@Lion The first three days were a breeze. Actually, it was quite nice to be out in the fresh air without doing endless drills and spellwork. He was familiar with the flora and fauna of Ruka, but he never really got the chance to appreciate it, always busy training.
By the fourth day the idea of this particular exercise his mentor had sent him out on was starting to wear a bit thin. Emrys was a scholar, not a woodsman, and he was quickly growing bored with camping out in the open- it certainly wasn't terrible, but a real bed was seeming more and more like some ridiculously comfortable fantasy.
Day five and he was rather fed up with the whole thing.
"Running out of food," he muttered to himself, dropping his pack at the bank of a small stream and kicking off his shoes before rolling up his trousers and wading in. "Camping when it's sweltering during the day and freezing at night- and what's with the damn humidity? Gods, I love
drinking my air. Don't know why he couldn't just
tell me what he wanted. Oh no, he can't every give me a straight answer-
Go forth and learn, pup. Damn insufferable git..."
He continued to grumble complaints to himself as he stripped off his shirt and tossed it onto the bank before wading out into the middle of the stream, not paying any attention to his surroundings in his rather juvenile fit of pique.
It was a rare occasion when he had relief from his duty at the Temple. As ever being a guard forced him to be vigilant, and when he was told to relieve himself from that duty, it didn't come easy. Akash had no voice to refute that however, and instead could only nod and instead was instructed to venture into the wilds to find a foreigner in need of protection.
Or so, Hsin Galin told him to do. His direct superior at the temple had not favored foreigners, especially those coming from Serendipity and further north. However, it was not his duty as to say who could enter and who could be denied. It just meant more people to protect and watch over. And at this time, the only guard that was useless enough to do so was Akash.
He found his way easily enough through the trees, and as much as he disliked the wilderness, there was a solace here that he felt one with. Perhaps it was the spirit of the island. Thanatos was nothing like the other lands. Akash couldn't imagine being anywhere else than here.
He heard a strange voice the moment he was near the river, and he followed the water to find a griping foreigner.
He scowled a bit before taking a seat by the rocks and began to dutifully watching over him. Legs crossed over one to the other, he set his staff on his lap and was still as a statue.
Still grumbling to himself, Emrys turned toward the bank, one hand raised and mouth moving to form the words of a simple chant- and he suddenly yelped and jumped back.
His bare foot caught on a rock and he tumbled backwards into the water. Sputtering my, he surfaced again, waving his arms wildly as he blinked to clear his eyes and shouted, "Who the hell are you?!"
Akash blinked at him, eyes widening when he saw the strange pale man fall backwards into the water. Thankfully it wasn't very shallow, or he might have hurt his delicate head. The guardsman stood and approached, although he kept his staff firmly across his shoulder.
He pointed to his own heart and crossed it. Then to his throat and gestured as if his throat had been severed. He could only hope his intent came across clearly. And not that he meant to slash the young pale man's throat or anything.
Now thoroughly soaked and even more irritated than he'd been before, Emrys splashed his way toward the bank- and his clothes- giving the stranger a wide berth and a wary look.
His eyes flicked over the man, sharp and interested. A uniform. A staff. Rather taciturn. "You a guardsman?" he asked abruptly. "I know there's a temple nearby- that where you're from?"
[Just making sure you're aware that Akash cannot speak. But I'll try my best to ensure he communicates as clearly as possible. This is also my first time writing a character that can't speak words. D:]
He nodded quickly and straightened, keeping his posture proud. He pointed to the pool as if to ask if he was trying to kill himself, or was he always that stupid. He bowed his head respectfully however and pointed to him. He gestured to his own head, and then back to Emrys as to ask his name.
[oh, I know! Emrys doesn't though, so this'll be fun :3]
Oh great. Maybe he was one of those religious types that had taken a vow of silence. Did they do that on Thanatos?
Huffing out a sigh, Emrys bent to gather his clothes, toweling off his body with his shirt before hanging it over a low branch to dry. "Okay, you aren't deaf, so you just don't speak. Can you write?" His eyes flicked to his pack, where he kept paper and a quill at all times.
Arms folded over his chest, he leaned back against the tree and arched an eyebrow at the man. "And while I'm asking questions, why the hell were you watching me?"
He didn't necessarily feel threatened by the man, but his magic was buzzing just beneath the surface of his skin, wary.
Akash nodded again. He made a scribble motion with his hand as if he could translate what he meant, but made no further motion to pursue such a notion.
Akash just moved when he did, intent to follow him and watch over as instructed.
"Alright then." He bent to pull a notebook and a stick of charcoal out of his pack, then held them out to the man.
