Onine/Fiction001

The calm of the lake, the crushing and relentless power of the waves, the slashing edge of frost, the subtle flow of the river, the life-giving fall of the rain - to ponder the forms of water in all of its mutable forms was part of the teachings of Daana'd and studying it was a thing expected of the servants of the immaculate dragon of water. In the study of a Dragon Form one learned a powerful technique gifted to the exalted by the dragons, but this was all for naught if a young Dragonblood did not understand and frequently consider what was the innermost core of his being. Teachings may lie, but the soul remains true. To see the flow of life's water was a lesson learned by ones-self. Many Water-aspected dragonbloods visited the lakes, rivers and snowcapped mountains of the Isle in quiet contemplation of the element. It was tradition in a way.

The young monk liked to think that visiting the pleasure of the secluded hot springs was part of his own personal training, but part of him knew the vice would be his undoing. The other part didn't care. It only mattered to him if the masters ever found out.

The springs themselves were a wonderful network of cascading pools that dotted the mountain slopes lined by trees and protected from the harsh winds by nearly verticle spires of rocks. These served both to protect the springs from the hostile weather and to conceal it from view. Fireflies danced through the blankets of steam that flowed slowly down the rocky mountain face, the warmth kept the insects breeding all year round. Even now snow fell lightly around the slopes, frosting the old trees with powdery dots of immaculate alabaster. The steam fought a constant unending battle against the intrusion, and nary a single perfect snowflake ever touched the smooth rocks that lined and guarded the steaming pools.

The Immaculate folded his robes and rested them silently on a nearby log, idly sticking his tongue out to catch a falling snowflake. Winter was coming faster this year.

The monk eased himself lightly into the hot water, wincing a little as his skin grew accustomed to the sudden change of temperature. He waded through the water with a content sigh. Such pleasures were rare in his life now. He shooed the curious insects away with a lazy hand then stopped under a small fall of water from a higher pool, letting the water run across his bald head. The monk ran a hand almost sadly across the fresh shaven scalp. He liked his hair, though such signs of self-dedication over the paths were forbidden. He endured. Without a sound he ducked his whole body under the water and swam gacefully to the shallow rim of the spring, resting his arms against the rocks and staring whimsically at the sky above. His ears pricked up at the slight sound of rippling water across the pool. He was not alone.

The monk lowered his head and peered through the steam across the cliffs-side of the spring, his eyes just barely making out the sillouette of another bather resting against the edge of the pool in a similar fashion to himself. He wondered why he didn't spot the other person before. He relaxed slightly when the shape made no threatening moves, but was on guard all the same. A precious few knew about these springs and they were favoured places of solitary reflection.

"I apologise." The monk said politely. "I did not realise I had intruded, I'll leave you in peace and find another spring." He was not an arrogant Dragonblood, nor was he confrontational. He respected the other bather's right to solitude just as he would expect of another that would perchance to intrude on his own thoughts. He stood slowly and reached for his robes on the nearby log.

"No need to leave, you have as much right to these springs as I." A man's voice responded from across the pool in the tongue of the common folk. "Why not stay a while, I haven't seen another in these mountains for weeks."

The monk considered, and slowly allowed himself to sink into the steaming water again. Conversing with one outside the order would make for a pleasent change. "If it does not disturb you..."

"It doesn't, I assure you." The man reassured him. " Are you a monk?"

"I am." The monk answered without hesitation. "A servant of Daana'd."

"From the Taikara temple south of here? The one near the lake?"

"That's correct." The monk answered again.

"What is your name?" The stranger asked conversationaly, but the man was starting to put the young monk on edge.

"You are the curious sort." The monk replied, hoping that he did not sound too defensive. "I will tell you my name if first you speak yours."

The stranger chuckled with genuine embarrassed through the steam. "Forgive me, curiosity is my flaw. You may call me Tavian. And your name...?"

"Ledaal Tany." The monk replied. "I was not aware that many knew of these springs, normally only the inhabitants of this province know of them - and you do not share their accent."

"You are quite right on both counts. I myself managed to stumble upon this place of meditation through little more than pure luck on my journey through the area some years ago. I've returned from time to time." Tavian explained.

"You're from elsewhere on the Isle?" Tany asked curios.

"Further, actually." Tavian replied. "I doubt that you would have heard of it."

"Try me." Tany smiled, the humour evident in his voice.

"Very well, I hail from a place called Dulcinae, is it familiar? It is no longer a Realm Tributary, nor was it when it still existed."

"Seems you were correct." Tany conceded to the man. "Where is it may I ask?"

The man - Tavian - raised a finger, allowing a nearby firefly to land upon it. "Far east." The tiny insect glowed and faded rythmically, its luminescence revealing at least some of the features of Tavian's face. How the stranger looked didn't altogether matter to Tany, though seeing part of the congenial traveller's features put some of Tany's younger more unrealistic fears at ease. He watched as the small insect floated lazily away from the man called Tavian and followed it's light to where it played with others of its kind. The water aspect watched the darkened shape of the other man through the billowing steam with a spark of triump floating in his mind.

"You're a long way from your home then." Tany replied. Few travelled to the Blessed Isle anymore now that it was a melting pot of politics with the chief ingredients being a ten-thousand strong race of elemental demi-gods. It was only slightly safer than the rest of creation now no matter how hard the Immaculate Order would try. With no solidarity the Realm now turned into the the same fractured kingdoms that it once held power over. "Do you live on the Isle now?"

"Not yet." Tavian answered. "I'm a traveller, and the Isle is a new place for me to explore."

"Really." A water dragon was trained to see the river-flow of social interraction, the fluid web of interpersonal relationships was yet another of the strong foundations of Immaculate training. His low-realm bore none of the accent and mispronounciations that were common to those raised in the east. This man spoke realm like a native. Tany smiled smugly. "There is no kingdom called Dulcinae. You're a liar my friend."

"So are you." Tavian shot back across the steaming water, a smiliar hint of amusement in his voice. "Taikira is a monastery of Jylis Sextes."

The two men sat on opposite sides of the spring, their eyes boring into the dim form of the other intently. Then they began to chuckle. Their chuckles quickly turned to loud, genuine laughter that rang out into the night as the two men found a strange humour in their exchange. Tany didn't fight the laughter, it was relieving to know that he could still laugh after all of the immaculate indoctrination.

"By your robes..." Tavian began after his laughter faded. "You are of the Cerulean Monument Order of Daana'd."

"Truly, yes." The young monk admitted, then he looked at the stranger, his smile fading slightly. "Is your name really Tavian?"

"Not anymore." The stranger said, rubbing his jaw in thought. "And not yet."

Tavian stood and let the water run off his body relishing the cold air against his wet skin. Even though the dragonblooded monk was obscured by the steam Tavian could tell the young Water aspect was frowning in confusion as he tried to make sense of the words. Tavian chuckled as he wrapped the robe around him and threw a small towel over his shoulder. He turned and took a few steps away from the spring's edge, but turned back with a smile. "Ask me again tomorrow."

The dragonblooded would be there - Tavian could feel the younger man's curiosity.

Yes. He would do nicely.