Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone (Paragon)

[Norani]

Norani saw the small creature, or wait, no, small person of some sort peeking out of the brush. She studied it carefully, seeing that it seemed to be made of both water and living water plants. Interesting, she’d never seen anyone of such a type. The large eyes, the cautious approach, Norani suspected this being was curious, not necessarily fearful or on the attack. It didn’t appear to be attempting an ambush type attack. It approached under no clear pretense of threat.

And now it closed the distance and appeared to be communicating in its own way, and gesturing toward Ruvaf. All the signs seemed to be pointing toward a curious and potentially helpful gesture. Norani sent a thought across the link to Vaka telling him to stand down, not wishing to spook the little being. Then the Orkhan lowered her weapons, and crouched down low. She belted one chakram, sticking out a hand slowly, showing it was empty.

The communication barrier would be difficult, Norani was no linguist. But she had an idea, seeing the being was made of and sounded of water. She felt the strain as she pulled out more elementally charged aether through her rune, and attempted something she’d never tried before. She reached out, collecting some of the water motes from around the area, specifically avoiding those around the being. She pulled them into herself, and began trying to Enmesh them into her throat and voice box.

She then gasped as she reached for more aether in her Animus rune, pulling it out, but not imbuing it with any of her totems. She focused on how it felt to use her Echolalia ability and tried to mingle it with her Enmeshed water aether and her throat. She worked to mingle the aesthetic types and then attempted to speak, coming out a bit garbled like the being’s own had.

“Hello? Can you understand me? My name is Norani.” She pointed at Ruvaf, “This is my friend Ruvaf. He is injured, can you help him?”

She hoped it worked, a migraine was passing through her and her vision was blurring at the edges.

[Paragon]

P A R A G O N

The creature quirked its head, blinking at Norani as she displayed a remarkable amount of ingenuity in showcasing her knowledge of blending magic together. The effect saw a garbled warbling come out of her mouth. But it seemed that some of the information was communicated. The creature made a burbling noise that drifted to Norani’s ears. As the words reached her, the meaning was slow to come but through the growing fog of her weary mind it became clear.

“Friend…? ….hurt?” The creature waddled forward almost eagerly. It bounced, creating small puddles at its feet. It peered around, eyes falling upon Vaka. Its already wide eyes grew wider but there was no fear in that gaze. Wonder and excitement filled it and the creature bounced excitedly. It was as if it recognized Vaka. It flailed and flapped its arms with a gurgling warble running around in a small circle.

“Friend! Friend help!” The creature flopped onto the ground and excitedly rolled around, only to fall completely into a nearby puddle, disappearing beneath its shallow surface. It flailed briefly before disappearing into the water with a wet plunk. Upon inspection, the puddle was barely deep enough for Norani to submerge her hand, yet that odd creature had vanished entirely upon falling within it. Whether it had done so on purpose or by mistake? It was easy to believe it was the latter of the two. Another nearby puddle rippled and the little being hopped out with a wet flop.

“Friend!” It made a watery exclamation then turned and flailed its arms wildly. “Friend! Friend!”

It made a garbled noise that, in Norani’s exhausted state, her experimental technique did not quite catch. There came a stirring in the wilderness ahead of Norani. Three more creatures shuffled their way out of the underbrush. One of them looked like a puff of cloud mixed with dirt and sand, a dust devil that whirled as it floated forward. Glowing yellow eyes peered at Norani from within the windy dirt, blinking curiously at her. The sound of wind chimes drifted from it in a gentle melody. The next that hobbled forward was actually rolling around upon on its body. A rocky shape that eventually came to a stop next to the watery creature. The rock righted itself and slowly turned to face Norani revealing a rather grumpy looking face with gem-like eyes. It made a grinding grunt. Finally, a small creature that appeared to be made of wood and leaves that were on fire hopped forward. The scent of a warm campfire drifted up from it and it popped and crackled at Norani curiously. None of the small creatures rose higher than Norani’s knees. The watery creature turned and spread its arms.

“Friends help!”

