Alaia Skyhawk:
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I don't own Tales of Symphonia so please don't sue me. I do however own Krishka, Dallinius (Dalli), Aluran, the Alurannai and any OCs, except Sanaro and Annule, who belong to Mr Who 2123, Mika and Fiuras, who belong to WingedWithFireyMana, and Gaea Silverleaf, who belongs to Sparkling Moon Phoenix, so please don't steal them...
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Chapter 8: Beginning of a Partnership
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Amber eyes opened slowly, a small frown creasing the space between their owner's eyebrows as the magic that had kept him in slumber finally faded. Lying there he remained silent, much to the concern of the young boy leaning over him, until after seemingly endless minutes he met the youth's gaze and smiled a little in reassurance.
"I'm alright, Ratatosk. Was it you who made me sleep so I could adjust?"
The young spirit gazed down at him and nodded.
"Yes. You were hurting because of me, because I unlocked all that knowledge when I shouldn't have." His expression became guilt stricken. "You're not angry with me... are you?"
Yasin sat up, pulling the boy into a hug as he murmured.
"Not at all, because while I was sleeping I've thought of a few ideas that may help you." He looked around the chamber, which looked just as it had when he'd first entered. "How long was I unconscious?"
"Almost a month." Yasin jolted at those words, hastily getting to his feet and turning for the chamber's exit. Ratatosk grasped at his trailing hand to stop him. "Wait, are you leaving?!"
At the fear in that voice, the terror of being left alone, Yasin turn and looked down at his young charge.
"I have to go back to the meadow for a while. If I don't show my face there the other Alurannai will wonder where I've been. I've been gone long enough as it is, and cannot delay returning. Not if I'm going to keep you a secret from the other alurannai."
Ratatosk's expression was pleading, but at the same time it was clear he knew Yasin was right. Instead of begging the man to stay, his muted voice reached his guardian's ears piteously.
"But it took you days to get here from there before... How long will you be gone?"
Yasin laid a hand on the young Spirit's head, ruffling his green hair.
"Not too long, and I can visit as much as l like... I know something the other Alurannai haven't 'remembered' yet" He tapped the side of his head when Ratatosk looked up at him. "I've got a lot of things to plan, and a lot of ideas. They'll take time to set up, but I believe they'll be worth the effort." He hugged Ratatosk and started to leave, before pausing and glancing back. "And I've got a name for this place, one which I think fits nicely... Ginnungagap... It's Ancient Elvish for 'Door of the Sanctuary'. That's what Symphonia is, a sanctuary of life, and you're guarding the doorway that keeps the evil from beyond out of it... See you soon, I'll come back in a week or so to visit."
He walked out of the chamber, disappearing into the passage to the rift, while by the seal Ratatosk murmured the name to himself with a smile.
"Ginnungagap... The Door of the Sanctuary..."
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Yasin emerged from the glowing rip, out into the soft starlight of a crystal clear night to turn and face that blazing glow. It would have to be hidden, lest any of his people flying about the world see it from above and descend to investigate. If Ratatosk's meddling in the seal on his imprinted knowledge had done one thing helping, it had made him a theoretical master of magic. With the entire cumulative knowledge of elven magic, combined with his own innate understanding of the power of mana, Yasin combined the two and wove a near perfect illusion over the rift blending it into the background of grass. It would take some years of practice before theory would become true mastery, but for now this more than credible first attempt would hide this place... He could always improve it at a later date.
That task done, he spread his wings and took flight. Arrowing to where mana flowed outwards from the Sentinel, he descended to land beside it and placed a hand upon its trunk as he reached out to it with his mind.
Send me to the Sentinel closest to Kharlan Tree Ratarani...
A soft golden glow enveloped him and he vanished from sight, only to appear over a thousand miles away at the edge of the vast meadow where the Tree resided. Standing there beneath the other Sentinel, gazing out across that grass which was lit by sunset unlike the distant isle he was at a moment before, he could sense where normal weather ended and a perfect calm began.
Wondered by it, after glancing around to ensure no other alurannai had witnessed his 'arrival', he walked down the hill from where the Sentinel stood. Reaching the edge of that strange difference he passed through it, and in doing so felt the power of his people's Bonds to the tree woven into a web that held back the normal seasons outside and created an endless spring within. Smiling at the knowledge this protected area meant the Tree could flourish unharmed by storm or freezing cold, Yasin took flight once more and glided towards where a distant silent song called him home. He wasn't the only one with many ideas, for it seemed the Tree had put much into its latest creations. The Alurannai would unknowingly help Ratatosk balance the mana, would protect the Tree from the seasons, and also fuel its strength so it could in turn keep watch over Ratatosk as well. He too was part of that plan, a direct path of protection unlike the passive one of the rest of his people.
