The books were everywhere. Neatly stacked piles littered the floor or were placed on some of the stools and table while a few books laid open on a certain page here and there among the organised mess. It weren't the books which were getting the attention however, though a few smaller stacks served the purpose of pinning down several maps and charts that were admired by the two sitting at the table.

Alys was little distracted while vacantly looking at a large map and followed Joris' small finger with her eyes, her chin resting on the back of her fingers as she sat with hands folded and elbows propped onto the table top. The Bontarian master had been generous with his attention towards the female Eliatrope, spending the time he had to spare with her in the library or outside of it. He was most helpful and patient, the eagerness she showed rather refreshing for someone like him. He knew much and had lived for a very long time, and yet he was in the company of one who was much older than him. It was a mere guess on his part, however; nobody knew for certaint how old Alys was, but there was something in her eyes and ways of doing that betrayed there was more to her than what she appeared to be. The way she memorized things so swiftly intrigued Joris, even though it had been a slow start for both of them.

The first few days were spent on polishing up her reading. She hadn't lost the ability to read, no matter the amnesia she suffered from, but she did struggle with the writings she came across in the many books she tried to skim through. Whatever language she knew before losing her memories, it was similar and yet different to what the Disciples of Twelve knew. The similarities did help her with understanding and soon enough she stopped asking what a word meant or how it was pronounced; her memories may have been lost to her, but her instincts and habits were still present.

She had been pleasant company and it was interesting to talk with her. Perhaps that was why it was easy for him to tell something was bothering her. Joris placed both his hands on the table to lean on the wood and the edge of the map he was showing to Alys, glancing towards her past the edge of his hood. Her eyes remained on the middle of the map, unmoving and unfocused, even after he stopped pointing out several places to her. "Lady Alys."

Her focus returned with a single blinking of her eyes after Joris' soft voice reached her and rose her chin up from her hands when it began to dawn to her that she allowed her thoughts to wander. She gave him an apologetic smile, though did not meet his gaze, asking with a weak stammer before she found her voice while her eyes fluttered across the map," I am sorry, could you repeat that?"

"Do not worry, it wasn't of importance," Joris admitted while observing her, sounding gentle to not lecture her. Did she have a chance to talk about what was troubling her? Did she even have anyone she could openly talk with, someone she trusted? He quietly sighed through his nose as he reminded himself it had been a little more than a week since she woke up; she was still a stranger to many, himself, the two flamboyant servants, Alibert, Yugo and Adamaï excluded. However, she spent hours in the library to fill her mind with knowledge, isolating herself from most if he wasn't there with her. Was she hiding from something or was she too afraid to be reminded of her lost memories? He rose a brow when he saw her caress the curly and elegant lettering of Bonta, the name of the continent of which the eastern shores belong to Sadida, the thoughtful look upon her face making him curious. What was she thinking about?

"Don't you miss it...?"

He straightened his back when Alys suddenly changed the subject, not certain what exactly she was implying. He watched the tips of her fingers rest upon the thick paper before deciding to express his confusion rather than try and guess," miss it?"

"You have been in Sadida for a little while now," she said with a ponder in her voice," Bonta is your home, is it not?"

Ah, Bonta. He slowly nodded in answer, his mind wandering with the surfacing memories; he had seen and experienced much during all those years of living and serving the city," it has been my home for many years, yes, but I do not miss it. An ambassador travels much and spends days, if not weeks, away from what they consider home; it is part of their routine and one grows used to it over time. Though… home is where the heart is, no?" His hidden smile grew a little as she nodded in understanding before he continued to speak," but that I do not miss it doesn't mean I do not think of it. No matter the political issues one has to face as an ambassador, you still leave friends and family behind for an unknown period of time."

"It sounds complicated… I mean, to leave family behind." Did she leave anyone behind when she ended up in captivity? Was there a place she called home before it all…? To think he would willingly leave those he considered close... Would she do the same if she were in his position?

"Complicated but necessary. I do everything in my power to keep those close to me safe, and I do so by serving my King and nation."

Serve. Protect. They were honorable reasons for leaving friends and family behind, or so she believed as she thought about it. Perhaps she could make the same sacrifice if it meant that those she cared for would be safe. "Could you perhaps tell me more about Bonta, Master Joris?" she asked while continuing to muse a little about the meaning of home, duty and responsibility before catching the spark she ignited in the eyes that were visible within Joris' hood.

