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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 3, 2023 0:13:59 GMT -5
This sensation, whatever it is... it cannot be death. It feels familiar, terrible, worse than whatever death could be. It's an instant; it goes on forever. It fills her lungs with an incorporeal void, a sucking sensation that hurts, numbs and burns all at once. It's too much and nothing at all, a stasis, a stillness so visceral that it is agony.
And then, just as suddenly, it ends. Her heart finds a rhythm again. The breath that had seemed to stuck from her lungs finally reaches her ears as sound returns, resonating in the tail end of a scream, cutting off as she takes a sudden, sharp breath. Trembling, she opens her eyes to look at the world, blurry with tears. Her hands, at least, feel better. Warm. She looks down, and sees that the last knife she held on to had transformed into that the comfort of a hammer's handle.
Del nods numbly at the voice, feeling the words sink deep into her soul. How much was there to repair? How much of that was... memory, and how much was just how she would have responded?
That didn't so much matter right now. There was a lot to think about, but first, she had to find Gerhart.
"Thank you," She eventually murmurs. Del rises to her feet on shaky legs, to see where she is, and where to start looking for him.
There is a rumble in the voice that is both distinctly canid and warm, approving. "It is only when you face yourself that you will find your measure. True strength lies in being able to yield your throat in a show of faith, to others, to yourself, without flinching. Allow yourself that grief. Carry it well."
The images fade, cast into the thick, enveloping darkness of the temple Del and Gerhart had originally stumbled into.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 3, 2023 23:14:14 GMT -5
The pair would come stumbling out of different ends of the hallway, eventually coming to a stop at the entrance. Gerhart takes a good few moments to collect and process what all just happened. Did they? Was that? What just? Lots of ill-formed questions passed each other in his mind. "Did you uh....go through some weird personal journey too or did you also have to burn your parents caskets?" He sighs as he looks around to see if he can get a look at where they are. Del and Gerhart stand at the entrance of the temple once more, but the sky has darkened to a pitch black midnight. The courtyard is lit by a wolf covered in stars, whiskers seeming to form a crescent moon. It sits patiently for the both of them to approach. "You've done well Child of the Glade, stout of heart and strong of arm. And you, Child of the Unknown, many questions surround you, yet you are resolute and unwavering. It has been awhile since I have seen people come through for the Trial of Illumination. I am Madadh-Allaidh, you may ask of me one blessing."
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 4, 2023 22:45:28 GMT -5
A look of relief crosses Del's tear streaked face when she sees Gerhart safe and in one piece... and a little harrowed, it seemed. At the question, she blinks, a flicker of a smile crossing her lips as she tries to find the humour in the question. But with her own memory so fresh with what she has endured, she doesn't have it in her.
Del nods slowly. "Weird personal journey, yes. I'm sorry you had to do that, but I'm glad to see you in one piece." She starts toward the exit with him. "I had to fight people I knew to save those I didn't. I think." While she was fairly sure about this, but so much of it was murky, lost in shadow, she could't be sure.
As they exit, once again they find themselves not in the forest, but before... a creature. An entity. She approaches carefully, staying a little ahead of Gerhart protectively. Though that does not appear to be wholly necessary, as it congratulates them. She did not know who Madadh-Allaidh was, this mysterious force and its Trial of Illumination, but it was offering a boon.
...Child of the Unknown.
She looks to Gerhart, uncertain, and then back. Del puts one hand over her heart as she steps forward. "I have man questions that surround me, it is true. I do not wish to ask for a hand out or an easy answer, but I would be remiss to decline your offer. Instead..." there's a small pause as she considers her words. "I ask for strength. To be able to find answers to those questions."
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 5, 2023 16:31:38 GMT -5
"Ah it's fine, something I should've done awhile ago anyways." While he holds to a small, fading smile, its one of the few times his voice lacks any of its joy and spark. It carries the heavy and familiar weight of some regret and maturing at the same time.
He would go to comment on what Del shared, but the presence of a quasi-deity sort of interrupts that process. The two probably subtly jockey for position of who is going to protect the other until it becomes clear that isn't needed.
Madadh-Allaidh gives Del a thoughtful hum as she approaches with her request, "If only t'were my domain to cover knowledge and secrets, my realm is that of the stars and hunters. But I can see your hands were made for making not taking, so I can offer you the strength you seek and look forward to seeing what you make of it."