[Norani]

As the creature did its watery garbling, Norani found that she could hear it. But in a strange, slow way, as though she were listening to it underwater. A surprised smile grew on her face. It understood her, and she understood it! There was a swirl of emotions in Norani but that was not new for the young and tumultuous Orkhan.

She nodded her head emphatically, “Yes. Friend, hurt!” The little being acted a bit erratically, in an amusing, sort of childish way. But Norani sensed no harm, no threat, no ill-will from it. As it stumbled into a puddle, disappearing impossibly, Norani looked over at Vaka. She cocked an eyebrow, telepathically speaking to him, “Do you know each other?”

She looked back toward the little being as it spoke unintelligibly. She watched wide eyed as a handful of other elemental beings came out from their hiding spots. It was fascinating, this was far more elementally advanced than the creatures of the expedition site. These weren’t animals, these were people, she thought. Or were they spirits? Was there really a difference?

But they were all differing elements. She was already struggling with the energy levels to maintain communication with the watery one. She looked at the little living puddle of cuteness, speaking in the watery elemental language, “Will you and your friends help my hurt friend? Can I help you? My magic is tired, I don’t have much more. I’ll give you anything, please, help him.”

She scraped the bottom of her aether reserves, putting her unaligned elemental aether out before her, between her and her new friends. A gesture, an offering of the last of her power. She grew wobbly in the knees, her vision blurred, tripling the amount of the elemental small ones, and she dropped to a kneel, clutching her stomach, trying to keep herself from violently vomiting into the sand.

[Paragon]

P A R A G O N

The watery being wobbled forward reaching out a hand to touch Norani’s. Its was…well…wet.

“Friends help.” Gently it tugged her forward but did not draw from the well of elemental aether that she was offering. It made a garbled noise and the other elementals came forward. The watery creature made a sound like a burbling stream. One of the floating bubbles of water began drifting downward until its surface pressed lightly against Ruvaf’s body until the pterodactyl was enveloped. The air elemental floated forward and began releasing a stream of air that encircled Ruvaf’s head so that he could breathe, coming to float just next to Ruvaf’s head. As the water closed in around Ruvaf’s unconscious head, the surface rippled from the currents of air flowing just beneath it. The fiery elemental stepped forward and released a thin stream of fire that encircled the bubble around Ruvaf. It began drawing close to the water, warming it just enough to stave off any cold that might come from being completely enclosed by water and air.

The rock elemental bounced forward until it reached the edge of the water. It emit a grunting rumbling noise and soon the surface of the ocean water began to bubble. A path of rock and stone began to rise up, just level enough with the surface to provide a footpath.

A footpath that led toward the tree.

The watery creature tugged Norani toward the path.

“Witch help. Come.” Together, the small elementals began walking toward the path with the bubble containing Ruvaf in tow.

They were off to see a witch. A witch that waited for them at the colossal tree where all the elements seemed to be converging. Drawing closer to the towering tree, it was a monument in and of itself. With branches large enough to serve as perches to fully grown dragons, and a trunk that was as thick and tall as a mountain, the roots wrapped around the rocky shelf it stood upon with greenery growing beneath its boughs. Water fell from the edges of the rocky shelf in waterfalls with vines and smaller greenery. Animals of flight, both reptilian and avian flew above them, going to nests high above their heads. The rock elemental guided them forward, creating an outcropped path that enabled them to ascend without much difficulty. In spite of that, with Norani’s exhaustion, the trek was not an easy one.

The whole while, the elementals watched Norani, never moving faster than she could keep up with and only stepping in to encourage her if she stumbled. Finally, after a walk that likely took close to an hour, with the elementals pausing whenever Norani may have the need, they reached the top of the shelf. Waiting there was an ecosystem unto itself. There were trees with glowing veins of elemental energy flowing through them. Flowers blossomed with motes of elemental power glowing at their centers. Globes of elemental energy drifted over the ground. Every animal that Norani could see had elemental aspects upon them, the same with the insects that buzzed in the air. They walked through the scenic nature until they reached what appeared to be a hut built out of the roots of the very tree that seemed to be the heart of everything transpiring around her.