As he flew he continued to contemplate all the care the Tree had put into the Alurannai, and the future they would have ahead of them. He would be a key part of that future, would guide the path of his people's development and culture. The weight of that knowledge almost stifled him, but at the same time it gave him hope... By being the one who guided the path his people would take, he could ensure that everything possible could and would be done to protect Ratatosk.
Sunset became night, stars wheeling overhead until the sun began to rise at his back. He didn't rush, there was no need to now, and he arrived at the Tree late that day the man fated to rule his people greeted him.
Narim Brethil Aurion, an innocent and youthful smile upon his face, tilted his auburn haired head and welcomed Yasin home... While Yasin himself could only look at this unknowing sibling of Ratatosk's and feel guilt at the knowledge of the burden this man bore. A burden with a terrible cost should it be invoked, and all for the sake of the world and of Ratatosk...
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It was a perfectly relaxed young man who strolled up the side of the hill, his golden brown hair stirred by the warm gentle winds which were the only ones permitted in the Giant Tree's Meadow as his people had begun to call this place of protection. However, contrary to his apparent lack of concern, Yasin was currently praying inwardly that none of the other alurannai would come up here before he'd done what he needed to. The last few weeks here among his people had kept him on edge, as he'd watched them going about their daily childlike routines of waking, gathering to talk among each other, and exploring the immediate vicinity of the tree. Throughout it all he'd had to plaster the same naive smile on his own features and act as if he knew nothing more than they did... Innocent in ignorance...
He reached the top of the hill, sighing in relief when a quick glance at the 'town' below revealed no others were making their daily visit to see the Tree yet. He wasn't sure why he called it a 'town'; all it was, was a series of mats of crudely woven grass set out into little clusters with steadily more trodden paths weaving among them like an impression of the buildings and streets of the abandoned settlement about a mile away. His people would move into that settlement soon, he was sure, but before then he had his own plans involving those deserted habitations.
Putting that thought aside with a shake of his head, he turned his attention back to the tree which, for all it had only been three months, was several inches taller and looking decidedly more sturdy. Yasin approached the Kharlan Tree, wrapping his arms around a trunk that would one day take almost twenty people linked hand to hand to do the same.
"Ratarani, you don't have to be sorry. I understand why you did what you did to me."
He felt the Tree's touch as it reached out with its spirit, a hint of regret still there despite his words of forgiveness.
It still grieves me though that I have bound you to live for eternity. I have given you a harsh road to travel...
Yasin released his grip, instead now simply resting his forehead against the Tree's bark, smiling.
"...I know, but walking it with Ratatosk will make that path bearable... I'd just like to ask you something, though."
You wish to ask if it is possible for me to transport you to the Ginnungagap Sentinel, and it you back to me, so you would not have to make excuses to fly to the Sentinel at the meadow's edge. In answer to that, yes I can; for the Sentinel lies above one of my roots.
Yasin twitched, stepping back and looking up into the branches overhead.
"Ginnungagap? How did you?"
The touch of the Tree's spirit shivered, like a laugh.
My son likes to speak to me, even when he is so far away... His fears have been allayed, and his hope restored, all thanks to your kind heart Yasin. While I may have created you to help him, you are still the person you have chosen to be, and that person is an admirable one.
The alurannai man smiled once again, the mention of the young Spirit reminding him of what he needed to do.
"In that case I can start my planning right away, while the rest of my kind grow and gain experience on their own. If this works out, then I'll be ready to put my first ideas into action in about a hundred years from now. My people should be ready by then."
Remember not to work too hard, dear Yasin. You are as young as them in body and experience, and it is only the knowledge I have given you that has allowed you to think this way. Do not forget to enjoy your youth-years with the rest of them, for I'm sure Ratatosk would like you to enjoy them alongside him as well... He's going to grow up very fast now, and by the time your people are ready for your plans, he will likely be grown as well.
Yasin paused, conflicted for a moment before he sighed.
"I'll remember that." He then turned and left, taking flight. "Thank you, Ratarani."
You are welcome, dear Yasin...
