Svarik and the company I :)

[Mirach]

"I wondered if it could... And I would also value the opinion of someone enlightened, if I can't reach that state myself..." Svarik said quietly, willing to be open with the Sage after he learn more about him.

[VisAnastasis]

" I think lot of time is needed to reach such state. Enlightenment... It's hard to explain. Let's say it is a state in which... You no longer need a house for your soul. You feel so comfortable and in tune with yourself and rest of the world, that you just don't feel need to waste energy to build walls to keep you safe, because it feels better to risk a bit of danger to be free to fly instead of be bound to one little house. It is a state of playfulness and seeing big picture of world from above. It is a state of freedom from constant nagging need to protect yourself with feeble walls - because whole world becomes your house. " his smile remained ever soft, Sage as well seeming more trusting and comfortable with Svarik once they got on more sincere and open conversation grounds. " I don't think you're quite ready for enlightenment so far - that is too big goal for one day. But the Heart is gentle, and it can reflect people's true selves. It can help people get more in tune with themselves. If you just get to understand yourself and your desires enough - it may help you understand what you desire to do in order to make decision you won't regret. There is no noise in the core of the Heart - only you alone with yourself. Time is a blur, and passes differently there than here, actually. Within it, you need no food, water or nourishment, as powers of the Heart nourishes and doesn't let you age. Time fades within it - I spent 28 years inside, but on the outside, in our world and city, it had passed only 6 years... Around Hearts, time anomalies are frequent. "

[Mirach]

"In the other direction as well?" Svarik asked cautiously. "If someone stays outside, will he be able to give us a sign that it's time to go?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Not any *someone*. But I will. It's one of the perks of being enlightened, you see. " Sage explained patiently. " Time passes differently at different hearts, because they process music coming through them on different ways. In this heart, time happens to pass couple times slower than normal. Couple of minutes here are usually around an hour inside, and so on. You can set how much outside time you want to stay inside, and once that set time you set passes, I will be able to reach inside of the core and just pull you out. It's very simple for someone in my position. I won't have problem to do it for you, if you feel up to it.  " he explained gently, and more he spoke, despite his goofy gentle demeanor, more it seemed he thought all this through beforehand, and didn't just bring them here as if it's some kind of sightseeing spot - but perhaps a little because Svarik's kind actions of that day pleased him, specially the way he treated his demon friends, and the Sea Deity: and he wanted to show him appreciation in his own way, but giving him an opportunity to do this.

[Mirach]

"Maybe we could stay until sunset?" Svarik asked. "But what if it's too much? Will I be able to leave on my own sooner?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Hardly on your own. Once you're in, it's hard to find way out unless you know what you seek. But there's something that may help. Here, take this... " he paused for a moment, and then, he took down his head garment. Underneath it was his black hair, and he tore out one single strand of it, and offered it to meadow king solemnly and with trust. " I had your hair in my possession, so this is only fair. " he winked. " If you feel need to go out before sunset - I am sorry I have to ask such seemingly silly thing - but you should eat the hair. When I feel you swallowing it, I'll know you've had enough, and will go in to fetch you. "

[Mirach]

"Eat? Wouldn't simply tearing it be enough? Does your demon heart makes it work like it does with demons?" 

[VisAnastasis]

" Yeah.... I've become pretty weird since I have that one. Plus, I was kind of dead of five minutes, only strands of soul keeping me alive, until my friend brought me here, and put me inside the core, where he tore out his heart and gave it to me, using magic of the Heart to sew it into my flesh where my own heart once was. It's not really everyday occurrence, when you come to life surrounded by aura of magical sea Heart, soaked in blood. It's unheard taboo, to spill blood at this sacred, place, and specially to mix blood of two creatures together. It's quite primitive and coarse act of kindness, I guess. " for a moment, Svarik could see a little trace of embarrassment in man's eyes. " I can say I've became quite peculiar through it.. But not as sharp sensed as full fledged demon would be. Please, do swallow the hair. Tearing something in half is just a short friction, easy to not notice... Scent of your saliva, and inner organs digesting the hair, that's already something I will have to notice, sweet little Nightingale. "

[Mirach]

"I hope I won't have to, but alright," Svarik nodded. "Erdel, could you find some amusement for Xia while I'm away? I suspect she won't like it..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I brought a book from home in our picnic bag. I think I will manage with it somehow. " vampire said shyly. " Um, just, if you'd be so kind, sir... " he coughed. " If you are sure about doing this, I won't force you to not do it, but... Could I perhaps have my cloak back, for now? I don't want to imply you'd be distracted, but I don't know what I'd do, if it got lost during your self discovery journey... I feel fidgety all the time, I think it would be painful if I wouldn't have my cloak anymore, and had to be stuck in only one layer all the time. "

[Mirach]

"Why didn't you tell me sooner if you are uncomfortable?" Svarik asked, giving him the cloak right away. 