It was here that Norani’s elemental companions stopped. Gently they set Ruvaf onto the ground, dispelling the bubble with both the air elemental and fire elemental working to dry him off. Norani’s watery friend pointed and then nudged Norani forward.

“Witch.”

[Norani]

Norani felt the wetness on her hand and she tried to focus her wobbly vision on it. The watery one was declaring their friendship and that they were helping. She smiled tiredly, nodding in a bit of a daze. She felt it urge her forward, not needing her offering of aether. She reabsorbed it, not knowing just how much strength she’d still need. As much as she could muster she figured.

The aether returned and her double vision disappeared, though a headache remained in its place. She watched as the elementals set to work, encapsulating Ruvaf. She saw the Ciuvan stirring, unsure of what was going on, and Norani cooed as she had always done, ever since he popped out of that speckled little egg and laid eyes upon her for the first time. He started to calm and she spoke to him in her native tongue, “Rest, Ruvie. Our friends are helping you. Rest and trust.”

She watched him slide an eye shut and knew that he would. Norani watched how the elementals set to work on him. Air to breathe, water to support and make weightless, fire for warmth. Perfect harmony. And soon a path of stone. Her friends were truly helping. They spoke of a witch that would help. She nodded, in no place to question things. She asked Ruvaf to trust them, and she trusted them too.

Norani started on the path. Her body was so tired, strained, sore. This was far more exhaustion than she’d ever experienced. The closest she’d come was the night of the storm, collapsing in her hut with a broken arm, crying her eyes out in Yeva’s grasp. Or the first time she’d met her dear elven friend, woken from her unexpected nap at a tavern table.

Yeva.

Norani summoned the strength to push through the pain and exhaustion for both of her dearest friends in the world, one injured and one lost. She’d help them both. It was her vow of a lifetime. She managed to cast her gaze up at the beautiful tree, reminded of home but in a strange and alien way. This tree was bigger, and it seemed to be calling the elements to it. And it was stunning, an amazing piece of nature, and Norani tried to memorize as much detail as she could. She would have to make a sketch to show Yeva when she finally found her.

As she journeyed on the path, Norani’s knees buckled and her feet stumbled several times. Her knees were scraped, her arms were bruised from the falls, and several times it took her minutes to find the strength continue on. But she had to get help for Ruvaf. She had to find Yeva. She didn’t know how long it took but she was sweaty, smelly, dehydrated and covered in bruises, scrapes, dirt and grass stains. She didn’t care. She trudged on.

As she reached the summit of the path, she gasped in wonder. These creatures here were different, vastly different even from those of the Expedition. These seemed to have raw elemental energy as part of them, and not merely an elemental alignment like those at the jungle from whence she’d came. She didn’t know that was even possible. And not just creatures but plants as well. This place was a wellspring of life, pure and untainted. And I’d Norani had enough water in her, she would’ve cried.

Part of her wished that she’d never have to leave. But another knew she’d bring Yeva back here later. This place felt safe, balanced, and right. Through this sacred area, she walked slowly, until the hut tucked in the roots came into sight. Ruvaf was lowered to the ground to rest, her friends drying him.

The witch’s hut.

Norani didn’t really know the connotation of the term witch that northern cultures used for it. Magic was commonplace in Ecith, as was an appreciation for nature. But she remembered hearing stories from a merchant that had stopped in her village, speaking of an old wizened woman, grey beyond her years, covered in warts, a nose as big as her foot, and she lived in the forest and ate children that got lost. Scary.

Norani gulped, standing herself up straight. Her friends said the witch would help, so Norani would ask. She walked her way up as confidently as someone with no energy, a headache, a body in pain, a stomach full of nausea, a worry in her heart for one dear friend and that same heart broken for two others taken from her. She walked up to the door and stepped inside.

After all, she’s Ecithian, and no one knocks for all are welcome who come in peace.