Leaving the Tree behind, Yasin flew over where the rest of his people were still gathered, gliding idly like many of them did when the itch to spread wings and feel the wind in their faces urged them into the air. He had a target in mind though, unlike the others present in the skies, and upon reaching it he immediately landed and began what would be perfectly understandable poking about. Given a few more weeks the rest of the alurannai would be doing the same, settling themselves into elven settlement rather than build a new one on their own.
Walking from house to house, building to building, Yasin noted that all but a handful of furniture had been left behind. The Elves had stripped all they could from this place and taken it with them, but even with wing packs they'd not been able to take it all... and that was what he was counting on.
Eventually he found the first of the items he looked for, an ink pen lost in the corner of what had once been a study. Other places yielded scraps of paper, a chance find gaining him several large and, to him, valuable sheets that he immediately rolled up with utmost care. Over the hours he found yet more discarded writing implements, empty jars, and all manner of other random items ranging from hair combs to hammers. It was nearing nightfall that he got his greatest find though, one that had him immediately scouring his imprinted knowledge for every scrap of information about the item in question.
It was a wing pack, a damaged one... likely discarded for just that reason by the Elves in their rush to leave this place. Thanks to his knowledge though, this one wouldn't likely stay damaged for long. Paper, pens, and other salvaged useful items would be hidden away where there was no need fear others of his people would find them and wonder at why he possessed them. He would carry them all in secret upon his person, inside a flat disk the size and thickness of his palm.
Elated by finding the wing pack, Yasin hurried to the house where he'd begun storing all the bits and pieces he'd salvaged. He'd picked up a few tools besides the hammers, ones that with a little improvisation could hopefully be used to fix the device in his hand...
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Frown creasing his features as his expression contorted with the degree of concentration he had turned on the disk in his hand, it was with a satisfied nod that Yasin set aside the slim metal rod he'd been using and examined the device he held. He could feel the wing pack drawing mana from the air around it, that tiny amount of draw easily concealed when he diverted a small flow of mana generated by himself to the disk. The rest of his people wouldn't learn of their ability to generate mana for a while yet, but he at least could use it to prevent them sensing the wing pack he would now be carrying.
Touching his fingertips to the depressions on one side, eyes closed as the wing pack sent the image of its contents through that contact, he was not surprised at it being empty. Any contents that had been in it would have been lost the moment it was damaged beyond using, the device devoid of all trace of its previous owner.
Patting down the plain and now rather grubby robe he'd worn since he was created, Yasin quickly found he would be able to clip the wing pack to the inside without trouble. He also noted he needed a bath, a necessity which his people had not 'remembered' yet. He decided then and there that he was going to 'remind' them himself... He'd had enough of smell now exuding from his clothing, a smell that the rest of his people had not yet learned to question coming from theirs.
Sighing with resignation, he began to pack all of the items and paper he'd salvaged into the wing pack, leaving the town and heading straight for the lake a short distance from the Tree. Reaching it he didn't even bother to land and undress, instead simply plunging into the waters sending a plume of spray showering into the air.
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Yet another sigh echoed through the chamber, the green-haired Spirit staring into empty air while the once again present Centurion slicked back black ears and twitched its tail. Why on earth was his master moping so much? Wasn't the fact that he was here keeping him company good enough?
Tenebrae suppressed a sigh of his own, along with whatever grumbles he might have uttered under his breath. It was all rather confusing as to why his Lord Ratatosk should be so attached to a man ten years his junior, a man who despite that disparity of age had taken it upon himself to be Ratatosk's 'father'. He supposed it was something he would just have to get used to, but oh if only his master would stop sighing!
Ratatosk sighed again, Tenebrae planting his feline head face first into the floor and staying there. This was it, he was going to have to leave his master on his own for a while or be driven crazy by his pining...
"Father? FATHER!"
The Centurion jolted upright as that shout shattered the silence of the chamber, Ratatosk dashing past the bemused feline to throw himself into the arms of the immaculately clean man who had just entered.
Yasin smiled as he hugged the boy in return, that joyous greeting and the name by which he'd been called filling him with joy in return. Then, as Ratatosk reluctantly let go and backed up a bit, he pulled the repaired wing pack from inside his robe and produced one of the more random items he'd found from it.
"Ratarani told me you've been bored since the mana was fixed, so I thought I'd bring you something I found. How about you and me play a game of 'catch'?"
Eyes lighting up at the ball Yasin offered him, Ratatosk accepted it with delight before proceeding to charge about the chamber cheering at the top of his lungs... while Tenebrae once again planted his face into the floor...
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Alaia Skyhawk: Hehehehe, poor Tenebrae XD