[VisAnastasis]

Erdel took the cloak eagerly, and immediately, as if rearranging some inner need, he disappeared from sight as he slipped into couple surrounding sublayers, back and forth, before coming back, with cloak on his back, a frown upon his face lessening considerably, and mouth twitching into a shy smile. Even his hair looked a little tidier, as if, subconsciously, he was altering his form ever slightly, without even realizing the subtle differences each time he would do it.

" I am sorry, I know I should had.. But you looked so warm in it, and it made me happy to be able to give you something. " he commented simply, seeming to hope that if he speaks openly, Svarik won't get mad. " I will try my best to not let it happen again, sir. "

[Mirach]

"Please do, because then I have to feel bad for it retrospectively," Svarik reproached him gently.

[VisAnastasis]

" I will try to find balance. Sir. " Erdel promised shyly, which was not quite as reassuring - as it was apparent by now that, if having chance to do something for Svarik that discomforts himself a little, after all the terrible things he did in general's name, it didn't really strike him like a big sacrifice to be uncomfortable in order to cheer up meadow king a little bit -  and awareness of being guilty of that kind of thinking was written all over his timid face.

[Mirach]

"Good," Svarik smiled a bit, knowing he can't expect much more. "Be good, Xia," he said then. "I will return in a while, Erdel will read to you, alright?"

[VisAnastasis]

As Svarik expected it, it was not as easy to convince Xia as they hoped to just let Svarik go, specially since he wished to enter such strange place. But after bit of reassurance and cuddling she agreed in the end to let him do what he wanted, and licked his cheek gently before they parted, as she by now must had noticed that when you kiss someone in a cheek, it is somehow bound to wishing him good luck.

[Mirach]

Svarik smiled and embraced her once more before following the Sage into the Heart.

[VisAnastasis]

Sage led him to a crack in the planet through which he could step inside the glowing matter.
" You can correct me if I am wrong, but I feel this is something that should be private to you, and not for my eyes. " he suggested gently. " Do you wish me to follow you, or do you wish to go alone? "

[Mirach]

"If I can get inside without you, I would rather be alone," Svarik admitted. 

[VisAnastasis]

" Just go forth then, little one. " Sage nodded encouragingly to him. " It's intuitive. You'll find your way. And if it's too much, remember - there's never any shame in bailing. Just call me and I will pull you out gently. "

[Mirach]

Svarik nodded, but hesitated for a moment before entering the shiny surface.

[VisAnastasis]

For a short while, it felt like walking in the clouds. There was no ground below or above, but the soothing bright light seemed to offer some kind of walking path to him, invisible to the eyes. It was rather warm, and king could feel its magic glowing and flowing in waves all around him, making him feel a little dizzy from its immense power, and strong, clear music...Until he reached the core of the planet, where suddenly, there was nothing. No music, no any sound - it was a silent chamber of quietness, like nothing king had ever experienced before - here, despite he was a Listener, he heard no more sound than a common man, because there were no sound here, but one coming from his own beating heart, and from his own steps upon the ground.

From misty warm surrounding, as if slowly changing to reflect something of its visitor, king could soon feel a new surrounding shaping before him. It was warm, and soft, but there was something a little eerie and coarse about it. It was a meadow, with vague mountains in the distance, and the sky seemed relatively bright, as if filled with light of a faint, sickly sun - but upon the ground, the trees and grass was disformed, and gray, as if tainted by something, without trace of healthy green. There were some color specs around, that looked like remnants of flowers, but they were bright red, more like remnants of some blood, that flowers. No wind was rustling the leaves, nothing was making sound, it was soundless world - only king was there, alone with himself. Being here, Svarik felt as if his feet touched some familiar and private, but dark spot on his soul.
http://orig07.deviantart.net/67c9/f/2015/165/8/e/dog__s_valley_by_nanomortis-d8x98w8.png

[Mirach]

Svarik felt a mild panic at the fact that there was no sound here - the only other place without a sound he knew was the crypt. Something in the surroundings reminded him on it as well, and he hismd his face in his palms, but did not want to call the Sage just yet, without even trying to face this Heart.

[VisAnastasis]

Once he was able to breathe through some panic, he was able to perceive surroundings better. There was lot of coarseness and stagnation in this world, but unlike in crypt, it did not seem violent and rotten - only strained and in flames, trembling while he panicked, as if under long ilness. He could feel the ground was oily and greezy, but not infertile - mixed within stone and debree, there was good ground to be found, that could serve as good foundation. The sunlight in sky was sickly and pale, but there was something gentle in it, like a remnant and distant memory of Solstice 's caresses. Grass seemed rusted and it felt like brushing upon a dark memory to walk upon it - but, under layers of dark gray, on some spots, king could feel a pale and distant green...

[Mirach]

Svarik calmed a bit and started walking through the scenery aimlessly, as if hoping to find something. But he resigned to that after a while, not even knowing what he was hoping to find. He sat down instead and caressed tge sickly grass to see how that would feel.