Death and Tide

[Mirach]

"Do you know how many guards this village has?" the man asked. "Two. We take turns of being in duty, so effectively, only one. If something happens, it's my responsibility."

[VisAnastasis]

" If something happens, it's your responsibility to manage it as well as you can. The one who committed the crime is the one responsible. It's not your fault what other people do. " Tide replied. " And no one can do everything. There are so many guards in the Third city, and yet, when bad people really wanted to, they still found a way to evade guards and beat up my boyfriend. Should I have blamed the guards for not preventing it? No. I was just glad they've done whatever they could when we filed reports. You're not omnipresent. " he smiled a little bit. " It's okay not to be. You don't give yourself enough credit for what you are doing. Sure, we were not dangerous, but you had every reason to suspect we were, and you tried to protect your fellow men even if it could have gotten you killed if you were right. I don't think one can be more devoted to his duty than that. "

[Mirach]

The man shrugged. "Still I will rather go outside, where people can find me in case omeone needs me. Have a nice day," he said and left.

[VisAnastasis]

" Okay, see you later, good luck!" Tide greeted him When they were alone again, he turned back and smiled at snake shyly." See? That wasn't half as bad. " He sighed with relief, leaning back with more relaxed manner as he admitted shyly." Oh, it feels so much better to just act myself... "

[Mirach]

"That guard is taking his job very seriously," Death smiled a bit. "He really deserves that holiday."

[VisAnastasis]

" He wouldn't take it, though. Not right now. Not just like that. There would have to be some conditions met. The village would have to have at least two more guards so shifts can be easier and he can be secure the place is protected even if he is not around. His pay would have to rise high enough that he'd feel it's justified thing to afford for himself... But after that? Why not just have a bit of a holiday? " he looked down at a snake as he offered it innocently. " Want to come with me here next time, after we take care of all that and of snake owning permit, and I invite him again? "

[Mirach]

"Yes, I would like to see that," Death agreed.

[VisAnastasis]

" It's a deal, then. I look forward to it, too. " Tide replied more brightly, appearing quite more appeased by now, and pleased, as he gazed at the full table in front of them. " How about continuing our breakfast now, though? Would you like that? I must say, I've never had an actual pet snake, but you're more adorable pet snake than any I could ever imagine having... " he blushed a little shyly. " And I'd be happy to keep feeding you, it's a delight... "

[Mirach]

"Well, in that case it's okay... What more do we have there?" he stretched his tongue to taste the smells from the plate.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide smiled, endeared by the acceptance. He leaned forth so Death could smell more - he indeed packed up a whole table of goods, and there were many kinds of interesting local food, but demon focused on picking out the spicy things, knowing Spirit's preferance.

[Mirach]

They finished the meal without further interruptions, and continued on their way, leaving the village behind.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide bought as much of the supplies as he could for the remnant of their money, which wasn't too little, but since they have eaten quite a bit, it wasn't too big either. He packed up Xia and Death like before, and they went further. It seemed to come naturally to Tide, almost like a reflex, but in the end, he found himself walking up to the ocean, grinning brightly with the pleasure of it, before he eagerly stepped up and walked upon its surface, the waves trembling and splashing his boots gently, as if in the greeting and an invitation.

[Mirach]

Death has seen the ocean before, of course, so he was not as impressed by the sea itself and his attention was rather on Tide. He watched the demon interact with the sea, and enjoyed that.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide, on the other hand, was overjoyed - by the manners with which he moved and looked, people might as well have thought it was his first time seeing the ocean. Happy like a child, he felt belonging there, like on his own, and the water greeted him with recognition and love, and his couple steps upon it were playful, almost like a dance, as he ran a little further, as if he had to put his joy not some gesture, just had to. He laughed with pleasure as after a moment, he lowered his hand down, and brushed alongside the water, in a caress.
Then, he straightened up and composed himself, appearing a little embarrassed, but cheered up and bright.
" So... " he grinned a little. " Where do you want to go? "

[Mirach]

"Are we safe now?" Death asked. "Maybe you could show me those ways you travel around on the sea?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I can travel around on all the ways you can imagine water to move to carry something. " creature grinned a little bit. " It's so fun! Sometimes, I just love to make an air bubble and have a walk around the ocean bottom, there are ruins of the old city nearby, it belonged to civilization before this current one and was a really beautiful and vast, so it's fun to explore. But it may be safer to go there after we make the asylum thing official... So what do you say about travelling across the surface for now? " he suggested gently, and raised his hand- but it was just a theatrical playful way to gesture to the sea, it wasn't really needed, it was just something he loved doing, He grinned as he leaned forward, and began gliding and surfing on the water, creating waves to guide and lead him, but still, trying not to jump or hop as much as he'd love to, as he didn't want to stir his tiny companions by sudden movements.

[Mirach]

Death was leaning his head on Tide's shoulder and watching the sea as they were gliding on it, appearig a bit tired.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide glided for a while, more directed toward the open sea as if something was driving him forward and he could not contend before fulfilling some sea-shaped hole in his heart, before greeting it properly, and obeying requests only he could hear. Gradually, he stopped, and by the time he did so, they were before a little island. He was quiet for a moment as if considering something, a decision his mind had made subconsciously before he even realized it, a decision that made him come in this direction.