"Why don't you tell me why you're here."
Akash looked at the paper and charcoal stupidly, as if wondering if he didn't make himself clear enough.
He smiffed and begam drawing on the pad, artfully scribbling the young man floundering in the water and showing it to him with a smile.
"Er...yes, that's me." Emrys frowned, blushing a bit in embarrassment. "And that's, um- wow, that's actually a really good sketch. And you did that so fast..."
Realizing he was going on a tangent, he cleared his throat and shook his head. "But that doesn't really answer my question." Maybe the man was simple? "Okay, let's start with the basics. Can you write your name?"
He turned the paper over and scribbled the words, in a beautiful elegant hand, "Can you?" and offered the notepad to him instead. He could do this all day.
Great. Not simple, just a smartass.
"Alright, I get it." With a roll of his eyes he scratched his signature onto the paper before handing the book back. "Now. Your turn. And while you're at it, tell me why you were watching me. Please."
Magic crackled at his fingertips, ready to jump to life if things went south.
He took the paper with his name on it. Akash was tempted to write his own name on it.
"You are foreigner. I am a guard. You need guarding. I am here to guard you," Akash scrawled on the paper, turning it over and sensing the younger man getting tense.
"Ah."
Emrys frowned as he read the message, still eyeing the man a little warily. "Did- did Fang send you?" That didn't seem like him.
"No," he wrote instead. "My superior did. Hsin Galin. I am Akash." And at that introduction he bowed his head and handed the notepad back to him, although he kept the charcoal for himself. You never know when you'll need something like that.
"Well." He blinked at the paper for a few moments, confused. "It's, um...nice to meet you?" he offered.
Clearing his throat, he handed the notebook back and asked, "Why does your superior care about some random foreigner?" His magic wasn't that out of hand- surely he hadn't drawn so much attention?
Well, what more could there possibly be to tell? Akash had never been much of the talkative type, even when he could speak. Even now, it seemed this man wanted to nothing but flap his lips. He supposed, even hot air needed a way to escape once in a while.
"It is simple. A foreigner in a strange land would need as much guidance as possible. Whether it is you or I," he wrote. "Shall we continue this exchange, or be on our way?" And handed the notebook back once again.
Emrys rolled his eyes. "Gods, you are a military type," he grumbled. "Where exactly are we going?" Fang hadn't given him any direction- he supposed there could be worse ideas than following the silent guard.
As if there was really any more that needed to be said. Really, Akash couldn't anything more that could make him any clearer. He was pretty sure follow him was as self-explanatory as it could be.
So he shrugged, waiting patiently, and gestured him an 'after you' swing of his arm. Although it probably could have been followed by a rude gesture with Emrys' back turned.
He screwed up his face and huffed a sigh. "Alright then. I...guess we'll...keep going this way." He bent to collect his pack and shoulder it with a small sigh, then set off into the trees.
Well. He certainly hadn't expected this.
Akash dutifully followed him, stepping in time with his footsteps, never being more than five feet behind. He did laugh though when he noticed the young man was heading in the direction of a nude lake. He couldn't say anything of course, but quickly maintained his composure. It wasn't his place to correct him anyway.
Emrys continued to stumble along, muttering curses to himself as he snagged his clothes on low branches or caught his toe on a tree root. In fact he was so focused on working his way through thick foliage that he didn't really seem to be paying attention to where he was going, simply moving in as straight a line as he could and hoping eventually the trees would open up.
This way was much shorter to the nude pond, and Akash only carefully sidestepped around Emrys when he was going to step on a particularly venomous snake.
The guardsman gripped Emrys by the neck and pulled him roughly to the side, and reached out with his staff to lift the black snake that had been hiding in the undergrowth, grinning, and placing the animal gently aside.
He gave a rather undignified squeak at the sight of the serpent and blinked at Akash, wide eyed. "Um, thanks... H-how did you see that?" The thing had been pretty well camouflaged to him.
Akash put a thumb in the middle of Emrys' head, but said nothing, not even a gesture as he turned around and pushed the young man out onto a more well-trodden path.
Emrys stumbled a bit as Akash steered him onto some sort of path, blinking at the man with wide eyes. "What, not feeling chatty?" he griped quietly, because apparently he couldn't help himself.
Edited: Wrong thread, sorry
And that response elicited a swift thump to the back of Emrys' head.
Even Akash had a sense of humor, and that's what that response was right? A humorous quip at him?
Akash just kept walking as the vegetation began to clear and the sound of water emerged. Akash stood back, letting Emrys take in the sights. Not that nude river banks were wholly unpleasant. Who knows, maybe foreigners had things like these all the time back on his homeland.