Once inside, she was shielding her tired eyes, trying to adjust to the change in lighting, and she spoke in the common tongue. “Hello? My friends led me to you. They said you’re a witch and that can help my friend? He’s hurt. My name is Norani. I… think I was called here, to help? To find a Tempest? I don’t know if that means anything to you, but Ruvaf means the world to me.”

[Paragon]

P A R A G O N

“Come in, Norani. Come in. I’ve been expecting you.” The voice of a woman drifted from the back of the hut. Inside, it was not what one might have expected for the home of a witch. There was a counter that had above it various shelves upon which sat pots of plants and vines on which hung odd elemental fruits. There was a large, spacious sofa upon which were various furs for warmth. The interior had a high ceiling and at the back of the hut was a large archway to what appeared to be a cave. Vines and leave hung over the entrance concealing what lay within it. As Norani inspected the living space, there came a humming and soon, the vines leading to the cave parted to reveal a woman.

The first thing to notice about her was the bandage wrapped around her eyes. A blind woman. Yet she moved as easily as though she could see. The second thing was that her belly appeared to be round with child. She was dressed in a humble gown with moccasin slippers on her feet. Wildflowers decorated auburn hair. Her skin had an olive tone to it. In her hands she carried a tray upon which rest an array of bone tools, jars, bandages and a ceramic cup of steaming tea that smelled suspiciously of berries.

“You must be terribly exhausted after that trip.” The woman stepped up to Norani, picked up the cup of warm tea and extended it to the young Orkhan woman.

“Here. This will chase away some of the aches and that nasty headache. You will need rest though.” Once Norani had taken the tea, the woman went over to a table, setting the tray down. She then stepped up, reaching out as though to touch Norani. She did not make physical contact but rather, her hand lingered in the space between them. She traced the tips of her fingers as though gliding over the outline of Norani’s form.

“Let’s get a look at you.” A warm smile spread across the woman’s face. “I’m Astrid. You’ve come at exactly the right time. I was beginning to worry that…”

She paused, worrying her lip before shaking her head.

“No matter. You are here now. That is what is important.” Up close, it could be seen that there was a slight point to Astrid’s ears. Her face had mild Orkhan features. She was certainly shorter than Norani by a head and a half. A half-Ork, perhaps.

“Now, tell me what happened and I shall see about what needs to be mended.”

[Norani]

Norani heard a woman's voice invite her in. Expecting me? Was she the one calling about the Tempest? Or was she a Seer, like the one that her and Yeva had met? Norani took in all the details of the house in awe and wonder. Various animal and plant products matching the strange and unique life of this magical island. But in the back appeared a cave. Norani's only familiarity with caves was that of Drathera, where the majority of people in the city lived in the old dragon caves of the mountain. But she'd heard stories of the northerners, about large creatures called 'bears' that live in caves and collect the bones of wayward travelers.

As she looked on, the vines moved, a humming finding her ears, as Norani saw a woman there inside. Norani approached slowly, seeing that she was blinded, much like the goddess Galetira that was so revered in her homeland. This was a sign, this woman was special, sacred, to be respected. And being heavy with child only furthered these assertions in the Orkhan lass, a mother as well. She moved with a practiced ease, suggesting her blindness was either not new to her or didn't affect her as heavily as others. She was feminine beauty incarnate, similar to Yeva in that regard, but different. Norani wasn't sure if this woman was elven, orkhan, something else entirely or something in between, but beautiful and grace were apparent.

"Yes, my journey was very trying, for myself and my companion."

Norani nodded gratefully, accepting the offered tea, taking a whiff of it, not out of suspicion, but appreciation. Yeva always loved smelling her teas. Fruity, but more berries than tree fruit. Norani gently sipped at it, finding it refreshing, "Thank you."

Norani watched as the woman brought up her hand, touching but not touching her, speaking of getting a look at her. Norani wondered if this was a magic she did not know, or if the woman was simply speaking in a way to seem as such. "It is nice to meet you, Astrid." Then following on her words, "I'm glad I could make it here."

Norani wished to ask questions, but deference was to be given to a respected elder. Where to start?

The art of storytelling was on that was important to Norani's people, as was the truth. She could hear Yeva's voice, 'Start at the beginning.'

