Everything Blooms In Its Own Time [Kala, Pharaoh]

[Hilana Chenzira]

45 Ash, Year 124

[Closed - Kala and Pharaoh]


Hilana had made the request to visit the Wood Plane through her Sentinel Paedagogus, Ævril. He knew she was certainly ready - it had been over a year since she had last attuned to another Element, and he did sometimes wonder about how she had not done this one first. Granted, they had all been busy. She knew that the order was also stretched with their tasks, not only in the Umbrium, but in the Expanse and around the world. All the same, the request had been delivered to Sentinel Valaera, and when it was approved, he had let his discipula know the date and time at their next lesson.

Lia was busy meeting a client, but Hilana had figured that she could take her and Finn at a later date and have a picnic there, because there would be an awful lot of plants to bring back with her. But Lady Kala, who was visiting Solunarium again from up north, was interested in going, and considering her status with the Sentinels and the fact that she had dined at the Palace before... surely they wouldn't mind her coming along. She did wonder if it would be Sentinel Qævyx that would bring her to another Plane once again. She kind of hoped so; she had rather liked the Starborn Sentinel, but she knew that the order was enormously busy.

Instead, she had packed a full bag of snacks, her Mask, and her Featherlight Satchel along with her ever-present rucksack. Where she had felt a lot of apprehension in going to the Shadowlands... visiting the Plane of Wood had her Wildness all but screaming with excitement inside of her. She knew she was going to need to calm it down rather than make it too difficult to meditate and attune, and she didn't want to come across as a complete spaz in front of the foreign blonde woman from the northlands. She had given her Sunborn Paedagogus a beeswax-lined bag of cookies to enjoy later as thanks, and the two of them waited in the entrance hall of the Praetorium for Kala. Shadows tugged at her long, tiered green skirts, and she smiled and swished the fabric just a little more. They were going to meet some new shadows and see some new things, and this place would not be as tricksy for them as the Plane of Light had been. She promised.

[Kala Leukos]

.

There was something delicious to flouting the iron will of the Iron Queen Dowager, like reigniting the youthful fire that had required so many hours of meditation to rein in and present a quiet, collected young lady to represent Starfall in the Kalzasern court. In Solunarium, she had represented Kalzasi, but now she only represented herself, her Self Ascendant. Courted by a prince, welcomed by the Gods of the Desert, and now casually invited to an elemental plane for a picnic.

All of her boys had put on their eager faces when she told them about it and, given Hilana had said they would be accompanied by Sentinels and the like, she felt it would not be overstepping the bounds of etiquette to invite her small retinue. After all, Kaus was also a master elementalist and while he was a Child of Air and she a Child of Fire, adaptability and versatility were virtues. She looked forward to surprising a Hytori woodsinger at some later date and learning a trick or two from them.

Indric came along to learn the way through the slipspace, and Ceran wasn't about to let his husband leave this plane of existence without him. Asallon was explaining the difference between the Plane of Wood and the Everwilds in an overly complicated cosmological picture to a slightly sullen Kanedama who just didn't want to be left behind, even if he was more keen on the Plane of Metal and the opportunity to mine some free gold.

Kaus walked beside his sister and they shared a quiet smile to underscore their silent communication. She had casually mentioned the jaunt to Phocion and they rather expected he would make an appearance, so Kaus was prepared to keep the Silver Wings from getting too chaotic. Half of them were as young as they were, and even Asallon, normally staid, couldn't help but see this as an adventure. He would ensure she got quality time with Hilana and, possibly, her pretty prince.

Of course, he was hoping a certain dux would put in an appearance, but wasn't counting on it.

"Salve, Hilana," she said, followed by Kaus and then a chorus of greetings from her trail of ducklings.

.

[Pharaoh]

All at once, Phocion doffed his veil, revealing his pale face, and he was amongst them as if he’d been present the entire time. Perhaps he had been. Lest Kala grow accustomed to Phocion Princeps adorned in silver and white, he returned to his more familiar persona to her and all the realm: Phocion Vigil, the Godwatcher. His eyes were upon one deity in particular as he stepped forth.

“Your Ladyship of Starfall.” He bowed and claimed her hand in his gloved palm, placing a gentle kiss to the back of it. “Lord Kaus.” He inclined his head more modestly to the brother and greeted those Silver Wings he knew and allowed the others to introduce themselves or to be introduced. Finally, with the foreign contingent greeted, he looked to Hilana.

“Ms. Chenzira. I understand it was you who arranged all of this? I trust you will not object to my tagging along. The Crown and the Order both take the Umbrium’s relationship with Starfall most seriously and would demonstrate all due respect to its delegates.” Perhaps to demur from the more intimate motives, he said so and gave Hilana a warning look as if to suggest he was present as her chaperone rather than Kala’s suitor— a fact which had not been publicly announced during this nascent phase of uncertainty and exploration. Phocion was far from the vainest of his kin, but he still didn’t fancy the notion of broadcasting a courtship before things were firmly established. He could brook private rejection better than most, but public rejection was another matter and one which would have reflected on more than Phocion alone.