"Gladly," he answered with a nod and a broad smile before he reached for the unorganised stack of rolled up parchments on the table to find the one he had in mind. He unrolled it before them on the table before lifting up a few books pin the thick paper down, presenting Alys with a detailed map of the city," Bonta has existed for nearly a thousand years, having survived wars, invasions, sieges and even complete annihilation."

Alys shifted a little closer to him and the table while taking in the map, not having seen it before. It was different from Sadida at first glance, the many streets indicating that Bonta was not located in a forest. It looked to be bordering a large body of water.

After seeing he had her full attention, Joris dug deeper into his own knowledge about the city he served. "Back when time was still new to the World, Rushu, the lord of the Shushus, wanted a place among the Gods but was denied. Instead, the right was given to a minor goddess who managed to gain enough followers to earn the other Gods' respect; Goddess Sacrier. Enraged, Rushu demanded of his right hand Djaul to build a city in his name and honor. It was to become a temple for Rushu's followers, a safe haven if you will... but it was also an attempt to have the Disciples of the Gods denounce their faith and instead worship a demon. For you see, a God needs a strong following of massive scale to remain in power. To take their followers away means a God's divinity will diminish... It was a clever plan of Rushu and surely not his last attempt to bring down the Gods. The city Djaul built in a single night became what we know as Brakmar." Joris pushed the map of Bonta somewhat up to reveal Brakmar on the world map spread out on the table, allowing Alys to look upon the volcanic region before he pointed at it and drew his finger back to the Bontarian map," in retaliation to Brakmar coming into existence and Rushu gaining power, the protectors of the months Javian, Martalo and Frauguctor worked alongside the Gods to form an opposing city… Bonta; the Divine City, the White City or the City of Light."

"Fitting names if it was created by the Gods," Alys quietly commented as her eyes remained on the paper, a light smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"I agree," he said with a deep nod," but fitting titles do not prevent casualties... The citizens of both the cities often clashed. The first war that broke out between Brakmar and Bonta was one of the bloodiest in that time and therefore named the Crimson Dawn… Three more Crimson Dawns followed, until both cities were completely wiped off the map." He laid a hand over the nation of Brakmar while nudging the curling edge of the Bontarian map to have it roll up a little, putting pressure on the severity of the historical event.

Alys looked a little shocked while staring at the back of Joris' gloved hand hiding Brakmar from sight before she turned her gaze to look at his shrouded face, asking reluctantly," completely…?"

"Indeed... However, Bonta and Brakmar were fortunate that the new Goddess witnessed the annihilation and undid the final Crimson Dawn by shedding one of her tears for the people's suffering into Xelor's Clock. No matter that she was able to reverse the devastation, the memories of the massacre remained; all involved knew of the cities' fates if the wars were to continue or repeat, reminded of what had happened before Sacrier's interference. A truce was therefore formed; Bonta and Brakmar would never wage war upon each other again to prevent the Crimson Dawn from repeating. This peace treaty has been honored and remained strong since… While Brakmar remains a rival to Bonta, we do our best to not instigate anything. We instead settle our differences through Boufbowl matches and political discussions. War isn't on anyone's mind, at least not on Bonta's."

War… it sounded awful. She had a feeling that she knew exactly what it was like, but couldn't recall anything; not a feeling, image or thought, just the sensation that she experienced war before. To think a city like Bonta had gone through several, especially with the purpose it was built for; it seemed wrong for evil to triumph over good in any kind of way. "What became of Rushu...? If Brakmar still exists, does that mean he is still converting Disciples to follow his lead and thus gaining power?"

Joris shook his head though he had to credit her observant behavior. "Brakmar remains a safe haven for many Shushus, but Rushu and his commanders have long since lost control over Brakmar. He rules over his own kingdom in the dimension of Shukrute. Instead his city became a hotspot from crime syndicates, illegal trade and other unsavory practices but the inhabitants remain fairly true to the Gods they chose before their birth, like Sram and Xelor, though even Disciples of Pandawa and Cra reside within the city. Crime isn't bound to a specific God."

"And what of Bonta and the Protectors of the Months who helped building it?"