A deep breath in, then her eyes on Astrid's, "I have been living in an unknown territory with my dearest friend, Yeva, and others, as part of an expedition to save a lying captain's cursed ship and crew. The jungles in which we lived were strange to me, housing creatures and plants alike with elemental alignments, not so different from those living here, it seems. But then one day, Yeva disappeared, no trace, no warning, vanished. The day the ecli--" Norani's eyes widened, and she snapped her gaze to the front door, realizing that sunshine was streaming down on this island. Incredulously, and interrupting her own story, in surprised and hushed tones, "The sun still shines here..." She hadn't even noticed, so caught up in the plight of Ruvaf and the alien beauty of this place.

She recomposed herself, "The day the eclipse began, Yeva disappeared. I know it must be connected. I was lost without her. Frantic. I barely sleep, I forget to eat, I have nightmares of her screaming, running through a shattered and broken world without color. And then one day, I see this tree on the horizon. A sign. And so Ruvaf and I set course for the tree. This tree. I'm sure it has something to do with the eclipse and Yeva's disappearance." Tears filled her eyes and her voice trembled, a hand reaching up to touch the lotus tattoo on her heart, the bond that she and Yeva affirmed with the hands of a Seer, "She wouldn't leave without saying goodbye if she could."

She took in a deep breath, "As we flew over the ocean to this tree, the waters were... troubled. I can hear them with my magic. Deep anger, black of color, waves larger than mountains, demanding the return of the Tempest. The waves were so big we could not fly over them. So we tried to fly through..." Her voice trailed off.

"Am I dead? Did we die when we crashed into that wave? I woke up here, my body hurts, and Ruvaf is injured. In this beautiful place, a place beyond wonder..." Norani hoped that she wasn't dead. "I met the..." She never caught their names, "The small elementals, who helped bring Ruvaf here, saying you could help. Can you help?"

Then she remembered the woman's own words, "Why were you expecting me? Why have I come at exactly the right time? Who are you, Astrid? And what is this place?"

[Paragon]

P A R A G O N

Astrid listened attentively. Her head was cocked slightly to the side the whole time as though she were processing the words that Norani shared with her. She did not interrupt, nor did she interject to offer explanation when Norani voiced some of her revelations. It was only when Norani was finished and had asked her direct question that Astrid spoke.

“Set adrift and torn asunder,
Through mountainous waves and cloudless thunder,
Beneath pale moons and starless skies,
The Windwalker seeks the last Achaeri”

Astrid spoke the words and Norani would feel a shiver travel up her spine.

“You are not dead, Norani. This place is very real. You and Ruvaf are still very much alive. I can help you. I will help you, at least, as much as I am able to. As for this place?” Her eyebrows rose and she tilted her head back, looking over the hut and perhaps beyond it.

“Agst’rasera is what the ancients called it. The Tree of the World. It is where the Dragon God Aedrin forged the first elements and where the Achaeri, the Titans, helped him build the elemental planes that feed into Ransera eternally.” Astrid set down her tray then picked up a seed pod that rest in one of the cups. It glowed softly with aethereal blue veins that became a light purple at the edges. She stroked a thumb over the pod.

“The seeds of all elements are born from the tree whose roots are planted in all places. The seeds are sent drifting on cosmic winds to take root in the planes and then in the world.” She set the seed pod back onto the tray.

“I was expecting you because I was told to expect you. You have come at the right time because you chose to come at this time. As for me? I am Astrid…and I am all that’s left.” Her voice grew softer at the end but she said no more.

“Agst’ga!” The watery elemental popped into the hut, blinking at the two of them before looking at Astrid. “Agst’ga! Hab jur sh’laktacal! Majeesh lolo’can?”

“T’lah. Pubraman majeesh.” The language that Astrid spoke evoked many feelings. It was a river incarnate but held within it the very bones of the earth. It flowed like the winds of a storm and yet warmed like the heat of a campfire. The watery elemental nodded and then shuffled off back outside. Astrid looked back at Norani with a smile.