[Hilana Chenzira]

She had met most of Kala’s retinue since their first meeting at the Citadel - a traditional breakfast quite early by just about anyone’s standards in the kitchen. She had dropped in here and there in Kalzasi when she was around, and she did like sending letters and receiving them. She was always eager to find out how the hibiscus she had given the young noblewoman was doing. So while she was surprised to see the interest in coming, she wasn’t entirely surprised that the whole of them came. She offered her bows to Kala and Kaus, as they were nobleborn, and respectful nods to the others. The Sunborn beside her also nodded his greetings. “Salve, how are you all doing today? Have you been well?” She was bright as she beamed at those who had come. She was quietly glad of her tendency to over-pack and over-prepare with food; the bag of snacks was heavily laden, as was her tradition.

When Sentinel Phocion unveiled and revealed himself, Hilana offered him a bow as well. Her paedagogus offered a silent, but respectful greeting to the head of the Custodes Deorum. “Salve, Sentinel Phocion. I did. Sentinel Ævril put the request in for me, and I did ask if I could invite Lady Kala... You are always welcome.” Wood was an under-appreciated element as far as she was concerned, especially out here in the desert, and it would be instrumental later to one of Hilana’s overarching plans. Which were also something she needed to talk to Prince Phocion about when she was ready to start it to get approval, and she would… all in good time. She didn’t know what that last look from Phocion meant, but she suspected it was a warning to be on her best behaviour and not screw up in front of such very important people. When it came to House Phaedryn, there were loads of secrets, and this was bound to be another one. She would heed it all the same.

“This is all of us?” Ævril looked over those assembled, and glanced down at Hilana, who nodded in confirmation. This seemed to be all of them. Two women, five Avialae, and three Elven sentinels. Qaevyx would make four, which was enough to manage while those who wanted to attune did so. “This way, if you will.” He activated a lodestone to open a portal for the group that would take them directly to where Qaevyx was waiting. Considering the number of them, they had elected not to bring the pack of foreign dignitaries through their Praetorium. He nodded to Hilana, and the bouncing Vastiana stepped through the portal and away, seeing the veiled figure in the cavern waiting for them. Ævril and the remaining Sentinel would bring up the rear once the rest of them stepped through the portal.

When they were through to the open cavern, yet another veiled Sentinel was waiting for them by a pillar. And they, it seemed, would be their ride.

[Kala Leukos]

.

While she might have offered Hilana a short hug in private, here they were always watched and so she offered more decorous cheek kisses, and a formal but not unkind greeting to the one who would take them to the Plane of Wood. If she was surprised to see Phocion, she only smiled and inclined her head over their touching hands. If she was coy, it wasn't coquettish. She could be intellectually playful, but was more straightforward when it came to serious things.

"I'm telling Mother," Kaus stage whispered to his sister when people kept treating her like the lady of Starfall, but she grinned at him. If nothing else, she seemed to be their patron deity, but that was mostly under wraps. Her twin was affable with Phocion, carefully trying to find the correct balance between his ebullient nature and Phocion's reservedness.

"I do hope the gritæri of the Plane of Wood do not think we are invading," she said, which caused Asallon to explain to Kanedama how unlikely that was in a rather erudite fashion. Sometimes, for all his wisdom and intelligence, humor flew right over his head. The demon indwelt rolled his eyes.

"Apologies," Ceran said to Hilana, offering to take her luggage. He was, unlike Kaus, quite tall and built like most Synnekar Avialæ. What was a burden to her would be an afterthought to him. "The Silver Wings do have discipline. At least, under fire." And the Leukos twins coupled with the Silver Wings were four Avialæ (Kala, Kaus, Ceran, and Indric) and two mixed-race elves (Asallon and Kanedama, though the latter had definite infernal energy for those who could sense such things). It was, perhaps, a testament to their faith in and respect for the Sentinels that they had no qualms relaxing and merely being excited for the opportunity.

Her boys followed Hilana through the portal while Kala quietly took Phocion's arm as they followed. It was early days yet, and if the talk of betrothal fell threw, she didn't want to sour things between them, but it was nice to take that quiet moment to be close. Propriety made it quite proper for these things even if they weren't beginning to court.

.

[Pharaoh]

Phocion nodded in answer to Hilana’s reply.

“Very well. You may operate as you would were I not here. Please. Proceed.” He would return to Kala’s side, unveiled but projecting an air of dissuasion merely through mundane means. There were those without magic who still knew how to exude an air of the unremarkable that begged off of observation. Phocion might have used more extravagant means of doing so, but felt it inappropriate to the social circumstance into which he was consciously, if reluctantly, embarking.