Joris' eyes closed when a dark thought crossed his mind before his shoulders and the spotted pelt he wore rose a little with the quiet sigh he released. "Jiva, Menalt and Pouchecot no longer watch over the city… Menalt, the centaur protector of the month Martalo perished during the first Crimson Dawn at the hand of one of Rushu's heroes; Hyrkul. The fates of Jiva and Pouchecot have been uncertain since Ogrest's Chaos so I can not answer for them. Yet Bonta prospers, even without the Protectors of the Months or the Gods watching over it. It is royalty that sits on the Brakmarian and Bontarian thrones, but it is their councils which hold most of the power. The King of Bonta's council consists out of seven council members; nobles, merchants, military… I myself am the King's advisor though I do not hold a seat at the Royal Council. I do attend any council meetings when my duties permit it."

"I never really realised how important your work truly is…" And yet here he was, teaching history to a woman of no importance. If it weren't for the Eliacube's presence in Sadida, would he have left the kingdom by now? They would never have spent time together like they had done so far, would they? It actually scared her to think that way," it is admirable."

"Thank you," Joris humbly said in response, catching the smile she gave him before she looked back at the maps on the table. He didn't think much of what he did, but then it had been so many years; it was the norm for him.

"You said Goddess Sacrier was… new… when she witnessed the final Crimson Dawn," Alys suddenly said, unintentionally changing the subject," how does one become a God and join the Twelve?"

"A following… and a strong belief. Goddess Sacrier was a minor entity before she managed to gain the interest and favor of a large population of humans. As long as enough people believe and worship you, you can reach the status of a God. Whatever soul decides to become your Disciple once they are reborn, they will take on several of your traits after birth. Let me show you…"

Joris stepped off the stool he stood on to search for something specific, steering himself past several tall bookcases. Alys remained seated, uncertain if she was meant to follow him until he swiftly climbed a ladder that was placed against one of the bookcases to reach the high shelves and fish a book free from the rather colorful collection. He checked the cover to make certain he found the right book before making his way back down the ladder.

"There are twelve Gods a soul can choose to follow," Joris began while returning to Alys' side and flipped through the pages of the book before holding it open and out for Alys to take. The two pages he presented showed twelve images, six on each page with elegant lettering and borders. Joris stepped back onto the stool to be able to look at the book Alys rested in her lap, reaching over to point at the pictures one by one," Cra, Ecaflip, Eniripsa, Enutrof, Feca, Iop, Osamodas, Pandawa, Sacrier, Sadida, Sram and Xelor. The pictures you see are what the people believe the Gods to look like. To be precise, when an entity begins to gain a following, it will take on the shape the masses envision it to have. In turn… the souls that decide which God to devote to in their new life gain several of the chosen God's traits. I do not believe you have seen many Disciples other than Sadida, Enutrof and Cra since your awakening, but…"

Alys looked at one of the images Joris pointed at to direct her attention to it, frowning slightly as what she saw was a little strange. The God in the picture was a hideous being in comparison to the other Gods, almost demonic in appearance with horns, a long tail and a face only a mother could love. He was in the company of a dragon.

"For instance, those who follow God Osamodas are born with blue skin, a long tail and horns. See the resemblance?" he asked, seeing the Eliatrope nod from the corner of his eyes before he took his finger away from the book," each and every Disciple will have something which allows them to relate to the God their soul chose before their birth. When a Disciple dies, their soul returns to a place called Incarnam, a place where souls prepare themselves to be reborn once more. During their stay in Incarnam, they will choose what God to follow and what kind of parents they will be given to upon birth. No Iop child can be born from Feca parents and neither can a Sadida child be conceived by two Enutrofs."

Joris paused in his talking after noticing Alys' eyes wander over his short appearance, allowing her to look as he was curious to know what exactly she was thinking. It was as if she was examining him with a focused look upon her face, as if to try and figure something out on her own before she frowned and returned to the book to give the twelve pictures the exact same focus she gave him.

"Are there truly only twelve Gods…?"

Her sudden question caught him a little by surprise, feeling his curiosity flare up until a faint hint of realization came through. His appearance was unlike any other Disciple in the World of Twelve… or the Gods. Was she wondering which path he followed, if any? The smile he had disappeared, the darkness of the hood he wore only showing his eyes as he shook his head in answer," no… but only twelve are recognized by the masses and only twelve reside in Inglorium, or did…" The look his eyes held grew darker with his thoughts. Many wondered where the Gods had gone; were they truly in Inglorium or elsewhere? Where did they disappear to after Ogrest's Chaos? Why did they no longer answer to their followers? He knew… but he was not going to speak of it to Alys or anyone else. Certain things should not be spoken of, at least for the time being.

