Frost-Keeper

JP with Omni and Lorem

Zar'tir aka Haven - Sentinel Island

As the sun ascended in the morning sky, casting its warm glow over the beach, Gonyaul and the villagers of Surathi wrapped up their fishing efforts. Gonyaul followed the group to structure that was partially underground. It was surprisingly cool compared to the outside heat, reminding Gonyaul of his time in the hole.

Descending into the cave-like room, Gonyaul's nostrils picked up the faint scent of fish and frost. The room was dim, its only light, a soft cyan, emanating from small crystals embedded at intervals in the walls. The low ceiling and walls, lined with stone, held shelves laden with cloth-covered baskets. Straw and reed mats covered the cold, packed earth floor, providing insulation.

The Surathi began methodically arranging the day's catch on the central stone slab, the focal point of the room. At the back, a stone plinth prominently displayed a large block of ice, an odd sight that contrasted the island's jungle climate.

As the group arranged the catches from the sea upon the stone slab, the door opened and the entrance darkened momentarily as a figure stepped in. It was an older woman clad in bright orange, light and airy garments that fluttered gently as she moved. A cloth belt cinched at her waist held small tools and pouches.

Ylja, noticing Gonyaul's curious glance towards the newcomer, leaned in and whispered, "She is Azari. Keeper of frost." Her eyes held a glint of respect as she watched the woman approach the slab.

A steady cold enveloped the room as the woman spread her hands out over the catches. A frost began to emanate from her hands, encasing the fish in a perfect, thin sheath of ice, preserving them for the village’s use. However, as the magik progressed, the ambient cyan light of the room appeared to dim and waver. Azari cast a sharp glance at Gonyaul, sensing a disturbance in the flow. She whispered something in Allosi to Ylja, her eyes never leaving Gonyaul.

Those he had spent the day with had helped Gonyaul forget he was both a prisoner and perceived enemy to the Surathi people. They had made him feel accepted and kindly labored at teaching him valuable life skills and Surathi culture. They had improved his spirit and he was grateful for their generosity.

Gonyaul, had always longed for this sense of family and community ever since leaving the trees of Kru’ll. It was why he was so fond of their little band of misfit friends back at the Greyriver Estate, his time with the Red Hand Odsier, and the potentiality of his growing connection with Voah. Yet he realized that he also needed to grow more in independence, that he couldn’t be shielded from the realities of the world anymore by the strength of others.

He was the perfect pupil, coachable, positive, accountable and hard working. He wasn’t perfect yet at many things they had him do, but he always tried his best and never gave up; seeing redundancy and repetition as a wonderful opportunity to practice it again and again. He learned from his successes and even more from his failure, continually tweaking his attempts and integrating them with their constructive feedback. It had been a tiring day, both mentally and physically, but an uplifting one emotionally. It made Gonyaul think that at the individual to local level, it was so much easier to find goodness in the world. While the more abstract one became in relationship to global ideals, the more people tended to drift away from goodness and compassion it seemed.

Gonyaul continued to do as instructed and listened well. With all the novelty about him, there was always something for his attention to feast upon and enjoy. Curiosity was etched all over his face.

When Azari entered, Gonyaul was mesmerized by the details of her attire and the ritualistic nature of her presence. Then he was stunned, much like a child would be when they see something unexpected and wondrous. He leaned forward ever so slightly as if that would give him a better view of how she was commanding nature to do something that was not natural. It was a puzzlement and very interesting.

In the presence of a magik user, Gonyaul felt a subtle shift in the air, an imperceptible tingle that whispered through his senses. It was as if a dormant instinct within him stirred to life, a silent warning of unseen forces at play. He had felt it thrice now, this feeling. Once on the Odsier plains where a man moved the very earth, another time when in the desert around a woman fighting Voah and most recently when Draza stole him.

Though invisible to the eye, his nullification field hummed with quiet intensity, like a protective barrier against the imperceptible arcane energies swirling around him. Gonyaul couldn't explain the sensation, but it was unmistakable—an awareness, a connection to something beyond the ordinary, urging him to remain vigilant. Little did he know, but his appearance and countenance took on a soft and beautiful glow, much like you would sense from a pregnant woman filled with the joy of new life.

Gonyaul was impressed by Azari and simultaneously was wondering if he was in trouble. She was making prolonged fixed eye contact with him. Gonyaul broke his staring back and intentionally looked away for a second before returning to try and show he wasn’t trying to be aggressive or rude.

Ylja, catching the earnestness in Azari's tone, nodded understandingly.

Turning to Gonyaul, Ylja informed him, "She bideth us depart, for her power wanes. Tis from thy presence. Dost thou see?" she pointed to the lights, and to the ice block that was beginning to show signs of melting.

Azari then gestured to Ylja, imparting some instruction in Allosi.

"She willeth that we procure ingredients to fortify her magik."

Gonyaul connected the dots with both the verbal and nonverbal communication directed towards him, as well as the visuals that Ylja pointed at to him. The realization that he was the cause dawned on him and made him feel embarrassed for getting in the way.

Gonyaul nodded to Ylja and complied, “Yes, of course.” He then gestured for her to lead the way and instruct him on what was needed.

Azari removed a mortal and pestle from her pouch, placing them on the slab. She then produced a small handful of berries and held them out, showing them to Ylja and Gonyaul. "Moon shadow." she said and signed in broken Vauxian. Ylja nodded intently. Then Azari put the berries in the mortar and pulled out a dried leaf, first taking a nibble. "Frost leaf."

She crushed the dried leaf into the mortar and sprinkled what looked like seasalt over the concoction before crushing it all into a paste with the pestle. She used her finger to paint out the ground mixture into some kind of symbols on the stone and started to whisper. The air grew cooler again, and the room brightened.

Azari then allowed a small grin to cross her face, expressing her satisfaction with the outcome. "Go, go." With a dismissive wave of her hand, much like a parent ushering their children to go play or attend to their tasks, she motioned for the group to leave.

Gonyaul was wide eyed as he observed what Azari was doing. She had his full attention up until he was being shooed out. Although he had so many questions, he reluctantly obliged and left along with the others.

“Impressive and curious.” He said out loud more to himself than anything else, but the others were within earshot. He looked to Ylja, “We forage now?” He actually was good at such as task; however, that was in environments which he understood. This place was foreign to him.