Emrys jerked, startled, and blinked at his new companion. Huh. Well that was unexpected.
At least he wasn't completely stoic.
With a snort and a shake of his head, he kept walking. At least until they were suddenly out of the foliage and he was staring at... What the hell was he staring at?
His face went red and he tried to backpedal, winding up bumping into Akash. "U-um, wrong turn, we should go," he said quickly, resisting the urge to cover his eyes.
Thanatis were odd.
A woman saw Emrys, and the plum-red of his cheeks, and she rushed forward, taking the stranger by the hand. "All are welcome here!" she said. "Don't be shy. You're so pale... So beautiful. Please come with me."
She smiled at him, her body painted in hand prints of sand white.
Akash looked at the pair, at Emrys being dragged away and he chuckled, until he felt someone grabbing his own hand to pull him along.
"O-oh no, that's quite alright, I was just leaving!" Positively scarlet now, Emrys almost dug his heels in as he tried to resist the woman without offending. He glanced at Akash for help, but his companion didn't seem to be faring any better.
"Nonsense. This is a sacred beach, all are welcome. Come, remove clothing, and cleanse yourself in the rivers of life!" she said as she carefully took Emrys and held his hand to her breast. "I am Shana," she said.
"Who are you?"
"Nonononono." He shook his head and tried to tug away from her, face cherry red. "I, ah, I'm all cleansed, thanks. Just...passing not through."
Making a valiant effort to keep his eyes on her face, he muttered, "Been a pleasure, Shana, but I really should be going."
"But your companion is already undressed. Surely it would be rude to walk away and leave him alone. Come, I will oil you properly," she said and dragged Emrys with her, clearly not taking no for an answer.
Akash did not fight the hands of the other woman that removed his robes and tried to take his staff from him. He shook his head, signing to her his duty to carry it at all times.
"I- b-but-" His eyes flicked to Akash and he went even redder. "What are you doing?" he hissed at the other man, eyes wide.
Akash gestured for Emrys to relax, and to comply. As it would be rude not to. He bowed his head to the woman and sat down on a small blanket laid out on the soil, and allowed her to oil his shoulders and chest.
Again he shot Emrys a look and gestured for him to sit. Really it wasn't as bad as it could be if the man continued to be rude.
"I- I don't- but-" Before he could really get a full protest out he was being stripped and urged to sit. He gave a rather undignified squawk and curled in in himself, rather embarrassed by how lanky and thin he was in comparison to his companion.
Akash looked across to him, smirking at him and holding his laughter. He watched Shana take a handful of oil and take it Emrys' shoulders, gently massaging them and spreading it down along his back.
"You are so bony," she giggled. "Why don't you eat a little too?"
An older man came with a bowl of fruit and knelt before Emrys with a bow of his head in the offering. He was courteous enough to not wave his junk in his face.
Akash slapped Emrys on the shoulder, gesturing him to pick something.
The word "bony" made him cringe internally and he went, if possible, even redder. He shot Akash a venomous look before snatching a plum with some mumbled thanks.
"How long is this supposed to last?" he hissed at his companion.
"You're in a hurry to leave?" Shana asked curiously, turning over to look at Emrys, kneeling before him. "You must stay. This beach will be shone upon by the great Moon Spirit. We will dance and honor her. We offer food and drink, and music. Stay and be merry."
Akash smiled to Emrys, nodding to him that it would be all right. What could possibly go wrong?
"I- But-" Unable to come up with a good argument, Emrys tried weakly, "Are you sure you want a foreigner here?"
Shana laughed. "Of course! Your skin is beautiful alabaster. The Moon Spirit will be very pleased," she said, lingering in close and brushing a stray hair of his behind his ear.
Emrys flinched back, doing his best to hide any important bits from sight as he pulled his knees up toward his chest. "So...we're here until moonrise?" He glanced at Akash again, "Help me" written plainly all over his face.
Akash could take joy out of Emrys' fumbling and blushing, but he didn't want the man to lose wit over the whole thing. Truly this was a ritual that Akash had participated in before. It wasn't that bad. Sure they didn't have their clothes, but it was little more than dancing and chanting.
He gestured to the young man to breath, waving his hand over his chest to relax and smiling genuinely.
Once they were oiled and painted along their bodies, Shana gripped Emrys' hand and tugged him along again toward the fire where a feast would be had to share between them all.
"Pale one, what is your name?" she asked, taking a small carved out melon with juice in it and offering it to him.