One of the talents that had been honed in Phocion since youth was observation. It was a useful skill for a wallflower to have and he exploited it now, making observations more about Kala’s retinue than the lady herself with whom he had spend more time with fewer distractions. There was much to be learned by the company one kept and it was no secret that Kaus, in particular, was influential to the point of being something of a concern. If Kala worried about Phocion’s obligations to Varvara, so did Phocion worry about their particular Bond. But the worry was not great, so much as a point to be flagged and examined for liabilities. Thus far the man had been cordial, respectful, perhaps a bit decadent, but that was not damning nor alien to his Solunarian frame of reference.

Arm-in-arm with Kala, he allowed her to lead his steps as they proceeded through the portal. He went into this courtship knowing that he would not be the ranking partner, and so it only seemed right to defer to her from the outset. The pyramid, and all that,

[Hilana Chenzira]

"Oh, thank you," Hilana beamed up at Ceran. "I don't doubt it." She was no withering flower, but if a gentleman wanted to carry her picnic basket, he was more than welcome to do so. There was an ample weight to it, because the Vastiana had a tendency to pack a lot of food everywhere on such an excursion, especially one she'd had time to prepare for. What hadn't fit in the basket was in her featherlight satchel, and she was well-prepared for that. She did wonder about how the gritaeri might feel when Kala brought it up, but she did trust Asallon's knowledge of spirits, and if he felt it was unlikely, then chances were, it probably was. With the number of people with her, using the Mask the way she had with Qaevyx in the Shadowlands was less ideal, there were too many people for what the Mask could comfortably shield.

But that was where the Sentinels and the others who were not here for the Elemental Attunement came in.

Sentinel Ævril nodded to Sentinel Qaevyx, and the other Sentinel unveiled herself, revealing an older Platinum Re'hyaean woman behind the veil. "This is Sentinel Qaevyx," the Sunborn introduced this new Vigilia to the group, and she, in turn, nodded to the group before turning back to the pillar with its strange and archaic runes and symbols. Hilana was delighted, and offered her a bow, pleased to see her again. Qaevyx had found herself on Hilana's baked goods rounds when she brought some in for Ævril at the Praetorium ever since she had taken her to the Shadowlands, though she'd not seen her since. Her hands began to glow blue, and as they did, so too did the symbols upon the pillar. "Keep in mind that the void beasts may very well be in here. Be on your guard."

A new portal opened between the white-haired vigilia and the pillar, and through it, was a resplendent greenery that surpassed anything Hilana had seen - the rainforests of Ecith, the forests of Kalzasi, even anything she could have dreamed up in the Land of Nod. The only vision she had ever had that came close was when Sivan showed her the Everwilds through the a door at Kilvin's Forge. "The Elemental Plane of Wood," Qaevyx announced, stepping to the side. Where Ævril and the other accompanying Sentinel had gone through last to bring up the rear from the Praetorium to this cavern, they now stepped through first to ensure the group's safety, and at Qaevyx's nod, Hilana hurried on through, her brightly-dyed skirts flouncing as she did, not wanting to hold this up for the rest of them. It was not hard to see how excited about this she was - she was practically dancing, and if her eyes got any bigger, they were going to pop out of their sockets.

They were in a grove in the verdant lands, the air rich with the scents of unspoiled flora. It was a massive forest, and Hilana was recognizing plants from every biome as far as her eyes could see. Everywhere they looked was a variety of vegetation, unspoiled and growing as it was meant to. "Look at it," she managed to contain herself not to start touching things without checking them over first. She didn't need Semblance just yet to as she was busily taking in the plants around them. "Oh, glories."

Must. Not. Touch.

Yet.

[Kala Leukos]

.

Ceran and the other Silver Wings were certainly chivalrous, but also acutely aware that the lady they served far outstripped them in power and they had seen her with blades in hand and handicapping herself by withholding magic while sparring. They wanted to help where and how they could, not because someone couldn't do for themselves, but because the burdens were easier when everyone did their part.

"I rather like that you are here," Kala said quietly, offering Phocion a private smile as they all promenaded through the portal. They seemed to have found a comfortable, happy medium, being in public together as they were. Kaus didn't think it looked as though they were courting, but the fact that Phocion was present spoke volumes.

They all looked about in wonder, though the Silver Wings were looking for danger to their Lady, even if they were a bit redundant considering the Sentinels and Phocion Princeps.

Those with wings—other than Kala, who was tethered to her Tethered—stepped away so when they flung themselves aloft, their downdrafts didn't muss anyone's hair. Asallon was immediately conversing in some language that wasn't obvious to those present with several spirits that had come up to poke at him. Kanedama looked out of sorts, but wasn't saying anything, just staying close to Asallon.

