmering blue eyes looked up at Sasarai, a painfully vulnerable look in those crystalline depths as she stared at him. "You don't t'ink I'm weird do yuu?" The priest's eyes clouded and he shook his head slowly, a slender hand dwarfing her shoulder to awkwardly offer comfort.
"No little one.I don't think you're weird at all..actually..you know kids used to make fun of me too because I didn't have parents like you.." He gently scooped her up in his lap, snuggling her there just because it felt strangely right to feel that tiny weight curl so trustingly in his lap. Heh..how odd.he never really considered him the parental figure.indeed the idea of truly settling down with anyone, even without the looming fact of eminent death for them as he lived on as young as always, had never occurred to him. Children had never interested him, nor had the idea of continuing a familial line he knew nothing about. But suddenly.it did..or perhaps it was just with this one special child.an obviously excluded and lonely youth who'd no doubt shown early potential for the magickal arts just as himself to have been accepted so readily into the church. She..was just like him.the idea was a bit humbling and frightening.but he'd never had anyone to turn to.every adult had kept him at a cool arms length so as not to distract him from his studies.and look where it had gotten him..
"Sera.if you ever need a friend or just someone to talk to.you can come visit me.." He offered tentatively, one graceful hand rising to comb softly through those willow-wisp strands of silvered blond. The child looked up at him with wide eyes, a look of shimmering adoration and hope gleaming oh so brightly there as she looked to him.
"Y.Yuu mean it? I can.rewwy? Oh Sas'rai! Yuu my bestess fwiend in da whole wide wowrd!" She squealed as she wrapped her arms about his neck, hugging him tightly like the attention starved child she was. He smiled an odd, bittersweet little smile and gently clasp her back.
"Yes little one..I promise.and if you ever have trouble seeing me." He reached beneath the finely woven linen of his shirt to pull out a delicately wrought necklace, the glittering silver pendant that hung from those delicate links glittering and refracting the light. Nestled in a bed of silver the enameled symbol of the true earth rune shown in rich golds and browns. "See this..this signifies my station.see how I have that marking on my hand?" He held up his hand so she could see the runemark on the back of that slender hand and those wide blue eyes stared intently at it with open curiousity.
"Whass that?" She breathed, catching his hand in her much tinier ones to peer at the marking much closely. "Dat looks famiwier.." Her words got a soft smile from him and he tugged his hand free gently so he could clasp the necklace about her neck
"It's something called the true earth rune.I'll explain about it later how about? I'll tell you a tale about a boy who was very similar to you and how he woke a great power that changed his life forever.but for now.keep the necklace with you and don't show it to anyone unless you need to see me. It's not something to be taken lightly, little Sera.do you think you can handle such responsibility?"
She nodded excitedly, happy and delighted to have been given such a pretty necklace and to have been treated like such a grownup! "You pwomise to tewl me next time?" He laughed quietly once more, having laughed more in the last hour then he had in the past year.
"Yes you have my solemn promise.however now I hear someone calling for you." And indeed.in the distance.someone was.the faint testiness of the young acolyte's tone was obvious to Sasarai's ears and he stood once more with the child in his arms. "You should get back to the priests before they worry about you.and Sera.remember...keep close watch of the necklace and only use it when you need to..I'm sure a pixie such as yourself won't have to use it to find your way back to my garden again, hmmmn?" He playfully beeped her nose as they reached the doors of his apartment and he set her down gently before peeking mischievously out the door. "Alright..those cost is clear..you head back to the dormitories alright?"
"I will..t'ank you Sas'rai.." She hugged his leg gently, unable to reach any other part of him before scuttling off with surprising speed on those tiny little legs to hurry down the corridor. Sasarai watched her go with a mingling of bemusement and outright chagrined surprise.what had come over him..? The little pixie had obviously bewitched him.he smiled an odd little smile once more and shut his door. He felt better.more light hearted and simply content then he had before.how.curious.the warrior priest shrugged slightly before turning away once more to walk back to his gardens to finish his meal with a much lighter heart and perhaps even a less grim outlook on life.