" What do you say... Staying here for a bit? I prefer keeping my people close when I can, so quite a few of my Beings are scattered throughout the islands close by... But this is Mineral Isle, and there is a little frightful Spirit living there, Malachite. He is a low-level Spirit, nothing special, no powers at all, but a passion for potions and a good heart. Other than him, it is an uninhabited island at the sea. No humans, no Spirits, no Demon, not even animals... Just him. If I can think of one place at sea where no other Being may possibly come across us, it'd be this. " he whispered, and slowly turned his head to the snake, adding quietly. " Malachite, well... He... Um... Is a good, but the broken soul. When Erdel asked me if I knew someone that could help Cernunnos's illness, I sent him to Malachite. He is very good with making potions out of grinding minerals, helping people used to be his passion, so he did so. Malachite is terrified of your demon hunters, but he never had any particular feelings toward you, so you should be safe from him even if he recognized you, which he probably wouldn't since his senses are the same as of a common human. Besides, it's a bit cold-hearted assessment, but... he does not speak with words to anyone but with me, so even if he would find out about you, the chance he would tell someone before the time we make our deal official is practically nonexistent... "

[Mirach]

"Tell me one thing first," Death said. "Am I responsible for his broken soul?"

[VisAnastasis]

" It was not on your order or by your direct influence. It were... Unfortunate circumstances. Malachite... He used to life in human world all the time, as a travelling shaman, happy to make potions and live quietly and with no rush or urgency. He... Did not realize the war started." Tide smiled a little faintly, with some sorrow." He continued his life as usual, helping Spirits, humans and demons with his potions. It is not you, but demon hunters. " He paused, unsure if he should say it, before adding quietly." They wanted to both punish him for helping demons and catch as many of us as possible. One of them was a singer, and he called upon his true name, and forced him to call his demons friends to come help him, only to have them caught in a trap and killed. He was tortured and used as bait for too long, before he called for me and me and Hans saved him. It wasn't you. He was Spirit. They treated their fellow Spirit like that, and that wasn't what you taught them. You taught them to protect each other, care for each other... They failed both you and him." Creature shook his head." They should had turned him in, let you judge him. Instead, they passed the judgement. It was them."

[Mirach]

"I see..." Death said quietly. "I'm not sure it's a good idea to show myself to him, still. I can hide in the basket, if you want to visit him."

[VisAnastasis]

" He has a garden where he grows plants with the addition of various minerals and potions. One of the plants is ingredients I use for those special cookies I made you. " Tide explained. " So a thought comes to mind that I could gather some more of it, for you. Malachite helps me, you see, in my efforts to battle corruption. I do things I can, and he sort of works for me, if you will, in developing things that could help using his minerals. For long, he researched with them, while I researched souls, and Hans researched how he could help with his Singing back then. I've recently heard from little Erdel there is a place called Sanctuary, where two half corrupted Beings live and are working to develop a cure using herbs. And secretly, you were trying to figure it out with your powers, too... " Tide smiled a little. " It seems on all sides of the world someone was trying something, in their power. But together, we may do more. As your king and all, I'd like you to join forces with us for that - and wouldn't you like to meet Malachite for that? It seems proper if we are all going to work together to deal with the corruption of our worlds. Besides, with him, it's very tiny steps... It'd be enough that he sees and get used to seeing you for a start. He doesn't really trust anyone too much and trust me mostly because I keep him safe and made an unbreakable vow to him about it all. But he is so smart and knows a lot about the minerals and stuff of the body where I focus on the soul. You can learn a lot from him, I deem, so wouldn't it be nice to have him get used to you? He also has a room in his cave for me when I come to him, and there's a nice bed there, and I thought we could use it for a bit, so we can take a breather and see what to do next.  "

[Mirach]

"I will only speak if you tell me I should," Death said. "I don't want to startle him."

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, there are some rules he has you'd need to follow, for him to get comfortable with you. But I don't think you'll have many problems with them in that form if you wish to go like a snake. You're too tiny and adorable to seem threatening. " Tide encouraged him. " It's a simple thing. Basically, look out for gestures and his body language. First, only speak when he encouraged you. He usually nods lightly or brings himself to say a few words if he asks for something, but words are usually struggling for him, and he barely speaks, but gestures a lot, so look out for the gestures. Then, never come into his personal space. We worked out the two meters is about the distance he's comfortable with, anything closer is only allowed if he initiates it himself. But you shouldn't initiate touch of any kind yourself, it makes him feel scared and out of control. But he knows nothing of you, and who you are, and how you look. He never knew of you, and whether a human or snake, I don't think he'd recognize you. He never went to Spirit court and didn't spend much time in Spirit kingdom, either, so he won't be able to tell... And when we come next time, I cross fingers, by the time truce is official, then you can tell him who you are. No one would be surprised you're hanging out with Spirit since you never claimed to hate your kin, so there won't be any trouble for you to explain yourself. Other than that, there's another thing... Not doing what he asks of you makes him nervous and anxious, so you should try to listen to his requests as much as you possibly can, please. It's usually little things, like eating what he brings or drinking what he makes, or accepting little deals if he offers them to you, but it goes a long way for his confidence. "

[Mirach]

"Alright then," Death said quietly. "I will do my best."