#Writing #BloodofSilenceSeries #BloodofSilence #BoS
I couldn't quite place the expression on her face as she beheld the small village, littered with ancient artefacts and decorations of foreign design.
My breath had been taken away too when I saw it for the first time. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen.
Miniature replicas of glowing crystals hung from windows. There was a fountain made from an old metal spire washed up on the beach; a small library of ageing tomes many would spend a lifetime studying, but not get any closer to deciphering.
The boughs of purple trees covered the sky, letting only a small amount of light filter through.
The village was old, having been built by the first of our ancestors. Its buildings were formed of a white cement, unlike the other villages, which were mostly comprised of woods and stone. It was truly one of the most unique architectural styles the modern world had to offer, and yet…
"They tried to emulate the style of the city of dreams based off of illustrations, tales, and their own visions. It's similar to an extent--architecturally speaking--but on a much smaller scale, and a lot less imposing." I paused briefly, sending Ines a smile. "They tried to make it…homey, I guess you could say."
She hummed with a smile. "They seem to have succeeded in that. I can't help but notice, though; you speak with an unusual amount of familiarity with the city."
"Ah, that… I have seen it a few times in dreams and visions. A side effect of being so attuned to Hydaelyn, they say, but sometimes I wonder… Oh, never mind."
She looked at me curiously, but stayed silent.
"What about you, though? You seem to know a lot about the ancients."
"Do I? My family kept records of things they remembered, so I suppose you could say I know some things. Never seen it personally though. Not like you have," she smiled.
"'Personally' is a stretch," I laughed. "Here, take one of these. It's a customary thing," I explained, handing her the standard headpiece worn by the town's inhabitants.
She tilted her head in question as I placed the headband in my hair, allowing the fabric veil to drape over my face.
It was a rather simple black headband with a white fabric attached to it. You could see just enough through the semi-opaque veil to be able to go about day-to-day activities, though most would take it off inside.
"There's a belief here that the eyes are the gateway to the soul. It's believed that if the soul is visible to Hydaelyn she can peer into it, and see everything a person has ever done," I explained.
"That veil," I pointed upwards, "combined with the trees above, make for the perfect conditions for one to go about their business without fear of retribution," I explained. "Well--supposedly. The accuracy is debatable…"
"I'm surprised they allowed you here if they're so scared of--" I shushed her hastily, and she widened her eyes at that.
"Wait, do they not know you're…?"
"They don't need to. She has no part in what I do, and I'd like to keep it that way."
Despite the gaudy decorations and strange architecture, the inhabitants of this village were a simple people. They stuck to their traditions, and didn't have very much contact with the outside world. Of course there were the obvious reasons for that, but they also highly valued their confidentiality.
She lowered her head--whether in thought or acceptance, I wasn't sure--and shortly began secured the band in her hair, letting the veil fall over her face. "I noticed magic on the way in," she commented.
"Ah, that." I grimaced. "A simple barrier. Keeps out those with intentions of, well…"
"Opposing your work?"
"You could say that. The outsiders fear these people, and honestly, I don't blame them for it. They go against the strict rule of no digging into the past, and people fear what Hydaelyn may do should they uncover anything of note."
"Then how did you get in here?"
"I have my ways with people," I smiled cheekily, before my expression fell to a grimace. "Well, if we're being honest here, it took months. To gain entry here, you have to prove yourself an ally, and to do that is not an easy task, and so…" I gestured dramatically, striking a pose as I pointed to the sky, "I began my journey as a traveller!"
"A traveller?" she quirked a brow.
"Yep! It took around six months, but I finally managed to find something that proved my worth. I was investigating a cave in this region when I found a small pile of these crystals in an underground lake." I pointed to the crystal in my bag, "Isn't that lucky? I couldn't believe it, and it was one they'd never seen before, too! I could only take one because of how heavy they are, but wow did I make the right choice. They've only ever found one in the time since this village was built hundreds of years ago!"
"Only one?" she seemed surprised, but didn't elaborate.
"Unfortunately, I had to stay here for around a year after I was granted entry. Part of my 'initiation', they would say. I was meant to go home and visit a friend for his birthday, but I was kind of…"
"Stuck?"
"Yeah, pretty much," I laughed. "Plus, I don't think it would go down very well if I went back there…" Quickly, I changed the subject, "But I had the villagers allow him through the barrier as a guest of mine, so if he came to visit me, he would be able to. It worked out in the end. Sort of…" I scratched sheepishly at the back of my head. "Anyways, enough about that. Let me show you where I stay."
