Svarik and the company I :)

[Mirach]

"I wouldn't want to compromise them either. I won't bother you with more questions. I hope to see more of the sea myself tomorrow... By the way, do you know a good spot for gathering nice seashells?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I can mark you two nice places, three days of horse riding from here, where you can find some very nice and rare ones. " Sage bid. " There is also one place, on a Bone Island. One side of the island had sunk under the ocean during one earthquake, and if you have good ear, strong lungs to dive for a while, and playful side, you can find lot of rare and extinct types of shells if you dive at that place. If you're lucky, and have a really good ear, you may even find some leftovers of Spirit or Demon seashells or bones - some ancient lower lifeforms that were soulful were mortal sometimes. Bone Island is island that came to be from body of a giant that died there, and many tiny low level Spirits and Demons gathered to eat his flesh, and died there after their time passed too, leaving lot of colorful shells and remnants filled with their magic. I sometimes come by there to search for a seashell or two, because it's a one of favorite snacks of my demon friend and I like to give him treats to thank him for his service and help from time to time. "  

[Mirach]

"I don't know if I can dive that deep, and the sea is rather cold in this time of year, but it sounds like a really interesting place," Svarik said. "I would like to bring some special seashell for Falcon, so I hope we find some closer to the shore..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Demons don't have to breathe. Let that be a tip for you. Shell collecting is much easier when you don't have to breathe. " Sage bemused with his comment - not prying, but implying if not Svarik , his demon companions would have little to no trouble to inquire for what he seeks for even at bigger dept than that.

[Mirach]

"They don't? I thought they breathe out oxygen..." Svarik wondered.

[VisAnastasis]

" They actually do breathe oxygen - when they chose to breathe, of course. Do you really think such a trivial thing as a lack of air could kill a true demon of high rank? " Man couldn't help but to chuckle a little. " There's a reason war lasts this long. Demons fight tough, but even more so - it's extremely tough to just outright kill one. They are sneaky and can survive in conditions we can't fathom. They are to our world what viruses are to microworld - just plain rudely hard to kill. They do breathe oxygen when they chose to breathe, but most of the time when they're not talking, they're just chilling and doing nothing. Mere force of mana within them is enough to keep their blood flowing even without breath. For most of them, specially younger ones and higher ones, like your little sweet Xia, breathing system in body is just a leftover part of evolution, like wisdom teeth or tailbone in humans, little Nightingale. "

[Mirach]

Svarik turned to Erdel questioningly. "Did you know that?" he asked, seeing that there is no sense in pretending he's not a demon, since the Sage obviously knew that.

[VisAnastasis]

" Umm.. I never really tried not to breathe. That sounds weird from human perspective. " young demon retorted with some interest. " But I know Liron said even vampires don't need to breathe if they chose not to, so I imagine demons are one step higher, so it wouldn't be a downgrade. I imagine I probably could. Cernunnos said that when I am really interested in something and caught up in listening to some subject I enjoy, I tune out and stop breathing for couple of minutes, but I guess I'm doing it subconsciously, then... "
" Yes, I noticed you have stopped breathing for two or three times during our conversation, young Erdel. You must be more careful not to do so before unsuspecting humans, they may freak out. " Sage noticed gently and fondly, at which former vampire seemed to be flustered.
" I did? " he blushed. " I am sorry, I have not realized it.. I will try to be more careful in future.... "

[Mirach]

"You could try practicing it sometimes to get more control over it," Svarik suggested. 

[VisAnastasis]

" I will practice... Tonight while you sleep, Nightingale. " Erdel smiled shyly, acknowledging the fact of what he was before sage officially.
" So you need not to sleep? That is neat. " Sage inquired with more curiosity now that subject seemed more readily available. " I admit you are quite an enigma to me. You seem very young, but your current mana flow and form are something that normally would take centuries to develop, and your soul is overflowing. Would you mind telling me a bit about yourself? I would be very pleased to get to know you better. "
" I was human originally.. It's complicated. Did not Falcon tell you something about me? "
" I can conclude a bit from the context of our previous letters exchanged in past few months, but in this letter, he did not say much of you. "
" Oh, really? " vampire bid, not able to hide a bit of disappointment in his voice.
" The recommendation letter was generally short. I imagine he had too many to write to make it any longer. His handwriting is much more messy than in last months, so I also imagine he has lot on his mind, so I don't blame him for that. He only wrote to me that you are very special and dear to him, Erdel, and that I should take good care of you and respect all your desires. He did also briefly mention something about you not liking to eat, though, but I had to make sure and ask you yourself not to be rude. "
" That's... Good, I guess... " Demon's whole face was red like a ripe apple, and he was timidly stumbling with words, seeming a bit dumbfounded with straightforward reply. " I guess it's nice... That he remembered I don't like to eat... "

[Mirach]

"I'm sorry for the ruse, we didn't know that you are a friend of demons. Another host might freak out if he found out. Although we still need to work on Xia's disguise a bit... Erdel does not eat, but from personal, not religious reasons," Svarik explained.