“Glorbp Glorbp seems to be rather fond of you. That is its name. It is a phycaal. A nature spirit. Specifically, a water spirit.” Astrid picked up her tray and gestured for Norani to follow her.

“Come. Ruvaf needs tending to. Your presence will comfort him.” Turning on her heel, Astrid walked outside. Waiting for them was something that had not been present prior to Norani entering the hut. Another hut had formed among the roots and vegetation right next to Astrid’s. It was built in a style that would be familiar to Norani, like what she would have seen in her village. Directly ahead of them, Ruvaf was still laying quietly on the ground only now he was surrounded by more of the elemental spirits. There were perhaps a dozen of them now. New ones had joined the original four. There was now what appeared to be a sparking ball of lightning and clouds that zipped and blinked, never quite still. There was on that looked to be made of prismatic sunlight, with dragonfly wings that shimmered with soft rainbows. Perched lightly on Ruvaf’s unbroken wing was a whispering and windy being made of smoke and shadow that dipped into Ruvaf’s shadow, then appeared at the pterodactyl’s head, peering at him curiously. Another elemental appeared to be made of flowers whereas another seemed to be made from wood. Hovering next to Glorbp Glorbp was a sprite that appeared to be made from ice and snow. Each of the elements was represented in some fashion, including a few blends of the elements.

Glorbp Glorbp hopped forward, flapping excitedly with a grin. He burbled something at Astrid who responded in that strange language the two of them had spoken before. She smiled, chuckling softly.

“You have attracted an audience.” Astrid walked up to Ruvaf, whispering softly in that elemental language. She came up to Ruvaf’s broken wing and set her tray upon the ground, taking a seat. As she did, several of the elementals hovered closer, inspecting her tools, flittering about and generally just being curious.

“I will be using necromancy to repair his wing. Will you speak to him? Let him know that I am here to help.”

[Norani]

As Astrid spoke, Norani listened. And as the words spoke, a shiver traveled up her spine and her skin prickled, enough to elicit her Orkhan scales coming forth. There was a power in these words. Norani knew they were now etched upon her heart, was it a poem that Astrid had made on the spot, to describe the situation they found themselves in, or was it more?

Relief washed over the Orkhan at being told that she was not, in fact, dead. Agst'rasera, Tree of the World. At the mention of the Aedrin, Norani's eyes grew really wide. Even in Ecith, where the gods are held in very high esteem, Aedrin's name is not one that comes up so often, if only because of how ancient the god is. A name all knows, but no one knows. To think that a god, that any being could forge the elements of the world was astounding to her. Every wind, every drop of rain, ever glint of fire, and soft earth between the toes, forged a god of gods, a legend before legends.

And to hear it being spoken as fact and not myth...

The elements fed this great tree, and in turn, the tree planted the elements into the world. Norani knew in her heart of hearts that every word that Astrid spoke was true. This truly was how the world worked, and Norani suspected that very few knew it. She was awed and humbled, to be allowed to know this, to see this, to live this. Her eyes filled with tears once more. She wasn't worthy. Surely not her, the woman who fled her family in pain, surely not her, the woman who could not keep any of her friends safe. Surely not the broken Orkhan from a tiny village.

"And I am all that's left."

She was alone. Just as Norani was alone. Or felt alone. She had Ruvaf, and he was her dearest of friends, but he was more... a part of her than he was merely a friend. She missed Yeva, she missed her family, even with the wounds of their betrayal in place. She missed her friends in Ecith, and the familiar faces of her own kind. She missed Kaiko and even Inogen, Kayleigh, and the rest of the Expedition. Well, not the captain.

But she knew loneliness.

Norani smiled softly as her water friend appeared, and was speaking in a language that Norani knew not. And her eyes widened as Astrid spoke it in return. Unlike Norani's own tongue, and certainly unlike the uglier and more barbaric Common tongue, this language felt truly old, and yet, invoked life in Norani. Her Rune of Elementalism warmed a bit, a glow running through her body. That was... strange, but pleasing.