"You keep it there?" she asked incredulously as I heaved the relic--apparently called a 'concept crystal'--into an encasing of wire at the foot of the bed.
"Made the case myself. It's almost like a lamp, if you think about it. A bit dull, but it's…" I paused, searching for the words before a smile found my lips, "comforting to look at. It's almost soothing in a way, and it's kind of like my lucky charm when you think about it."
She stood there studying the swirls of dark purple as if I'd just said the strangest thing in the world. "You think so? It looks all dark and depressing to me."
I giggled at that. "There's something comforting about darkness, don't you think? So mysterious and soothing. Light just hurts your eyes." She didn't respond, but simply watched as I continued my rambling. "Plus, it's not all dark and depressing. If you look closely, there's tiny little bits of a much lighter violet. Almost like small bits of light weaving their way through the darkness. It's kind of pretty."
She hummed, "You're surprisingly observant, aren't you?"
I jumped up cheerfully, turning my attention elsewhere. "You wouldn't think so, but I actually observe many things! I usually get told I'm a reckless and immature, but there's always a method to the madness," I winked playfully with a giggle. "It's just way more fun not to say anything and see what happens! Life's too short to worry about not dying all the time."
"But doesn't not worrying about dying shorten your life?"
"Details, details!" I tutted, and she chuckled at that. I walked over to the window, gazing out with a smile. "Even if it kills me, at least I had fun and got to do what I wanted. That makes it worth it, does it not? To live without regrets."
"Living without regrets, huh?" she murmured. "Sounds nice."
"Hm? Is there something you regret not doing?"
"Many things," she smiled sadly. "There were many things I would have liked to have done, or was going to do, but…" she trailed off. "Oh, never mind. It's not like I can go back anyway."
I chose to keep my silence. Whatever--or _whoever--_it was that she couldn't go back to, it sounded better not to bring it up, and so I turned to gaze out the window instead.
Life was a funny thing, really. One moment you'd think you have all the time in the world, and the next it's gone. Better to do things while you have the chance than to put them off and regret it.
"Of course I wanted them to awaken to the gift. You know I did, but this…" Mother's voice was broken--wracked with grief and disbelief, as I listened from the other side of the wall.
"We'll just have to train them. Train them hard enough, and even the hardest of battles will be no match."
"Deran, we don't even know what they're up against…"
"But we have to try! I'm not about to sit here and do nothing as Fira--" he stopped himself with an irritated sigh.
"No one can escape fate," she responded softly, "you know this. All we can do is prolong it as much as possible, but eventually, Fira will…"
_A tear ran down my cheek as I slowly pieced together what they were saying. _
I was going to die. I was the chosen "Bringer of Light"--a sacrifice, and a mere play piece in the hands of a god.
She would take my life in return for the world. Anything to forestall the 'darkness' that would threaten the star. But why? How could something so beautiful be so bad?
It wouldn't be much longer now…
"Yna?" I spun around, surprised at the intrusion to my thoughts, as if I had forgotten Ines was even there. Her eyes widened as they settled upon me. "Are you…crying?"
"Am I?" Wide-eyed, I touched a hand to my cheek. Feeling dampened skin, I immediately wiped away the gathering tears. "Oh, how silly of me; I hadn't even noticed."
Quickly, I jumped back to my usual cheery self. "It's nothing, though! Don't worry."
She didn't seem convinced, but chose not to say anything as I turned back to the window. Dark clouds had begun to gather, and the beginnings of a storm started trickling from the sky.
Sometimes I forgot just how beautiful this world was…
It was a mystical sight, to see the world bathed in darkness so; almost as beautiful as the stars of the night sky. It would never cease to take my breath away.
----- "Ines"
There was something about her that I could never quite place. So full of life, she was, and yet, there was always something else. Regret, perhaps? Guilt? Longing? I wondered if even she realised it. Perhaps it was nothing. Perhaps…
My thoughts seemed to trail off at that.
It felt as if I was missing something. Something so painfully obvious, and on the very tip of my tongue, but whatever it was elluded me in the most frustrating of ways.
She was foolish and immature--reckless and oblivious to the world. Absolutely insane in a way that could do no good. She was no different from the rest, and yet…
And yet…
Why did I feel…hope?
It was oddly charming in a way, and I couldn't bring myself to do anything but smile at her antics.
Hydaelyn chose her champion well. I only wondered if she would ever be able to tame her.