"Um, Emrys." He took the drink reluctantly and sniffed it before taking a sip. His magic felt like it was crackling just beneath the surface of his skin as her nerves wound ever tighter.
"Drink and it will soothe you," Shana said, reaching down and gently running her hand down his chest. She smiled sweetly before moving toward Akash.
She could recognize a Thanati native when she saw one and knelt before him, pressing hand prints against his chest. "You are his protector, yes? Do not worry. No harm will come to Emrys. Please, drink, both of you. We will begin dancing shortly," she said.
She looked to Emrys, "You may pass him the bowl when you've had your fill."
He flinched back from her touch, curving his shoulders in and taking a quick sip of the drink before passing it along at her direction. He was still scowling, folding his arms over his chest as he tried to make himself as small as possible.
Seeing the man tense, Akash frowned, making a grunt and sitting closer to Emrys. He set the half-melon down and criss-crossed his legs.
He tapped Emrys on the shoulder, gesturing for him to take a deep breath. He remembered the charcoal he palmed, and raised his hand to trace a figure in his palm, a stick-figure of a man in a seated meditated position. And wrote beneath it. "Relax. We are guests."
Emrys jerked slightly, startled, and watch Akash's gestures with narrowed eyes. He snorted and arched an eyebrow. "Easy for you to say. You're from here, and you look like- like that!" He waved an exasperated hand at him, indicating the warrior's build.
Akash srhugged. He smudged his hand until it was clean and rewrote. "It is important not to be rude. We are guests," he said, smudging again and rewriting some more.
"You live here, it is good to assimilate."
"Yeah, well, where I come from, this is hardly considered hospitality," Emrys muttered petulantly.
"Then why leave home?" he asked in his scribbled palm scrawlings.
"I-" Well that was a loaded question. "It's...complicated," Emrys muttered eventually, scowling and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Complicated?" Akash scribbled a little more in his hand scrawlings.
"Yes," he huffed, "complicated. Let's just...leave it at that, alright?"
Akash nodded, not wanting to frazzle the young man any further. It was one thing really since already he was embarrassed as it was. The dancing was to begin soon enough when Shana returned and put wreaths about their necks.
Akash smiled and stood up as soon as the drumming started and the sky was beginning to turn a deep red and purple.
"W-wait. Um-" Emrys looked down at his wreath, then up at Akash. "I- what's going on now?"
"Dance!" said another woman and offered her hand to Emrys. "Come. It is very easy. I will show you."
Akash watched his charge from the corner of his eye as he was led to the fire by Shana. As the music started, Akash followed along with ease, stepping in time.
Emrys had never been blessed with any particular amount of grace, and his embarrassment certainly didn't help matters as he attempted to follow steps he didn't know, cursing softly under his breath all the while.
Seeing he was having trouble, Shana didn't hesitate to leave Akash's side and moved over to help Emrys step in time with the song. It wasn't overly complicated, and those that were too weak to follow could simply step side-to-side.
She held his hands and brought them to her shoulders, smiling up at him. "Just look into my eyes, okay?"
Great. Just great. "O-okay." He was sure he must be blushing scarlet by now, but he tried to do as she said.
Akash shook his head, snorting a laugh. He supposed he couldn't leave the lad suffering by himself.
So he moved beside him and gestured for Emrys to do what he was doing. Sure their junk might have been moving a little more than he was used to, but really all he had to do was dance.
Was that really so hard?
"What- I can't do this," Emrys hissed as Akash approached, trying valiantly to keep his eyes on his face. Why the hell was everyone naked?!
"I don't move like this. I just...don't," he huffed in exasperation.
Akash stopped and put his hands on Emrys shoulders, signalling him to look into his eyes. He gave a deep breath. An asserting nod, and together he stepped twice to the side, then twice back, urging Emrys to step in time with him.
"Hey, what-!" He flinched slightly, not expecting to be touched, but quickly realized what Akash was doing. Grumbling but giving a grateful nod, he stumbled his way through the steps, grabbing the warrior's arm every now and then to keep his balance.
Akash gently instructed Emry's chin to keep his eyes up and he actually smiled. It was a quick one, that showed no teeth, but Akash was accustomed to keeping his mouth closed regardless. It wasn't like he always had much to say.
But direction in dancing was easy and once they were into it, the sun was fading faster and Shana set about the shells for the ritual as the moon was rising. The festivities would go long into the night with music, drink, singing, dancing, and new acquaintances to be made.
There were different people here than from what Akash remembered last time, however, he could only hope Emrys learned to loosen up.
As soon a he was able Emrys shuffled himself to the edge of the crowd, tying to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible- which wasn't easy, considering he was quite distinctly a foreigner in a group of unmistakable Thanati.
