01-04-2026, 06:52 PM
Anton really hadn't expected to move into the Sanctuary. Then again, it was just a temporary thing. The depression was gone though and that was something. Moscow Winters didn't bother him as much as they did others. A native Muscovite, he was used to the cold. Even so, he was dressed in a heavy coat and gloves. A hat covered his ears and scarf was wrapped around his neck. The Celestial Gardens were a good place to think.
His thoughts went to Orpheus and that led to the thought that he was Orpheus, or rather had been Orpheus. They had yet to try this with someone besides the Luminar, but somehow, Anton knew it was true. Something deep inside of him stirred at that - like a chord played perfectly in tune. He let his thoughts wander as he looked quietly moved in the garden. His empathic senses told him he wasn't alone here, but he had no desire to disturb the other individual. He could tell there was only one.
It was the humming that first really caught his attention. It wasn't a song he recognized himself, but the melody was one that came from deep within someone's being. He was tempted to write it out, but decided not to. It wasn't his song to share or to not. It belonged to whoever the woman was who hummed it. Still he kept himself focused as her emotions changed gently as the hum faltered into something. Not self-reproach, but softer. He read this one well - a movement away from distraction and filled with a sense of purpose. Then tension. Then nothing.
Nothing. It was something he had felt multiple times around here. Whenever one of the channelers, or veilwalkers, or whatever they called themselves found their power, they disappeared completely from his empathic senses. Then suddenly, she was back. He sensed a moment of disappointment, followed by amusement and heard her promise to herself that she would learn.
Anton couldn't channel, but he felt he could help her. If she wanted it. It seemed to him that her issue was focus. That was something he was good at. She wasn't facing extreme emotional changes, but she seemed someone who did get distracted. Then again he might not be able to help, but it might be good to know someone besides the Luminar and Lucien. He turned and found her, the woman who had first showed her gift the first time he had been here. The day he had discovered more about himself than he thought possible.
Her eyes were closed, so he almost stepped by, but decided to speak quietly and apologetically. "Excuse me, miss," he said, his voice soft. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but just wanted to make sure everything was okay." Anton didn't know her name. They hadn't spoken. She had seemed hesitant about her powers then - uncertain of whether or not she had actually done anything. It seemed like now she was accepting it.
His thoughts went to Orpheus and that led to the thought that he was Orpheus, or rather had been Orpheus. They had yet to try this with someone besides the Luminar, but somehow, Anton knew it was true. Something deep inside of him stirred at that - like a chord played perfectly in tune. He let his thoughts wander as he looked quietly moved in the garden. His empathic senses told him he wasn't alone here, but he had no desire to disturb the other individual. He could tell there was only one.
It was the humming that first really caught his attention. It wasn't a song he recognized himself, but the melody was one that came from deep within someone's being. He was tempted to write it out, but decided not to. It wasn't his song to share or to not. It belonged to whoever the woman was who hummed it. Still he kept himself focused as her emotions changed gently as the hum faltered into something. Not self-reproach, but softer. He read this one well - a movement away from distraction and filled with a sense of purpose. Then tension. Then nothing.
Nothing. It was something he had felt multiple times around here. Whenever one of the channelers, or veilwalkers, or whatever they called themselves found their power, they disappeared completely from his empathic senses. Then suddenly, she was back. He sensed a moment of disappointment, followed by amusement and heard her promise to herself that she would learn.
Anton couldn't channel, but he felt he could help her. If she wanted it. It seemed to him that her issue was focus. That was something he was good at. She wasn't facing extreme emotional changes, but she seemed someone who did get distracted. Then again he might not be able to help, but it might be good to know someone besides the Luminar and Lucien. He turned and found her, the woman who had first showed her gift the first time he had been here. The day he had discovered more about himself than he thought possible.
Her eyes were closed, so he almost stepped by, but decided to speak quietly and apologetically. "Excuse me, miss," he said, his voice soft. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but just wanted to make sure everything was okay." Anton didn't know her name. They hadn't spoken. She had seemed hesitant about her powers then - uncertain of whether or not she had actually done anything. It seemed like now she was accepting it.