"Master Joris…?"

Her concerned but soft voice drew him out of his brooding, having him only slightly turn his head to glance towards the Eliatrope past the edge of his hood. Her hand was somewhat raised, held aloft next to his shoulder though not touching him as if she hesitated to do so. The look on her face and in her eyes was a quiet question on its own; was he all right? Joris looked at the hand of which the long fingers nearly brushed against the blue fabrics of his sleeve, guessing that the way he concluded his sentence and fell silent right after must have worried her. He allowed his thoughts to take the upper hand, and she noticed.

He slowly nodded to her before giving a gentle smile, no matter that it was difficult to see, and said with an apologetic tone in his voice," apologies…" The round metal clasps that held his mantle around his neck rose with the heaving of his chest and the deep breath he took before he continued talking," there are indeed others, such as the lesser gods who have diminished over time, and your own Goddess Eliatrope." He watched her lower her hand down to her lap and the book that remained open on the pages about the Twelve, the hesitation she must have felt and prevented her from touching him remaining apparent in her doing, though he intrigued her by mentioning the Goddess she unknowingly honored and followed.

Alys collected some of her thick hair over a bare shoulder before combing her fingers through the curling strands in thought. "If there are Eliatropes… like me, how come she isn't recognized as one of the Twelve Gods?" she asked after averting her gaze from the master, feeling confusion brew within. Was it because of the dragon eggs, the Dofus? Yugo was born from one, along with Adamaï. Had she too? Was it one of the reasons why her Goddess did not need to be at the pantheon with the other twelve Gods? Did the Eliatropes find a different way to continue living through the cycle of life and death, rather than choose a God in Incarnam?

"Not much is known about your Goddess, Lady Alys. She is an enigma… like you," Joris said in mild jest, noticing how the young woman tensed up a little and paused in the stroking of her hair before she looked at him from the corners of her eyes. Her paleness easily betrayed the deepening color on her cheeks, his words flattering her more than he intended. It was a pleasing reaction all the same. "Of all the records I have read about the Gods, Eliatrope was never mentioned but her existence is undeniable," he continued before leaning a little closer to the Eliatrope and spoke with a lowered voice," believe me, I have searched for anything about the Eliatropes after your and Yugo's existence came to light, but the library of Sadida holds no information on your people, or your Goddess. I am certain that the Bonta Library holds something; its archive is far greater and more conclusive."

Alys slowly blinked before she allowed her eyes to wander, looking around the library they had spent many hours in. "Even greater?" She sounded baffled; she never thought any other place would have such a larger collection of books like Sadida held in all those bookcases, let alone even larger than what she had seen.

Joris nodded; he wasn't one to over exaggerate as it wasn't part of his nature and neither did he boast… but the Bontarian library was indeed a wonder on its own. The Academy and its many archivists took great pride in the vast collection that had been gathered over the years and even he had wailed days away within its very walls in search for information. "Bonta holds many wonders… Other than having a large archive of information, it's technology surpasses most nations; Bonta is more advanced than the nations of Brakmar and Amakna. The city of Bonta also holds thousands of inhabitants and is one of the busier trade cities the World of Twelve has to offer. Justice, honor and order are held in high regard by most."

"You truly represent your city, Master Joris…" she said, almost whispering as she smiled to him. Justice and honor suited him well… A faint chuckle sounded from the depths of his hood, though the master inclined his head to show his gratitude for her honesty, his visible eyes betraying he was smiling at her. She let her hair be to close the book in her lap and lay it upon one of the several stacks on the table, admitting after she sat herself back down and gazed upon the unfolded maps," I truly appreciate you teaching me, Master Joris, no matter that it is much to absorb."

"Do you require rest?"

She abruptly turned her head to look at the Bontarian master before raising her hands in protest, his caring inquiry startling her a little. "Oh no...! No, this is all so fascinating and you know so much. I simply wish to learn more."

A soft but short hum sounded from Joris before his eyes rolled to a close and said with a serious tone," you shouldn't over exhaust yourself, Lady Alys. There are different ways to cope with the void you are desperately trying to fill with all I teach you." The silence following his words proved that the suspicions he had about Alys were correct, having kindly stupefied her with the truth.