Akash joined him on the edge of the celebrations once night fell and sat down with the poor pale Serenian. He could tell he probably wasn't having as much fun as everyone else. But whose fault was that.
He shrugged. "You're not having a good time?" he asked in writing on his palm.
He glowered at him. "I am naked and surrounded by dancing strangers. What do you think?"
"I think you're separating yourself from joy," he wrote. His palm was a little slick from the oils but he managed to rub it out and write: "It's okay. It's your first time. My first time was the same. Thanati are not always naked."
Emrys huffed. "I just...don't like this sort of thing. Why is that so hard for you people to understand?"
"I understand. What would you rather do instead?" he wrote on his hand in response. The letterings were smudged a bit from all the sweat and sand on his palm. However Emrys would just have to make due.
He squinted at his hand and took a few moments to figure out what was written. "What would I- I mean, I don't know!" He threw his hands up exasperatedly. "I was told to go out and...learn. How exactly I'm supposed to do that I have no clue."
He was more irritated with his teacher than anything else, but the frustration in his voice was evident.
Akash made a thinking hum of a noise, looking up into the moon. After a moment he scribbled something else on his hand, "What happened today? At this moment."
Emrys blinked at him. "What do you mean? You've been with me most of the day, you know what happened."
"In your mind, how did it make you feel?" Akash asked.
"What? This?" He waved a hand. "Uncomfortable, that's how I feel."
Akash pointed up to the sky, to the moon. "You learned to dance to the moon spirit," he wrote. After it was read he scribbled it and added. "Even if a little sloppily."
Emrys snorted. "Somehow, I doubt that's what my master had in mind."
Although...knowing Fang, he supposed it was entirely possible.
"Forget Master. What did you have in mind?" Akash wrote back, gesturing to Emrys.
He shook his head slowly. "Nothing. If I had my way I'd be back with my books by now."
"Books are good. What do you read?" Akash wrote again. It was nice to realize that the foreigner had a thirst for knowledge. But he didn't seem to appreciate what form it came in.
"Oh." Emrys blinked, a little surprised by the question. "Well- everything. Anything I can get my hands on. A lot of magical theory, but I've been reading more histories and biographies from Thanatos since I've started living here."
It seemed that now he was more comfortable ground, he could be quite chatty.
Akash gave him a solid grin, happy to see Emrys no longer mopey for once since their first encounter. He nodded to him and pointed up to the sky again, to the moon that shone brightly in its fullness.
"How long have you lived here?" he wrote on his hand. "A whole month?"
Emrys shook his head. "No, longer. I've just- well, never had much occasion to be...out."
Akash nodded. It was weird how this was the most conversation he'd had with anyone in a long time, even before he had his tongue severed.
"We should go back to Temple. Fang will want to find you," he said with writing and gesture. "Erm, with clothes. That might be best."
Having almost forgotten his nude state, Emrys flushed scarlet and nodded. "Yeah, clothes would be good."
He had been raised with decency. Akash was no savage, but he did not mind being nude. It did not offend him, that his companion seemed to mind, but not acknowledging it probably would help ease his embarrassment. Akash returned to Shana, gathered his robes and thanked her with a deep bow. He smiled and awaited Emrys.
Shana brought Emrys his clothes with them delicately draped over her arms. "We will meet again, Opal One," she said, bowing her head.
"Er...thanks." Emrys took his clothes quickly and mouthed "Opal One?" at his companion in confusion.
Akash just smiled. It took a while for them to come up with a nickname for newcomers. The fact that Emrys had earned one rather quickly was a little irritating. However, Akash wouldn't begrudge his companion for it. He didn't want to participate in the first place, and already they hoped he would return and dance with them again.
Akash moved back toward where they came from, motioning for Emrys to follow.
Well, looked like once again he wasn't going to get a straight answer. Grumbling, Emrys followed after him, hopping on one foot as he pulled on his boot.
It's not like they were even far from the main temple grounds. For now though, it was nice to take a walk and Akash decided it was best not to deviate from the path that led them there.
Emrys continued along behind him in relative quiet, not sure why exactly but trusting the warrior to lead.
It didn't take long before the large looming shape of the Temple proper showed up before them. From this point forward, Akash encouraged Emrys to take the lead. He followed behind back up to the stone cultivated paths.
Emrys hesitated, glancing back. "Where exactly are we?"
"Temple?" Akash said, carefully scrawling the word on his hand. He scratched it out. "Is this wrong direction?"
"No, no, I'm sure it's fine. I've just...never been here before." He tilted his head. "You live here?"