Glorbp Glorbp. A water spirit. Norani smiled, so pleased to have met a real elemental spirit. It wasn't uncommon to happen to Elementalists, but had not yet happened to her. "And I'm rather fond of them too." Stepping outside, Norani paused, casting her gaze to the sun above, her brow scales appearing to shade her eyes a bit, and the Orkhan let it wash over her skin. It had been too long. A world without warmth. Norani was living it doubly without the sun, and without Yeva.

But there was no time, and the moment passed. Ruvaf needed her. Opening her eyes, she saw a newly formed hut, seemingly grown from the roots and vegetation while she was inside the other. Strange. She wondered what that would be for. Norani cast her gaze to her companion to see that he was surrounded by so many more of the little elementals, and of many more types than just basic four elements. They were all so beautiful, so natural, so absolutely stunningly perfect. Their existence felt absolutely right in Norani's world.

At Astrid's instructions, Norani moved slowly over to Ruvaf's head. She sat down in the grass, and scooted forward, as he tiredly lifted his head and she cradled it in her lap. She spoke in their native tongue, cooing and using her soft tones, "Hey there, best friend mine. We're going to help you get better." Norani gently turned his head so one large eye could see Astrid. "This is Astrid. She is going to help you. She is friend. Please, do you best to be brave and strong and still so she can do her best to heal you. You did so good to get us here, let us help you now."

She rubbed along his beak and his neck, touching all of the areas that a Ci'uvan only allowed their rider to touch, that only a Ci'uvan raised from a hatchling would be comfortable with. His body relaxed and his head grew heavy in her lap as he calmed. She looked at Astrid over top him, "He's ready. Could you speak aloud what you're doing? I am shamefully ignorant of treating his injuries. I... left my home before I could receive such training."

Norani knew only the tiniest of basics of necromancy but was by no means proficient. But if it could heal Ruvaf, if it could heal Yeva, or anyone else she cared about, it would be a necessary skill to learn. There was so much information to have taken in now that she'd met Astrid. She was a bit overwhelmed, but also excited at the prospect. And she had so many questions.

"Would it be okay if I ask you some questions while you work? If it's not a bother." Norani wouldn't let her focus waiver, keeping Ruvaf calm. But there was so much more to learn now, she realized. And Astrid gave the affirmative, so while Astrid worked, Norani asked her questions, giving pause for them to be answered.

She wanted to ask who knew she was coming, but it was not important. She knew the forces that Seers mingled with and that was their domain, not hers. "You said that you are all that's left. Left of what? Of whom? The Achaeri, the Titans?" Norani, like most Ecithians, only knew of Titans in the most vague of vague tales and stories, many of which seemed more myth than legend.

"That language you and Glorbp Glorbp spoke, what is it called? Why did it feel... different? Old and big? Is that something I could learn?"

"What roles do the phycaal play in the world? I know of spirits, but know woefully little."

"Who is the Last Achaeri?"

Then a longer pause before the last of the questions, "Why was I, of all people, to be expected at all? I'm... a lost, broken, fool of an Orkhan. I hold no power of any renown, no talent or skill that measures up to even my own kind. I have lost my family in my anger and pain, I have lost a best friend I don't remember, and cannot find the other. I left on a mission to heal my pain but it only hurts more and I'm no closer to solving any of it than I was when I started. What could I have done to attract any attention, any expectation? I've failed at all the things that are important to me and mine.." She was choking back tears by the time she finished, trying to maintain at least enough breath so as to not sob and agitate Ruvaf. But she couldn't understand why anyone would pick her, want her, expect her for anything.

She never made anything better. And those she came to love would be taken from her or she'd leave in anger. Why could an Orkhan such as her ever matter?

[Paragon]

P A R A G O N

“And yet you keep trying.” Astrid picked up a long, thin needle that appeared to be made from some sort of bone. It was sharp at the end with a knife’s edge. She dipped the point into a cup filled with green paste.

