When I woke up I decided to go check on Caenir and Kreoss. I packed up my stuff, paid Ibwam three hundred gil, and after being warped I began to wander about the markets of early moning Aht Urghan. I tried to keep the collar of my briault pulled up higher than normal to hide my neck after catching some questioning looks while still in Windurst. The bruising is still pretty heavy, but it could have easily been worse and at least it doesn't hurt as much to speak today. Though I still can't raise my voice very high.
It didn't take me too long to find the two I was looking for. Kreoss was bartering with a Qiqirn merchant while Caenir stood close behind him, he seemed pretty confused at his surroundings. I smiled and found myself running up and saying good morning to them. From closer I noticed Kreoss was still heavily bruised and unable to wear heavy armor, but at least he was still alive and able to walk. Caenir and I began talking while Kreoss remained silent. After a moment he had moved in front of Caenir as if to protect him and asked me what had become of Alberic. I felt a bit confused as to why Kreoss was being defensive of Caenir before me, but told him that Alberic was better because of an item used on him.
He told me that he was glad to hear that news and seemed to relax a bit as he stared behind me. I turned to follow his gaze onto no other than Alberic, who greeted us in an odd but funny way. Mai followed behind him but she didn't seem quite awake yet. He smiled and asked how everyone was doing. Kreoss said that he and Caenir were doing fine and I said that I was feeling better, but also mentioned that I still couldn't talk very loud. I wish i hadn't mentioned that last part, Caenir gained a concerned tone and asked me what I meant. I felt a bit uncomfortable and told him it was nothing and not to worry about it.
".. Does it hurt Seik? ... Your throat I mean..." I heard Alberic asking. I looked up at him, his expression was very sad. I told him it wasn't as bad today and not to worry about it. There was a moment of awkward silence before Caenir spoke up, saying that we should enjoy these moments of peace as much as we could. Alberic then began apologizing for what had happened the other day. Kreoss turned away beginning to walk slowly out of the market with Caenir, saying that it was his people that Alberic had offended and the ones closer to him that he had hurt. Alberic sighed, saying something along the lines that sorry wasn't really enough. He and Mai then began to wander about the market.
I stood there for a moment after everyone had left before feeling a harsh whisper in my ear telling me to go to the Imperial Whitegate. It seemed a meeting of Immortals was in order. I dawned my Magus garb and made my way to the east side of the city. Once escorted into the grand hall I took a knee like many of the other Blue around me. There was a large group already there, but it seemed that they can only call a certain amount of us in there at a time due to our sheer numbers. As I looked around, catching some nasty looks from under the veil of the keffiyeh. Though I didn't really expect any less. There was one Blue towards the back of the hall who seemed to be foaming a the mouth, mumbling, and twitching sporadically. He was sadly on the brink... Most likely to be used as an 'example' for the next up and coming Blue Mage.
Raubahn soon came to address us, speaking of the maws. He said that with access to them, we would soon be able to acquire the abilities from the creatures of the past. However, he also stated that if we tried now that we would not be able to acquire these abilities yet, to instead be patient and wait until we were next called before jumping the gun. They would guide us as to which monsters would be our targets and which abilities we would need to study before taking action on our prey. I could feel him glaring at me for a moment, like the other Blue had before he dismissed us back to the streets.
I changed out of my Magus garb and into my Cleric attire before deciding to go back to Windurst. I warped out of Aht Urhgan back to my home nation and began to meander about for a while. I paused outside the mog houses in the Port district for a moment to think. How was I going to acquire the spells from the past? It isn't really the best idea to have any contact with the monsters there verbally. But I don't think I could bring myself to killing them. I thought about this for a long while.
I then felt someone walk by me and, looking up, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I thought I had seen Lord Sikayu. I stood there dumbfounded for a moment, staring off at the entrance to the mog houses where he had gone. He soon reemerged and passed by me again, but I stopped him, asking if he was indeed Sikayu. He turned to face me saying that he was not who I was looking for before walking off again. I was almost sure it was Sikayu... I took a moment before heading off in the direction he had gone. While passing the small cross section of the path to Woods and the port, I felt a twinge in my mind and overheard the sound of Solitia's voice speaking to someone. I quickly hurried off to Woods, not wanting to stay close to her presence.
Once I reached Woods I began to look about, but the man I had seen was no where in sight. I walked over to the fountain, mumbling to myself before I caught a glimpse of him again. I think he felt me staring at him, because he turned around and stared back for a moment. I couldn't help but stare before realizing that what I was doing was rude and averting my gaze instead to the river. I could hear him walk away, but then return. He held out a small object wrapped in paper to me. I took the item and he began to walk off again. When He had walked away I unwrapped it to reveal a ginger cookie. I stared at it for a moment before I found myself following after where he had gone.