Akash nodded and nudged for Emrys to walk along with him. He poked his shoulder. "Where did you come from?" he asked in writing. "Not temple?"
Emrys chuckled. "Not exactly. I'm from Serendipity- the mainland. You ever been?"
Akash shook his head, perhaps a little violently. He frowned deeply and showed his hand again with a new message: "On the island, where did you come from?"
"Oh." Emrys flushed, realizing he probably should have inferred that question. "Ah, northwest a bit. Up in the mountains. Not sure exactly what the place is called.
Akask just smiled. "We go to temple. You come too," he wrote. Scribbling the following: "Stay. Tomorrow we go to mountains."
"Ah- alright." He nodded slowly. "That's...awfully kind of you."
It was settled then. Akash led the way to the Temple entrance, and bowed upon entry. The other guards recognized him and allowed him through with his guest in tow. He didn't need to speak, they knew he couldn't, and there was an air of respect that followed him.
Akash led Emrys up toward the guard section, across the courtyard and down toward the training ground. He kept his pace slow, not wanting the youth to wander off. The beach was bad enough. And he soon showed him to a room with a bed roll in the corner, and a bucket in the other. A few plants surrounded small pedestals just beside a sand garden in one half of the room. It was raked and carved with pleasing circular shapes.
Akash bowed and wrote on his hand. "Sleep well."
Emrys trailed along with curiosity lighting his eyes, though he had the sense to keep pace with Akash. Once led to the room, he frowned slightly and tilted his head. "Um, thanks."
It seemed the man was known here. He was starting to wondering exactly who he was, outside of what he'd been told.
"If you need anything, ask," Akash said in writing on his hand, bowing his head. He smiled at the foreigner and Rewrote, by now his palm dirty from al the scrawlings, "Sleep well."
"Right. Thanks. You too." He smiled and nodded a bit. "I'll, uh, see you in the morning?"
The night would pass by without event. And Akash was grateful for it. The last thing he needed was questions from his superior asking about the foreigner and worrying about his presence here. There'd be plenty of time for that later as far as he was concerned.
Akash retired to his quarters, and meditating for an hour before he finally went to sleep. In the morning they woudl continue to where Emrys came from.
Emrys had always had strange dreams, but the trouble was he could almost never remember them. He tossed and turned most of the night, unable to really sleep because something kept waking him up.
It would be unknown what that something was. It was imperceptible, and watched him in its tentacled shape. Smoke billowed off its form as it lingered over Emrys, hovering over him. Watching him with a multitude of red eyes.
Emrys rolled over and blinked his eyes open.
And bolted upright, screaming.
The tentacled shape reached down and grasped Emrys' arms, throwing itself into his mouth in an attempted possession.
The scream choked off and for a moment he flailed, panicking and terrified.
Then instinct kicked in. Without incantation or gesture, purely through force of will, he thrust out with his magic, attempting to cast the creature away from him.
The spectre shrieked and pulled back, lunging up and out through the window until it vanished.
There was no trace of it's passing and when the door to the room burst open with a guard standing in the door way, he did not see anyone. He held his own weapon firmly in hand. "What happened in here?" he asked sharply, raising the lantern he held in the other.
Gasping, Emrys doubled over and shivered, wrapping his arms around himself. "Th-there was- I don't- some sort of creature-"
A message was sent to alert Akash of the disturbance and within a few minutes the man appeared in the door way. The other guard had gone inside looking for any sign of entry and then looked to Emrys.
"What did this creature look like?" he asked.
Shock was setting in and Emrys shook his head as he tried to find his voice. "A- a shadow. Sort of- it had tendrils, almost..."
"Xi-sha. Spirit," the guard murmured, feeling shaken but at the same time not wanting to alarm the foreigner. Akash stepped in beside them and said in Thanati for the guard to alert the nearest monk.
Akash gestured to Emrys to follow them as they moved down the hall.
"Wh-what the hell was that thing?" Emrys hissed at Akash as he stumbled after him. He was shaking- powerful mage he may be, but Emrys would be the first person to admit that he was a first class coward.
Akash waved his hand in Sign for "spirit", although he wasn't sure Emrys understood him. "Xi-sha," the guard beside him repeated. "Spirits wander all over temple grounds. They generally do not harm people, but this spirit took interest in you. We will find out why."
He swallowed and hunched his shoulders, making his already lanky frame seem even more awkward as he collapsed in on himself. "Spirit is a light word for...that," he muttered.
"Xi-sha are not good or bad. Just are," the other guard explained. "Akash has seen many spirits. But you must have done something to anger the spirit. Where are you from foreigner?"