The Eliatrope stared at him with large eyes and her lips slightly parted, his words slowly sinking in before the silence was broken by her soft stammering," no, I…" She stopped herself as she questioned her own thoughts, the denial she felt making her nervous. She didn't wish to admit it, yet couldn't help but wonder what exactly the master had figured out. He knew, didn't he? It wouldn't surprise her if it were true.

Joris watched her as Alys struggled with deciding on what to say or do, her lips tightly pressed together like a thin line while her eyes were cast downwards. Her reaction answered most of the questions he had. She indeed had nobody to talk with, even though enough people cared about her; all she needed to do was open up to one of them, and yet she refused. Instead she sought for comfort in his teachings and perhaps his presence, but that could be foolish wishful thinking on his part.

"I… I know nothing," Alys suddenly said with a broken voice, surprising the master with the confession," I didn't know my own name and… everyone around me is full of personality, thoughts, feelings and knowledge. Family, home, goals, future… they all have it. I just-" She hung her head, the wheat colored locks of hair slipping past her ear and the ivory fabrics of her headband to fall before her face. Her voice reduced to a whisper as she continued to speak, a tremble in her voice," I wish to be whole… I don't feel alive like this, I don't feel complete. Is it-is it a bad thing that I wish to fill this empty and lonely feeling with what you or books tell me? Is it wrong?" A sob escaped her, one she quickly tried to dismiss as her hands disappeared behind the wavy locks of hair that obscured her face and wiped away the welling tears.

He stood quietly on the stool next to her, his hands held behind his back while the shadow the hood cast over his face shrouded what he was thinking or feeling. And yet he reached out for her as she wiped her tears, laying his small hand upon her back and keeping it there. He could feel her quiver, the light touch of his gloved hand silencing her and freezing the frantic attempts to be rid of the tears. He wasn't certain what to say; she had many worries and all were justified. "It isn't wrong… but you have clouded yourself. It may be difficult to see, but you have gained many things for all you may have lost. You do have a family, a home, a future… and so much more. Yugo, Adamaï, Alibert, Sadida…"

Her quivering ceased but her face remained hidden behind the pale golden curtain of thick hair. It was difficult to tell if she was listening or perceptive of Joris' words but her silence did not scare him off.

"You are strong, Lady Alys, and selfless… but for one as selfless as you, you can be quite harsh on yourself. It has only been two handful of days since your awakening but trust me when I say you have grown much during that short period of time. You will only grow further if you let yourself. This void you are feeling, this emptiness… it will go away with time and support." Joris only tilted his head somewhat when the cascade of hair was parted by two of Alys' fingers, the turquoise color of her eyes shimmering through the strands as she looked at him. He took his hand from her back rather swiftly when the Eliatrope sat up and pushed her thick hair back over her shoulders and behind her ears, sniffing softly while appearing thoughtful.

He was right; she was rather harsh on herself. While there was nothing wrong with wanting to be like how she used to be, it was unrealistic to hope it would all fall into place so soon. The void she had within could steadily be filled up, not with what she read in the many books she would hide in, but by the people around her. Still… a large part of her identity was missing and nobody could fix that, no matter the kindness shown, the wisdom shared or the experiences gained. "Thank you…" she quietly uttered before showing a faint smile for the master, appreciative of what he told her.

Joris nodded before he turned around to step off the stool, saying as he turned to face Alys and held out a hand towards her," I believe we are done for today in the library. Allow me to escort you outside and join you for a stroll. Some fresh air and sunlight would do both of us some good." She was still troubled, he knew this, but there wasn't much he could do for her other than continue to guide her along the path she wished to take. His tutoring and support could end any day; it all depended on the Eliacube, and on when Yugo would be able to use it to find any other Eliatropes that may be out there. Until then he would continue with what he had been doing for the female Eliatrope, even though he himself didn't quite understand why he did all this for her; he was still figuring it out.

Alys accepted his gesture and offer by taking his held out hand, her fingers wrapping tightly around it before they slipped away to release him and follow the Bontarian master out of the library after he took the lead. There was much she wished to tell him but she swallowed it all down. Perhaps one day she could be completely honest to him but this day wasn't it. Soon perhaps… Hopefully soon.

To be continued