Re: Svarik and the company II

[VisAnastasis]

" Do that. He was always nice to all my companions, but you never know. Best bet to just always be polite. " Tide agreed, and he led the human upward.
When they reached the little house, they knocked, and a little frail looking turtle demon concealed by a veil opened the door.
He was strange and mysterious, and silent, but he looked rather sweet, like that. He was half the size of  Senecio, almost like a child, and he was accompanied by two eerie magical little familiar demons.

https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/media_assets/images/images/000/079/801/large/tortoise3.jpg?1489403792



He and Tide exchanged greetings on their own, whistling ethereal language, before demon invited both of them to sit down at his humble table.

[Mirach]

Senecio just bowed, trying not to stare too much at the peculiar demo and animals, and followed inside, staying behind Tide.

[VisAnastasis]

Demon first quietly shared bread with salt with them, without words, in silent ceremony.
Then, Tide gave him three potatoes, one for him, and two for his animal familiars. Turtle demon smiles at gesture, and in turn, he brought two pieces of some kind of bright yellow ethereal corn pie, and he gave one slice to Senecio, one to Tide, making sure they sit comfortably.
As they ate together, two demons spoke, on their whistling, whimsical language, both sounding somehow worried, as if having lot to talk through - but still, their voices being just so beautiful to listen to when entwined like that, like music. Tow cat-dog one eyes familiars were cuddling beside Tide, purring next to him, nestling with him submissively with adoration, as if recognizing him as their friend.

[Mirach]

Senecio listened to the musical talk of the two demons while slowly wating the pie, finding it quite pleasant. 

[VisAnastasis]

The pie seemed to be doing him good as, whatever it was made from, the pain from his injured hand lessed considerably with it. It must have helped Tide a bit with his pain, though, as he seemed to get more in his element, his aura growing bit more consistent and radiating. He looked quite dashing and charming, as he seemed to be pleading and appealing to turtle demon to give him something.
His host was hesitant, as if not sure if it's smart, thinking through his idea, not sure if he should go with it. He needed some convincing, but in the end, he nodded gravely, accepting his guest must know best why he wants this, and he went forth, and hugged Tide gently and fondly, seeming to reconfirm their statues as friends, before he opened the old cellar door, and went downstairs to search for whatever Tide asked from him.

[Mirach]

"He didn't seem to think it's a good idea," Senecio noted. "What did you ask him for?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Let's say it's a... Little object of a sort. His master piece. Giving it to me is big enough thing. But it's who did I intend to pass it on for, that's hardest to give to. I will explain you everything when we're out, hush now, please... " Tide advised him quietly, as he caressed the little demon dogs, to calm them, critters being  anxious at sound that was not of their own language.

Soon turtle demon returned, carrying a little chest, locked up with ten strange otherworldly locks. He cut his hand, and he seemed to tear out a piece of his bone for a moment, to use as a key. He unlocked eight locks at, with taking out various bits of his bones from various parts of his body, and then returning them back into his flesh, as if they were never removed. For ninth lock, he cut his palm, and dripping his blood into lock seemed to do the deed, and unlock it. As for tenth lock, the last one, critter leaned forth, and shed couple of tears, and his tears fell into a lock, and unlocked that final one.

From little chest, he took out some shell-like object, almost as big as palm of Tide's hand, wrapped tightly within some old, protective black cloth. He handed it to Tide reluctantly, with teary eyes and a solemn nod, and then, he embraced him anew, with care and grief, tightly, as one embraced someone with a death wish who they may never see again. They exchanged some words shortly on their language, before they bid their goodbyes, and Tide gave Senecio a sign to follow him out, back down to the beach.

[Mirach]

Senecio bowed to their host and followed Tide out.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide was quiet, until they reached a beach. Then, he sat down quietly, and slowly unwrapped the precious package.
It was some kind of big beautiful conch shell, carved in such way to be blowing instrument, a horn of a kind, or something between a horn and a flute. It had glossy surface, and on first glance, it appeared white, but closer you look, more you noticed and got lost in countless breathtaking fractals of all rainbow colors, mixing up with one another to make that white, glistening with some silent, eerie promise of power unspeakable, unexplainable, or mystery and enigma.

https://beachtreasuresandtreasurebeaches.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/aloha1.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L1Mgy6NGnWQ/maxresdefault.jpg
http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/1883/dsc_1242te.jpg

He did not dare play it or put it to his lips, as if not daring do something so sacrilegious, not meant for him. He just observed the peculiar instrument silently and thoughtfully, with a little sad smile.

[Mirach]

Senecio peeked over his shoulder curiously. "Is it something magical?"

[VisAnastasis]

Seeing his curiosity, despite seemed little saddened and withdrawn in some old memories, Tide couldn't help but smile a little.

" Well, you could call it that, I guess... " he teased him innocently, replying vaguely on purpose, with a little tremble in his voice. " It is a flute, made by best demon flutemaker, made from shell that was once a body of the extinct race of Seashell Beings that was on border between being Spirit and Demon, carrying traits of both kins. They took the side of Demons in the war, and were counted as Demons, though, and were purged all, in a big battle at sea. Their shells were grinded massively, and scattered across the world, so no trace of them lingers on and their memory as demons is forgotten, as they were forced to reborn as Spirits in Spirit realm, out of reach of all of us. Only couple of those empty shells still remain in the world... Precious, priceless.... " he sighed a bit. " You could say, I guess, that even existence of such an object, is magical. A miracle, in its own right. "

[Mirach]

"So it's true, about the war?" Senecio asked. "There is a play about the war of spirits and demons. But it's been only played once or twice. The spectators didn't like it, because the story doesn't have a proper ending, it just kind of trails off..."