"I didn't do anything!" he protested, glaring. "I was asleep for gods' sakes!"
Still frowning, he added in a mumble, "Serendipity. I'm from Serendipity."
"And what are you doing in these lands?" the guard pressed. "You would do well to speak the truth. These are important questions. The monk will wish to know."
Emrys frowned. When had this turned into an interrogation? "I'm studying under a friend of my parents," he muttered- an honest answer, if not a very detailed one.
"A student...with a penchant for irritating ghosts," the guard hmphed loudly and raising his head to stride beyond Akash.
The silent guardsman turned to Emrys and frowned, looking worried. Ahead they were led across temple grounds to a prayer room where a small bald man in red robes knelt in a circle of animal bones. He breathed in strong strands of incense and didn't look very pleased when he was disturbed.
The guard spoke with him briefly, leaning into his ear and exchanging a quiet conversation before the guard turned back to Emrys and gestured him to approach.
"I already told you, I didn't do anythung," Emrys protested, but it didn't seem to matter. He huffed and trailed along behind the guards, returning Akash's look with one of confusion.
When he was beckoned toward the older man, he moved slowly, warily, but gave a polite nod.
"You are the foreigner," the monk murmured. He looked up from where he was meditating and he moved so that Emrys could take his place. "Kneel within the bone circle, son. They will not harm you. For they are already dead."
"Err...great. Thanks." Emrys knelt a little awkwardly, head still tilted slightly down in what he hoped was a sign of respect.
The monk resumed his position and knelt in front of Emrys. "Now bow your head," he murmured and gently laid hands on either side of his skull.
"Ahh- okay..." He did as he was told, shoulders tense and eyes flickering around, as much as they could, warily.
"Now relax, son. Just breathe, and focus. Let the spirits guide you. The scents from the smokes will open your mind."
"Open my mind to what?" Emrys grumbled, but he tried to do as he was instructed.
"From yourself," the monk instructed, and reached out to take the young man's hands. "Take a deep breath, One in... two, three, four, five, six, Out. Again."
"But...what am o trying to do?" he asked, feeling very lost, but he did as he was told.
"Do not try, just do. Close your eyes, breathe. That is all. Come, Slash, show him proper."
Although it wasn't orthodox, he did as the monk bade him and moved to the circle. He sat across from the pair and gestured for Emrys to take his hand.
"Do not fight the smoke. Breathe, son, relax your consciousness."
Emrys rolled his eyes internally but did as he was told. He still didn't know what he was trying to accomplish though.
[Poor Emrys. He's all confused]
"Your mind will open. You will be more perceptive to the spirit world and you will show me the spectre that attacked you," the monk instructed. He would feel himself growing heavy, but his mind lighter and when he opened his eyes next, he would see a very different room than the one they were present in, as if they were deep under water and their physical bodies were still in a circle around the fire.
Akash rose from where he knelt, moving slowly, seeing the forms of the other guards around them.
[Very 0.o]
Emrys opened his eyes and sucked in a sharp breath. "Whoa." He cleared his throat and tried to stand cautiously, eyes wide.
[If you're confused too, I'm just trying to do like an out of body experience thing through meditation thing. I'm just kinda throwing it along as we go. But you're free to add whatever details you like.]
Akash reached up to touch his mouth, feeling something there he hadn't in a long time. A tongue. "This is...strange," he said at last. "You're not the only one that is in...awe, Emrys."
[Gotcha!]
"Whoa!" He jerked and whipped around to blink at the warrior. "You- you can talk?!"
"I am...not in my physical body, and neither are you," Akash murmured. "But we are here to find our spirit, yes. Let us go to the last place you saw it."
"Ah...right." He rubbed at the back of his neck. "Well, I was asleep. In that room." Her jerked his head in what e thought was the direction they'd come from.
"Then we go back to where you slept," the monk instructed. He too stood from his physical body and moved slowly in that ethereal world. They all did, and walked down the unearthly temple hallway, seeing the shades of echoes of spirits pass.
Emrys follows slowly, still trying to understand what was happening. "This is so fucking weird," he muttered to himself, glaring down at his own fingers.
"Quiet that nonsense," Akash chided. "Do not disbelieve lest you be stuck like this and something else crawls into the husk that is your body. Just follow."
His eyes widened and he squeaked out, "That can happen? Then why the hell are we risking it?!"
"Shut. Up." Akash warned again and continued to follow the monk until the room came up.
"I can feel the spirit. It is close. And your energy...it feels warped. We must hurry."