I found him again, this time sitting on the bridge by the Dhalmel farm. Before I knew it I had walked up to him again and asked if I had indeed not met him before. He again responded that he did not know me, mentioning that his name was Sparhawk. I could feel my heart sink slightly. I apologized for pestering him before walking back towards the entrance to Port and sitting down by a wall. I kept grabbing at the star necklace I always wear that Sikayu gave me, as if for comfort. Where had he gone? Was he still well? Was he still alive..? I thought there for a while before Sparhawk passed by me again, I looked up for a moment and he smiled slightly, continuing to move toward the Port.
I sat there, staring at my feet, wondering again what had become of Lord Sikayu before I felt that twinge in my mind again. Solitia stood nearby with Caenir behind her. She greeted me, causing me to jump slightly... Her presence still frightens me. I wondered why Caenir was following her as I used the wall behind me to help myself stand up, she said that he had become her student as if responding to my silent question. Caenir seemed to grow concerned, most likely from me not really saying anything. I told him I was fine, though I was starting to have a hard time concentrating but I didn't mention that part. Solitia then began talking with Caenir about divination, speaking of a person called Anahka, after that though I couldn't concentrate enough to remember what she said... I just remember saying that I needed to leave and slipping off to the Port district.
I walked about for a while, absently heading in the direction of the Orastery when I spotted Sparhawk again. I went up to him, saying I was sorry for having not introduced myself earlier. He smiled for a moment, saying he felt that he had reminded me of something not so fortunate.
I told him that he reminded me greatly of someone dear to me. I found myself dwelling on the thought of how much he looked like him again. He reminded me that I still hadn't introduced myself yet, so I told him my name.
I brought a hand up, taking hold of my pendant again, speaking about how much he looked like Siakyu. He asked if my star pendant had been given to me by Sikayu. I told him that it had, that he had made it for me. Sikayu was a very good goldsmither. Sparhawk's next words were harsh, despite his gentle tone, telling me that he was not Sikayu. That he was Sparhawk of Windurst, formally of the Empire. I knew he wasn't, though I wished at that moment he was, I told him that I knew... It still hurt. He said that he thought the only reason I was speaking with him was because he looked like Sikayu, and he was right... I wanted to feel comfort in seeing Sikayu's face again... I wanted to see Lord Sikayu... I wanted him to come back to Windurst from his journey... But I knew I probably would never see him again... Never hear his voice again... I told Sparhawk to pay me no mind before running off.
I stopped and leaned against the wall before the path leading to Woods. I felt overwhelmingly sad, but could not cry. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looking up it was Sparhawk. I apologized again for bothering him. He told me that I hadn't bothered him, but he wished that he could get to know me as himself, not as who he looked like. He held out his hand, smiling awkwardly for a moment, giving him a very youthful appearance. I smiled back offering my own hand, which he held gently for a moment "See, I'm not THAT bad, am I?" He smiled again. I told him he didn't seem bad at all. He chuckled a bit letting go of my hand, saying that there were a few guys who would beg to differ, but he didn't seem to want to go into detail about that. He then bid me good night and began to make his way back towards the port.
I hope to see Sparhawk again soon. He seems like an interesting person to get to know. After watching him walk away I headed back to Woods, Caenir and Solitia still standing in the same place they had been before, though now Ery seemed to have joined their conversation. I walked up behind Caenir, tapping him lightly on the top of the head, and saying that I was sorry for not responding to him earlier. He said it was no problem. Solitia's presence was giving me a little bit of trouble, but not nearly as much as usual, though I don't know why.
She asked if, while in Port, I had seen Anahka. I didn't understand what she was talking about, though I had heard her say that name earlier. I told her I had a hard time concentrating earlier, so she repeated herself. She described a Hume man in his early twenties, bald-headed, and wearing a cap. The description sounded exactly like Sparhawk. She said that Anahka is one who is born once an age, living outside destiny, and feared by the gods. She asked if I sensed this about him. I told her that I hadn't, because to me he seemed normal. She mentioned to Caenir that they may be keeping an eye on Sparhawk.
We spoke for a while more about the ability to sense the things around us before Solitia decided that she needed to leave. She bid everyone good night and warped herself away leaving Caenir, Ery, and myself. Caenir then turned to me and told me that had almost forgotten to tell me that he could indeed not swim. For future reference, I must remember to keep Caenir away from deep water. Ery spoke of how tired he was for a moment, before proceeding to somehow fall asleep standing up... I was baffled at first, but then Caenir and I had a good laugh, careful not to wake Ery though. We bid each other good night then and headed back to our own mog houses.
I made an herbal drink for myself to help my throat heal a bit better. Though I thought I would be feeling sad again this day, things actually turned out better than I expected. I met someone new who I hope to see more of in the days to come. I still miss Lord Sikayu deeply and I may never see him again, but everything heals with time. I hope Ery is okay sleeping standing up in the middle of Windurst Woods. I may find that amusing for quite a while.
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