The wolf smiles, pleased with its wordplay there. The eyes focus on Del for a second, almost locking the both of them into a trance for a moment. It is difficult to explain, but when the staring contest ends Del can feel something unlock in herself. It is not incredible strength or stamina that she is suddenly gifted with, but potential. The potential to take this new feeling in any direction she wishes.
"If you do wish to learn more or seek out these answers, perhaps then you can find my brother Dreathan-Donn. Though I do not know if he has had the same luck I have, the world has seemed....far away for what feels like milennia. Only recently have we felt the stirrings of the world again..."
Gerhart had been hemming and hawing about what he wanted, it didn't seem like he needed anything, but he had an idea now. "Then for my favor, come with me. I can or I guess we can make a pact and we can see the world, see if we can find your brother."
There is a genuine look of shock in the wolf's face, before his head tilts back in a raucous laugh. "I like you hunter, Child of the Glade, it does makes sense that I could make a new home in you.....Yes, let us make a pact!"
Once more the wolf locks eyes, this time focusing in on Gerhart. Though when he is released, there is a small flash of light and the wolf is gone. Stars mark Gerhart's skin that slowly fade.
"I think it worked?"
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 5, 2023 20:07:08 GMT -5
The expression of this... wolf entity smiling is an odd one, but not unwelcome. Del inclines her head, humbly accepting this gift with grave sincerity. She does feel something move through her, an arc of energy that seems to almost click something into place that had been disjointed, or perhaps misaligned. There's a flash along the forked scar across the bridge of her nose, a little gold shimmer of light from beneath the surface of her skin that quickly fades. Del doesn't notice, but she does feel... better. Like her body is less heavy.
"I thank you, for that, Madadh-Allaidh," Del bows her head again, "If I find this brother of yours, I will let him know you are looking for him."
Her gaze shifts to Gerhart as it is his turn to interact with Madadh-Allaidh, making a request not for himself, but on behalf of the entity. The idea is greeted with warmth and acceptance and, before her eyes, she watches the entity vanish in a flash of light. Blooming stars appear that fade into his skin, and then the two are alone.
"I think it did." Del exhales a light chuff of a laugh, feeling weary. Now they just had to get out of here. "We should... find the exit and set camp for the night. I think we need to write down what just happened. Research and all that." She rubs at the bridge of her nose, and gives Gerhart a slight look of concern. "Do you... feel any different?"
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 6, 2023 17:27:49 GMT -5
"I think you'll have to let me know now." He gives a half-laugh, looking at the fading stars on his hands. The light fades way slowly and before long it seems as if nothing happened.
Gerhart shrugs, "I don't, but it's been thirty seconds, probably gonna take a bit longer."
The ranger once again takes point to lead them out and back towards the camp they had set up. They were quite a ways away from where they started that morning, dawn was already breaking before they found that camp site. Before they end this journey though, he does stop Del a moment.
"Can we just....not tell them about the pact right away? They are going to try and hold me here and have endless questions....I'm not against telling them eventually, but....I'd like some time to figure out how this changes things before trying to explain it to others."
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 6, 2023 20:10:46 GMT -5
"I think that bodes well, then." Del gives Gerhart a slight nod before they start to walk. If there was no immediate or painful aspects to this bond-- at least that Del could see-- then things were probably alright, at least for now.
As enthusiastic as she is to leave the cave, finally, Del is worn out. She's exhausted, physically, emotionally, mentally. Trial was certainly an apt word for what they had been through. By the time they get back to camp, passing the tower and crossing the lake and taking the dark path beneath ancient boughs, the first light of dawn is cresting the sky. The only thing in the world she wants right now is to sleep, for a week maybe, curled up in her bedroll like a moth in a cocoon.
She pauses as Gerhart stops her with a request. Her brows lift a little, but a smile appears slowly. "I think when they ask about the entity we encountered, we may need to come up with a story as to why it is no longer there, then," She says gently, but pats Gerhart on the shoulder as she passes him. "You have my word and my silence, Gerhart. That you did not have to ask of me at all. You've more than earned it."
Del releases Gerhart's shoulder as she continues her pace past him. Once she has located her bed roll; cold from exposure for so many hours, but a blessed coolness in the wake of her aches and mourning-- she tucks herself in and promptly goes to sleep, dreaming of shades and drowning.
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