Not sure what he should do, Emrys made a face to show he had no idea what that meant and shrugged as he hurried after them.
Within this form, they were not bound by the laws of physicality. Akash no longer silenced by the loss of his tongue, Emrys no longer grounded by the walls around him. Yet neither were the spirits that were more easily visible through the translucent walls around them, withering and wavering blue. Their traces were made in soft neon hues, some natural colors, others burning in vague trails of red.
The monk instructed them not to watch anywhere but their destination as they found their way to Emrys' room, and saw a regressing replay of what happened. There they saw the spirit leering over Emrys' sleeping form.
"Xi-sha are sometimes drawn to magic," Akash whispered. "And yours seems to be particularly drawing. Do not react. This has already happened. We are here to find out where this spirit went."
Well.
This was unsettling.
"O-okay." Emrys winced at his stammer and watched the scene play out. "Do I really look like that?" he grumbled to himself, trying not to focus on how weird the whole situation was.
Startled out of sleep by a malevolent spirit was definitely not a good look for him.
"You are in dream most likely," the monk observed, and as he watched the spirit attempt possession he saw Emrys rise from bed projecting his magic out to push it away.
The spirit hissed and manifested further into this ethereal realm, and it withered and slithered quickly away into a tunnel below.
"Okay..." Emrys was still distinctly uncomfortable as he watched the scene play out. "So where did it go?"
"Hrmm, down there by the looks of it," Akash grumbled, displeased with the black hole that seemed to prickle up from the ground like oil.
It was a tunnel of some sort, a connection point between two parts of the temple that would otherwise take too long to reach. Akash only glanced at Emrys before stepping through the hole, going down as if he were on a gentle slope, and his head sinking beneath. The monk gestured for Emrys to follow.
"You will not abandon your friend will you?"
"I-"
He growled. "Gah! No."
He stepped into the hole after Akash.
The darkness was completely surrounding, but thankfully they didn't have to do much to move. The sheer pull of the portal shot them through to the other side and Akash emerged with a yelp when the hole appeared outside of the temple walls, and he was nearly thrown from the wall. He stopped himself just in time. Not that it would have mattered being in the form he was currently in, but the fall itself still seemed pretty jarring.
Emrys couldn't stop a high pitched squeal from escaping as he suddenly found himself hurtled through space, grabbing with insubstantial hands for anything to anchor himself.
He almost smacked into Akash, managing to stop himself an instant before- though he really wasn't sure if he'd even be able to make contact with another spirit-form.
Thankfully Akash reached out for him before the young man would be catapulted through the unknown that lay beyond the temple wall. There wasn't much point in letting him go. There was still an evil spirit to be captured after all.
Emrys clutched at the steadying hands and looked up at the guard with wide eyes. "So...what now?"
Before them were large dark puddles, like ink droplets that appeared on the ground before them, and Akash looked up, pointing to them to Emrys. "There, just ahead. Is that the spirit that attacked you?"
It was a large black mass, moving slowly further and further away from him. "Don't be afraid Emrys. You are a mage, correct? You are not without your own self-defense," he murmured.
"Yeah." Emrys shuddered slightly. "That's it."
He frowned and tried to look taller than he was, shuffling a little away from the other man. "I'm not afraid," he grumbled churlishly.
"Okay then. Now go confront your demon," Akash muttered and nudged Emyrs forward. He certainly wasn't going to face that thing.
The mage blanched. "What?!" he whisper-shrieked. "How- what the hell am I supposed to do? Do you want me to kill it?!"
How in earth was he supposed to go about doing that?
"You're the mage! You don't know how to fight evil spirits?" Akash hissed to Emrys. As much as he tried to keep his tone hushed, the black mass quivered and turned to face the pair, and slowly slithered toward them. "Holy Shit! Emrys! Do something!"
"Well, I've never done it before-!" Emrys started to snap back, but then the creature was moving toward them and he didn't have time to think. "Fuck!"
Her threw his hands out, shouting the ancient Serenian word for fire, and flames exploded from his palms, waving over the creature in a wave of heat and destruction.
The fire curled over the mass and made it wince and cringe backwards. Anything was better than nothing and it gave Akash a chance to maneuver around the being and focus his telekinetic pulse. The first wave of electricity came from his staff as he thrust it forward and felt the force connect enough to make the creature growl in frustration.
It turned toward Akash and he moved backwards, glaring up at the shape, the black mass that swooped forward to engulf him.
"Shield!"
Without thinking, Emrys lurched forward to stand half in front of Akash, hands stretched out and up as a thin, glowing blue barrier flickered into being around them. Not much, but the best he could do under pressure.