03-16-2017, 10:25 PM
Illarion hurried from the comfort of his twin's arms. As the distance opened up between them, he grew colder, and folded his arms deep within the sleeves of his robes. The body beneath was lean, but warm. His hands warmed themselves against his abdomen, but he scowled when his fingertips grazed the ridges of old scars. Unlike some of the Khylsty, he took no pride in their presence. They were signs of defeat, not of glory or Awakening.
The scowl etched his face with crags and crevices by the time he reached the chamber where their savior worked. He filed in among the others, watching their reborn Rasputin work. The man was an enigma to Illarion. All his life he heard of the wonders of their founder, the magic of Foresight and science he posessed. This new form he took now was strong, that was without a doubt. Illarion saw it when they killed the oni. But there were daggers in his eyes that made Illarion wary. Valeriya did not see them. For all her gifts, she did not see all. She threw herself into vulnerability with this Regus, but Illarion would watch carefully, to see what she could not, and protect her from herself.
He was silent all the while Regus worked. Illarion held no fascination for the things that occupied Regus. But when the man demanded he be shown to the Eye, it was Illarion that pushed his way forward.
"Allow me to show you the way, Great One."
He bowed his head, voice softened, and led the Regus toward his twin.
~*~*~*~*~
After Illarion departed, Valeriya paced around the room. She had been dreaming of the Above again. The visions inspired her to imagine the cold stone to be soft grass between her toes. She longed to see blue pools of water. To hear the rustle of leaves as they shivered in winter. Snow. So much snow and whiteness awaited.
Jaw sore from grinding her teeth, she swore at herself, picked up her skirts and hurried from the chamber. As she passed the corridor, the putrid smell of the Pits wafted through the air. Her throat clamped down, but rather than cover her nose and hurry on, she stopped and turned. There in the side of the tunnel was a crag in the rock. The scent wafted from the opening, but despite its presence, she made herself go closer. The crag snaked into the darkness like it plunged all the way through the earth, and fearlessly, she stuck her hand into the opening. The rock was slimy inside, and she loathed to imagine what the Pits were like themselves.
Footsteps approached, and she yanked her hand away and hurried off the way she came. The Pits were left behind, but she had the feeling that the memory of the smell would be with her for hours. They were all used to the need for the Pits, but if any one of the Khylsty were to find themselves thrust in their center, they'd be sick instantly. From that thought came an idea, a dangerous idea, but she had no idea how to pull it off.
Luckily, Illarion was on his way back.
The scowl etched his face with crags and crevices by the time he reached the chamber where their savior worked. He filed in among the others, watching their reborn Rasputin work. The man was an enigma to Illarion. All his life he heard of the wonders of their founder, the magic of Foresight and science he posessed. This new form he took now was strong, that was without a doubt. Illarion saw it when they killed the oni. But there were daggers in his eyes that made Illarion wary. Valeriya did not see them. For all her gifts, she did not see all. She threw herself into vulnerability with this Regus, but Illarion would watch carefully, to see what she could not, and protect her from herself.
He was silent all the while Regus worked. Illarion held no fascination for the things that occupied Regus. But when the man demanded he be shown to the Eye, it was Illarion that pushed his way forward.
"Allow me to show you the way, Great One."
He bowed his head, voice softened, and led the Regus toward his twin.
~*~*~*~*~
After Illarion departed, Valeriya paced around the room. She had been dreaming of the Above again. The visions inspired her to imagine the cold stone to be soft grass between her toes. She longed to see blue pools of water. To hear the rustle of leaves as they shivered in winter. Snow. So much snow and whiteness awaited.
Jaw sore from grinding her teeth, she swore at herself, picked up her skirts and hurried from the chamber. As she passed the corridor, the putrid smell of the Pits wafted through the air. Her throat clamped down, but rather than cover her nose and hurry on, she stopped and turned. There in the side of the tunnel was a crag in the rock. The scent wafted from the opening, but despite its presence, she made herself go closer. The crag snaked into the darkness like it plunged all the way through the earth, and fearlessly, she stuck her hand into the opening. The rock was slimy inside, and she loathed to imagine what the Pits were like themselves.
Footsteps approached, and she yanked her hand away and hurried off the way she came. The Pits were left behind, but she had the feeling that the memory of the smell would be with her for hours. They were all used to the need for the Pits, but if any one of the Khylsty were to find themselves thrust in their center, they'd be sick instantly. From that thought came an idea, a dangerous idea, but she had no idea how to pull it off.
Luckily, Illarion was on his way back.
The Eye of the Khylsty