02-15-2026, 01:42 PM
Cali was someone who wore her heart on her sleeve. His revelation to her about his abilities didn't frighten her. She simply accepted it, but even though she didn't ask more, he could tell she was contemplating it and trying to find a way to fit it into what she knew about such things. In truth since the reveal of magic, it was less scary to talk about his abilities, but in the same way more so. He wondered if these Atharim people didn't like people like him as well. Probably not.
Anton smiled at her question of how he felt about it. Just the fact that they were discussing emotions made the question a little more amusing. That said, his smile was genuine and not condescending. "It's something I've lived with my whole life. It can be overwhelming at times, but I have ways to deal with it. He raised gloved hands. Even though it was cold, he was sure she would understand that wearing gloves was something he did on a regular basis. [color=#5ad]"Try to avoid contact with people, sometimes I can focus my ability on certain people who have excellent control of their emotions. The Luminar and the Librarian are both good for that." he smiled a bit. "As for the responsibility - well - it's just taken practice as many things do. It hasn't been easy - sometimes I wish it were. Sometimes I'm alright. Sometimes it's a burden."
Cali's laugh was easy and a nice sound in the cold. She seemed to like people and wanted to understand them. It was truly something Anton appreciated. "I didn't ask because I was wary of your curiosity, only because I'm not always so good at talking about myself. It sometimes helps to have guidance," he said, looking at the plants in contemplation. "I came here for the same reason why most people come to religious institutions. I was looking for answers, and this may not make sense, but I wasn't really sure what the questions were either - only that I was looking for something, and didn't know where to find it." He paused, searching for words. "I didn't think I'd find them here until the Chamber of Echos."
Cali was surprisingly easy to talk to, but even so, there was a nervousness to telling the rest of the story. He wasn't sure she would believe him - but then again maybe she would. The Luminar and Lucian had both accepted his story. He decided to ease his way into it. "Greek mythology states that there was once a man named Orpheus - known far and wide for his extraordinary musical talent. On the day he was to be married, his beloved Eurydice was bitten by a snake and died. Orpheus found resolve in his grief. He was no warrior, but armed only with his song, he braved the journey to the Underworld to ask Hades to return Eurydice to him." Anton was a performer, and his words fell into a natural storytelling rhythm. Cali had probably heard the story before - it wasn't obscure or anything. "His song kept the shades of the Underworld at bay. His song convinced Charon the ferryman to grant him passage across the River Styx. His song even convinced the Lord of the Underworld to grant his request. But there was a condition. He had to trust that she followed him, for if he ever turned back, she would be forever lost to him. Just as he was about to leave Hades' domain, Orpheus doubted and looked back. She would be gone forever."
Anton paused, this time his look becoming contemplative. He had done the same thing in the Chamber of Echoes that day. He continued. "Later he would pass some followers of Dionysus and they killed him for scorning their advances." He sighed, the cold air turning his breath into mist. "I tell you that because in the Chamber of Echoes that day, I lived it. Not images like a dream. No - I felt what he felt. Saw what he saw and touched what he touched. I could feel the strings of his lyre on my fingers, the stone walls of the underworld - all of it. It wasn't as if I was imagining. It was more like I was remembering."
Anton smiled at her question of how he felt about it. Just the fact that they were discussing emotions made the question a little more amusing. That said, his smile was genuine and not condescending. "It's something I've lived with my whole life. It can be overwhelming at times, but I have ways to deal with it. He raised gloved hands. Even though it was cold, he was sure she would understand that wearing gloves was something he did on a regular basis. [color=#5ad]"Try to avoid contact with people, sometimes I can focus my ability on certain people who have excellent control of their emotions. The Luminar and the Librarian are both good for that." he smiled a bit. "As for the responsibility - well - it's just taken practice as many things do. It hasn't been easy - sometimes I wish it were. Sometimes I'm alright. Sometimes it's a burden."
Cali's laugh was easy and a nice sound in the cold. She seemed to like people and wanted to understand them. It was truly something Anton appreciated. "I didn't ask because I was wary of your curiosity, only because I'm not always so good at talking about myself. It sometimes helps to have guidance," he said, looking at the plants in contemplation. "I came here for the same reason why most people come to religious institutions. I was looking for answers, and this may not make sense, but I wasn't really sure what the questions were either - only that I was looking for something, and didn't know where to find it." He paused, searching for words. "I didn't think I'd find them here until the Chamber of Echos."
Cali was surprisingly easy to talk to, but even so, there was a nervousness to telling the rest of the story. He wasn't sure she would believe him - but then again maybe she would. The Luminar and Lucian had both accepted his story. He decided to ease his way into it. "Greek mythology states that there was once a man named Orpheus - known far and wide for his extraordinary musical talent. On the day he was to be married, his beloved Eurydice was bitten by a snake and died. Orpheus found resolve in his grief. He was no warrior, but armed only with his song, he braved the journey to the Underworld to ask Hades to return Eurydice to him." Anton was a performer, and his words fell into a natural storytelling rhythm. Cali had probably heard the story before - it wasn't obscure or anything. "His song kept the shades of the Underworld at bay. His song convinced Charon the ferryman to grant him passage across the River Styx. His song even convinced the Lord of the Underworld to grant his request. But there was a condition. He had to trust that she followed him, for if he ever turned back, she would be forever lost to him. Just as he was about to leave Hades' domain, Orpheus doubted and looked back. She would be gone forever."
Anton paused, this time his look becoming contemplative. He had done the same thing in the Chamber of Echoes that day. He continued. "Later he would pass some followers of Dionysus and they killed him for scorning their advances." He sighed, the cold air turning his breath into mist. "I tell you that because in the Chamber of Echoes that day, I lived it. Not images like a dream. No - I felt what he felt. Saw what he saw and touched what he touched. I could feel the strings of his lyre on my fingers, the stone walls of the underworld - all of it. It wasn't as if I was imagining. It was more like I was remembering."