“The paste is made from a plant that grows here. It numbs where it touches. Ruvaf will feel no pain as I etch my symbols into his wing.” Bringing a hand up, Astrid touched the tip of the needle-knife into the flesh of Ruvaf’s wing. She began carving symbols into the surface of his wing. The whole while, her touch remained light, steady, confident.

“You hold no power? Who said you need to? You are lost and broken? So are many others. No one expects you to have any answers, Norani. I certainly don’t. No one expects you to wield powers that defy the imagination. You are who you are, until you decide to become someone else.” Astrid shrugged her shoulders. She continued lightly cutting into the flesh of Ruvaf’s wing, the symbols that she made were runic and…old. Just staring at them evoked the sense that she was writing a form of script that was older than words and yet part of them all the same.

“This tool is called a Carving Hook. It is how one translates the methods and meaning of your pictography onto the subject of your necromancy. What I am practicing is called the Way of Flesh. It was shaped for me by a Bone Elemental who imbued it with magic. I etched the symbols upon it myself.” She extended the hook to Norani so that she could visually inspect it. The carving hook was in pristine condition, every inch of its surface was covered in small runic markings that formed an elaborate pattern. Looking at it evoked feelings of being cut, being rejuvenated, being sliced and being mended. Once Norani was satisfied, Astrid took it back and continued her script carving across the expanse of Ruvaf’s wing. She moved with a methodical steadiness and a measured pace but it was clear that this was not the first time she had made such a repair.

“The symbols I am carving are to align natural flesh and bone regrowth. Once I am finished with them, Ruvaf’s wing will be numb enough for me to align his bones and apply a salve known as Marrow Gum. The gum will be used to repair his skeletal structure first. After that, I will be using something called a Sinew Thread to repair torn flesh. We will finish with a Blood Liqueur potion to replace and repair damaged vessels and arteries.” As she spoke, Astrid continued to work steadily with the practiced skill of someone who was very learned in the art of necromancy. There was silence for a while as Astrid worked. As she did, the elemental made of light drifted closer to Ruvaf and began performing a dance. Small chimes and hums were emitted from the elemental spirit as it floated around in a hypnotic pattern for both Norani and Ruvaf’s amusement. The flowery plant elemental hopped from foot to foot, joining in on the dance, shaking petals from its form. The other spirits dithered about. Some of them flailing at each other. Others partaking in games that only they understood.

“I am the last Agst’ga. Translated literally, it means Tree-Giver. My people were the tenders of the World Tree—the Gardeners if you will. We tended the seeds and helped Agst’rasera in its work when the Achaeri all died.” She did not say what happened to her people. Perhaps the memory was too painful. Regardless, she moved on to the next of Norani’s questions.

“The language is called Acherani. It is the language of the Titans. It was taught to them by Aedrin, the Dragon God of Nature. It is the tongue of the elements. They speak it as naturally as breathing for with every breath, it is as the winds, the rains, the earth and the sky. It is all of these things. It can be learned. It merely takes time.” At the question of the phycaal she smiled. She looked to them as a mother might look to her children.

“They are what makes the world move. They and their cousins. They are why the winds blow, and the rains fall. They are why a volcano erupts, or a hurricane blows. Without them, nature would not be the wondrous and terrible thing that it is.” Astrid returned to her work of mending. She was nearing the completion of covering the wing in carved runic symbols. She took her time before answering Norani’s last unanswered question.

“The Last Achaeri, the last titan…” She paused. “Ghoron.”

Her voice was soft, with a slight tremor.

“When the sky cracked open, he saved us. Brought us here from that awful place before our souls could be ripped away and devoured.” Astrid had to set her tools down. She brought her hands to her belly and rubbed it in a soothing manner.

“When the Void opened its maw to swallow the skies, he locked away the heart of the elements and the seasons here. To keep them safe. But…” Astrid shook her head.

“Now he won’t wake up and I cannot reach him.” After a moment, she brought a hand up to wipe away a tear that dripped down her cheek. She picked up her tools and began the work of mending Ruvaf once more.

“Without Ghoron, the elements and the seasons will remain locked here. Unable to balance the world with the changing of time. I have tried everything but he is in a place I cannot go.”