[VisAnastasis]

" I can respect that. But to be honest, I myself honestly doubt Falcon would direct you to a person that would be cruel to your friends. He's, if you're forgive me, a clear obsessive compulsive perfectionist. " Sage chuckled a little. " He always makes everyone go ten extra miles than necessary, me included. For Long Night, he made me work through this whole huge elaborate plan to be a last line of defense at the sea from demon army should he fail his purposes and die, and I alarmed so many of my friends for nothing, since things worked out in the end. It was extra embarrassing to apologize to everyone for stirring them up, I assure you. " man smiled a bit mysteriously. " I am sure your Falcon did not really randomly pick up hosts from just the good people. He would check his list, and then check it twice, to make sure he did not recommend you someone who may wish your little comrades ill. Your friend has tight connections throughout the whole land, you know. He spent seven years looking for you - he surely won't tell you something as confidential, but I can bet my eyes on it that he has learned of and made and maintained contact with decent number of Spirit and Demon children, and Listeners and Singers, all while inquiring about you and trying to understand how the whole magic thing works. Only in the capital, I know of one Listener, ser Ciel, that he had been using for source of knowledge about magic for a while, and in last year, there is this little demon child, Zephir, that he often asks me advises about. Sending you with powerful protectors is just a back up plan to him - but he himself would not send someone like you to anyone he deemed untrustworthy. I am pleased to be so high in his grace that he had chosen to send you to me. "

[Mirach]

"I see you are well informed..." Svarik murmured. "I would prefer being just Nightingale while staying here, though. And are others from your household familiar and friendly with demons as well?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Well, my one best friend is a Demon, and other best friend is a Spirit, so... " Sage grinned. " My men have to be friendly, like it or not. But honestly, I am joking - I would not have ever employed someone, who would say one harsh word about my beloved and flawless best friends or comment rudely on their nature. I would crush such insolent low lives with the raging powers of my sea. " there was some coldness that briefly colored his eyes, before they melted in politeness. " But you, I quite like, and I am glad we are not inconvenienced on such way. Falcon did not say your name directly, but that is because he does not patronize me, sweet little Nightingale - with blue spirit eyes and sunlit hair like that, and huge flute on your back, having searched for you in Falcon's name along all coast cities of the south, it would be impossible for me to not recognize you. I could provide you with some temporary hair dye or contact lenses, if you desire, if you hope to not cause such big interest in the eyes of folk - but as of now, you are quite a Lord of Sunshine to behold, if I may say so. "

[Mirach]

"From what I noticed, people are mostly dark-haired here, aren't they? I have sometimes used a dye before. But in this case, I won't be able to afford the time it takes to wash out after I arrive home. But maybe the dyes from the sea and coast are different than from the land, like walnut leaves... Do you know some that can be removed instantly?"

[VisAnastasis]

" You are in luck right now, because Spirit that is my guest curently is an alchemist and inventor. " Sage smiled. " If it suits you, I can ask him to mix you couple packs of dark brown hair dye. You need to take heed - it is removed very easily. When you want to remove it, you just need to wash your hair with water."

[Mirach]

"What if it rains, though? I hoped there might be some dye that can be removed with some other mixture. If not though, I think I will take your friend's dye."

[VisAnastasis]

" There is one more type of dye, that can be removed with a special mixture. However, it takes a bit longer to prepare, so you would have to stay at least until noon tomorrow. If you are not right with time, I would recomment you to wait, because it is more reliable method since it is safe from common water. Falcon warned me not to plead you to stay longer than you desire, so the choice what to do should be yours."

[Mirach]

"That's thoughtful from him, and you," Svarik nodded thankfully. "But if you don't mind, I would like to stay here for a day or two. It's a very interesting area to explore it during the day, and it would be nice having a place to return to in the evening where we can leave our baggage so we can travel light. Xia has a winged form, when she's not disguising as a dog, so we can get to many interesting places and back in a day."

[VisAnastasis]

" Really? A winged form? " That bit seemed to catch Sage's attention, and he seemed excited like a little kid. " You rarely see winged ones around here. Wel, expect harpies, of course, but trust me, you don't want to make deals with harpies. If you do not mind to tell me, how do you speak with Xia? If it is no private question, would you aak her if she would be willing to show her wing form to me? It would bring me great delight. "

[Mirach]

"We are still learning to communicate," Svarik explained. "She understands some basic words and phrases, and can express them in sign language. Cernunnos helped us a lot, as he could translate for us. "Winged fox, Xia?" he asked her, using both words and signs.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia was at first instance a little hesitant, and she glanced at stranger and then back, as if to make sure it's alright, knowing that dog disguise she is supposed to use when they're incognito. But when reassured, she woofed, and she changed into her more uncommon, winged fox form. She took a proud stance, and started posing playfully, showing of her gorgeous feathers and shiny golden fur, and Sage couldn't help but marvel at her flamboyant attitude, seeming very pleased to see and observe her.

" Could you tell her that I really appreciate her kind gesture? She really is a marvelous and rare creature, bound freely to both soil of the earth, air of the sky, and fire of the sun. Not stranger to water either, I presume... She is obviously made with lot of love and lot of adaptability in mind. " he commented with delight. " Would you mind telling her that I like how lovely her soul can clothe itself, little Nightingale? It feels, indeed, as spectacular as it is healthy and natural. "

[Mirach]

"I'm sorry, that's too complicated phrase," Svarik shook her head. "But she understands the word *pretty*. You can tell it to her yourself..."

[VisAnastasis]

" That's good paraphrasing. So, *pretty*, yes? " he asked to confirm, and then he looked at the creature in the eyes, and he repeated the word gently, and raised hand and made a gesture of the sign language for it. Xia squealed delightfully with compliment, growing all shy and fluffing up, as always, glad to be praised and acknowledged on any way. She shyly leaned forth, and taking it as a sign, letting her choose the pace, old Sea Lord slowly embraced her around the soft neck and caressed her. His soul was strong and fierce, and his aura was pleasant to be around, with all essences he was born with giving it such an unique taste, but clashing in harmony - even his soul itself had the taste and form of the sea within its fibers. Xia seemed to find it very nice, as sooner than later, she was already nestling with him amiably and wagging her long golden tail, being quite more open with humans Svarik had shown trust towards than in the beginning of her existence.

[Mirach]

"Yes, you are pretty," Svarik smiled. "But not too convincing as a dog," he chuckled. "We didn't have much time to work on that disguise. It may help if she could observe some real dogs for a while..."