"I believe everywhere is warmer than my home," Kala noted quietly, eyes wide as she took it all in. She saw divine lines underpinning this aspect of reality, the hand of Aedrin, no doubt. More than ever, she felt as though she were a newborn in terms of deity. She sensed so much more than she had before, even as a master sembler, and now there was even more information to process and a dearth of context.

Kala looked up and up, though she didn't let herself be overwhelmed like some rube on their first walk through a metropolis. She had been fortunate to run into Hilana in the citadel, and now she supposed she ought to see if she could ask the Sentinels to take her to all those planes where she and Kaus could attune. If so, she would have to bring Hilana along as well. Fair was fair.

She looked to Hilana to lead the way, or perhaps she would defer to the Sentinels for the prime spot to meditate.

"The Wings see no immediate danger in our vicinity," she offered, being connected to all of them even as they had flown out of sight.

.

[Pharaoh]

“And you make it my pleasure to be.” Phocion whisperer in answer to Kala’s kindness.

It might have been a credit to Sentinel training that none of those present seemed in the least bit fazed by the presence of Phocion, who was increasingly seen as the reluctant face of their organisation and certainly an influential figure within their ranks. It seemed they all took him at his word and behaved as though he wasn’t there which, of course, suited him just fine.

Though an elementalist himself, as per the dictates of his Sol’Aværys pedigree, Phocion was not terribly familiar with this particular plane. All of his family focused first upon fire, as their realm stood in the shadow of a volcano and relied upon their ætheric obeisances to tame its more eruptive tendencies. Elemantalism was not his Capital Craft and so it had not been studied as holistically as some schools of magic— most notably Kinetics.

Whatever the case, he did not seem particularly concerned with any threats that might be looming in the midst of the foliage. He glanced mildly to the lady’s cohort as they made their threat assessment report, expecting no such declarations from his own people.

“What a lovely vista for a stroll. Would you not agree, your Ladyship? I half wish I had a talent for landscape painting.” He wasn’t entirely comfortable and was aware that his small talk was contrived, but at least he was making an effort when, in truth, he had nothing to contribute to the discourse at the moment and might have remained mum under most circumstances. It was small enough insofar as Sacrifices went, but with any luck She would be pleased and Kala would be… not put off.

[Hilana Chenzira]

Hilana knew better than to stick her nose into whatever was going on with Lady Kala and Sentinel Phocion, and she was not about to risk any level of goodwill she had earned with them by doing so. She was nobility, he was royalty, and there would be other opportunities later. If anything, it was likely for the best of the realm; and if one considered it that way, then it was better that she left them to it. There would be opportunities later, possibly, and if not, there was always another time.

When Kala noted that everywhere seemed warmer than her home, Hilana wouldn't have been surprised. Kalzasi alone took getting used to, even in the height of Searing. While she had yet to visit Starfall proper, she had found it on a map. Logic and her knowledge of ecology dictated that the mountain regions with the wind were going to be far colder than Kalzasi with its climate-moderating position on the shores of Lake Udori. This Plane wasn't as warm as her desert home, but few places were; and but this was a lovely medium.

Sentinel Phocion had said to go on as if he was not there, and Sentinels Qaevyx, Ævril, and Esaias had the discipline and training to take him at his word. They would pay attention and follow orders if they were given, but until then, they would continue on as had been planned for this outing. Qaevyx wasn't about to direct them to another location on the Plane; Hilana had asked to come, and as she had with the Shadowlands, she would let the young Vastiana decide where they were going. "Thank you," she smiled at Kala, appreciating the reconnaissance about what was going on around them, and retrieving her Volumen from its case and unfurling it. The three Sentinels on the ground had formed something of a triangle on the outside, looking on. As expected, they made no such reports between them with regards to what was around them, assessing the area around them.

"Zona," she instructed the artifact, and looked it over as it went from being a rather weathered-looking map of the Kingdom of Solunarium to something entirely different. Now she was able to have a look at a map of where they were in the Plane of Wood, and one hundred miles in any direction. And for the most part, it was largely forest. Different types of forest as indicated by the map, as the types of trees changed, and there was occasionally streams here and there. There was a lake some distance off to the north, though considering travelling through trees tended to take additional time, she wasn't sure that that was too ambitious for the group that was on foot. But there was a pond closer and given what Sentinel Phocion had said about a nice place for a stroll, they could walk. "There's a pond to the west-northwest, if you're up for the walk," she offered, looking up from the map. "And a lake a few miles beyond that, but we can start for the pond."

A nice, tranquil spot to meditate at and enjoy the picnic basket and satchel full of goodies was a good way to spend the afternoon to Hilana, and if she scooped up several samples to take home... well...