[VisAnastasis]

" There is a play like that? Who wrote it? " Tide frown a little with the information. " There is a reason why the story does not have a proper ending.... " he added simply. " It is because war has not ended yet. It may never end, as far as I know. Spirits still prosecute us, and my people still suffer. There are just no more battles recently. My people cover and hide, because we are on the losing side, and try our best just to live without being noticed, hidden among humans or in remote places of the world. Only once, after many years, they tried to organise into a great force, for this last Long Night - but they are stuck on fifth layer of world, and could not pass, despite their all efforts. At this rate, I think war will never end, indeed.  "

[Mirach]

"I don't really know who wrote it," Senecio said. "There was just a pseudonym instead of the author's name, Murf. I don't know who would want to use such a pseudonym. He could literally pick anything, like Starguide, or Knight of Twilight... and he picked Murf. So this war is still going on? Or rather, stagnating?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I do not know the name. Definitelly pseudonium. Could have been demon, or Spirit. I would like to see that lay, sometimes. " Critter whispered. " War... yes. Staggnating is right word. It still lingers the air, but it is passive. "

[Mirach]

"It's not played anymore, it didn't perform well in sales. Maybe if you pay the actors enough..." Senecio said. "So besides the existence of this flute being a miracle of its own, what does it do?"

[VisAnastasis]

" But you played that play, didn't you?" Tide was still stuck in that mistery, trying to coax more out of him. " Deal with me. Tell me more of the play, and I tell you what the flute does. "

[Mirach]

"It was some time ago, before I made a name for myself, so I only played a little role with a few lines in it. But I remember the plot. It was about a king of spirits and his mortal enemy, the prince of demons. The demon killed the spirit king's wife, and so the war started. But there was no clear distinction about which side was good and which evil, that was the other reason people didn't like the play. In a good story, you need to know with which side you should sympathize... There was also a tragic love story of two demons in it. One of them was killed and became a spirit, and they were forced to fight each other. I played some nameless spirit who brough the king the news of his wife's death."

[VisAnastasis]

" It is not exactly how it went...  But is close enough. There was indeed a Demon king, and a Spirit king. Demon king killed , not wife, but fairies most beloved by Spirit king, because Spirit king parted Demon king from his own wife, not allowing that marrige, because she was Spirit and they wanted to have children, but it was hurting them both. After losing his fairies, Spirit king was mad with grief. " Tide whispered absently. " He killed demon king and started war, and remained as king of Spirit realm for a long while. He only abdicated couple days ago, actually. " Tide explained  quietly, caressing little instrument thoughtfully. " If you remember... would you mind telling me some of the lines of that nameless Spirit you played? I guess I am just curious, how history remembered it.... "

[Mirach]

Senecio nodded readily, and like before, he recited the role towards an imaginary king.

"Grave news I carry, o my king - 

by demon's hand was slain

your gentle slender fairy queen,

her soul is gone in pain."

[VisAnastasis]

For some reason, Tide's eyes teared up, it seemed, as he sniffed, and put his hand underneath the mask, as if drying a tear, and then leaning head on his healthy hand tiredly and wearily.
" I was not there, so I know not.... But who knows? It may have really been, like that.  " He whispered. " I know very little,  for war started right away. We were surprised and started by its force and blow... it was a purge... " he shook his head, observing precious little shell. " I guess... I have had a good life, despite it, kind of. " He was reminiscing." It was hard, but I had a friend to get me out of troubles, and I helped many people.... I am grateful I was not in Fifth layer, when our army was closed of in it. I remained here, and lived.... I guess I never had time or luck to find a mate, with al running around and hiding, but I guess I was.... happy, still...."

[Mirach]

"You are speaking like you don't expect to live much longer," Senecio noted wonderingly. "Do you think the war will come for you here after this king's abdication?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I hope not. But.... how to say... I guess that I fear my own end could be near. If you will, I think I picked up my own suicide mission, too, just like you. " Demon grinned with some pain. "  You see.. This former Spirit king is most powerful Spirit of all. Earth trembles beneath his steps, and listening to his soul is like listening to all sounds of the world at once. His true name is so grand and magnificent, that no lips can say  it. King Nameless, so, we called him. You humans call him Death. He is a guest in king's Svarik mansion in capital City, right now. "

[Mirach]

"King of spirits... Death... as a guest in the capital... okay, this is a bit hard to process, but go on..."

[VisAnastasis]

" He was wounded terribly, in the long night, you see. Pain in which he is now, is indescribable. You could say he is close to corruption. If he grew corrupted, consequrnces would be of such magnitude, that they would corrupt the whole world itself.  " Demon explained quietly."He has a human descedant, from a ng time ago, names lord Nameless, whom he loves most dearly, that loves in capital, that is why he stays there, if I understood right. The lad is at his side all the time, and is Gifted himself, just like our meadow king, and tried to do al he can to save him..  But I can feel lingering changes in the world, that frighten me. Sign of Death 's corruption, ever nearing...  Help of just one, however dear, little human, won't be enough to save him. "