Svarik and the company I :)

[Mirach]

"I already know that there are demons and spirits here, that harm is already done, and since there's no way to take it back, meeting some more won't add to it that much," Svarik shrugged, trying to stay optimistic about it too as he followed Llyr

[VisAnastasis]

" I am charmed that you are so sympathetic, but to be honest - I think Sage has seen it coming the moment he read Falcon's letter, that we will be pretty much screwed by it, if we are open with you. But I think he rightly concluded you'd be screwed if we tried to meddle with you and hide the truth, so he took a risk on that one in order to give you a bit better chances. He's a silly good hearted lad like that, that's why we grew to love him so deepy. " Llyr explained, as they climbed downwards, to the cellar in another end of the palace. " But if Death decides he wants us screwed for real, only thing that could possibly safe us is to flee, before that fool of a sweetheart Sage ends up decisive to defend us to death. We would never stay only to cause his demise. Me and Tide go way back, you see, and had been friends way back when, when world belonged to primordial demons, and Spirits were but slowly forming whisper in the wind in the world slowly filling with oxygen from plants and children of night that breathed it out. I was but a little glimmer of light shining in waves, wounded in fight with other critters of the ocean, when already quite older and more formed Tide has found me, and, instead of trying to eat me or harm me, he took pity of me and went on to protect me and help me grow up a person. We have been friends, ever since, and we have been running, ever since Great War started, never looking back. I.. Never looked back, at the world that refused to acknowledge worth of my gentlest friend.  " creature admitted to Svarik gently and with some soft spot in his heart. " Meddling with you... I guess we couldn't help ourselves... It was nice. And it was nice to lead Organisation, with Sage. But we will be leaving soon, before Death comes to seek us himself. I would never risk Tide's existence like this,  not for sake of any pleasure I have in this world, not even such happyand fun  life here. That's why I need him to get better as soon as possible - I am not worried, sweet little prince, for once he heals, me and him will retreat back to the sea.... " he paused only with some shade of regret, before adding firmly. " To find a new safe home for us, I hope. We will see if we can rebuild it anew again. We will see how it goes. "

[Mirach]

Svarik stopped on the way, his attempted optimism crumbling under the weight of that. "If I knew I will cause this for you, I would have never come here. Falcon shouldn't have marked this place on my map. But he did, so maybe he has some plan how to protect you from Death... I would never want you having to leave this life behind..."

[VisAnastasis]

" That is very... hm.. Sweet of you... " Llyr said slowly, stopping as well, seeing his admission must had upset Svarik. " But you need to understand... That that lovely man in black has indebted us very deeply, at his own expense. We could never mean anything but good to his Semai. But what we did, we did not do for him alone, but for you, and for this lovely land. " he said quietly. " He had sent you here, and he pleaded Sage to test you, to see if he deems you worthy enough for my friend to bring you to the Sea Heart, to see if his methods can bring more clarity and healing to your mind and soul. It was Falcon's idea, yes - but it was my friend that was to test you and see if you deserve such honor or not... And more than anyone else's, I trust Sage's judgement. If he deemed you worthy of such a grand honor, despite he payed with his life to protect the very same Sea Heart from your ancestor, that means he had seen something very lovely and valuable in you. " Spirit said with some reverence, and he leaned on the wall little absently, as he added with some more playful, albeit sad note. " If Sage went into such a risk for us, to reveal me and my friend - I do not believe that was without great reason, either. Svarik is name ever so lovely - but you are not just Svarik; you are a king also. If Sage revealed our existence to you and wishes so deeply that you'd meet us that he endangered us - then I believe it was for a noble cause too. Little king - I can only imagine how terrible opinion you had of demons through your bad experiences. I can not guess intricacy of his delicate wise thoughts - but what I believe, is that my friend Sage has high hopes in you... I like to think that through the special bond I have with Tide, he wanted to show you something different from what you were used to... A glimpse of a world that could be, had it been painted in our graceful image, not image of some boring puritan Spirit that wants to exterminate kind people like us as if we are bugs. " he smiled a little with faint little frail humor this time. " If you did, as I hope, catch such a glimpse of something more meaningful that just focusing on one's differences, know that I'd be very much interested in discussing it.. In at least one letter.... That one I asked you to sent and desired to read... Before two of us leave this city.  "

[Mirach]

"I hoped there would be more..." Svarik said quietly. "Will you stay in touch with the Sage at least? When Death becomes a child again, there will be no danger for you for a few years at least. You could come back then. I wouls like to write you when that happens, so you would know..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I will stay in contact with some critters and people I can not name for the sake of safety, if it turns out possible, so we can still have some news from Sage, no matter how distant. " Lllyr said with little kind hearted nod, his polite tender smile concealing deep sadness of that circumstances. " And this is just something that me and Tide discussed on our own and feel is smartest choice for us, right now. Neither of us are nearly as strong as we once were, so fighting is not even a shade of an option. But if my dear Sage did turn out to have high hoped for you rightfully and you do manage to bring up a little better world for humans, Spirits and Demons, then... " he smiled. " Of course, if Death becomes a child, you'd have bought us a few more years to live here, beside our friend, and I'd be immensely glad for it. Of course we'd return in that case, if at least for a few years - each year beside our precious mortal friend is priceless to us. It's just that right now, we see no safe way for us, than to run, and just as much, no way we could prevent Sage from sacrificing himself to save us in case of danger. "

[Mirach]

"Good, I hope it might be even before you leave... And then, who knows? We will get the chance to raise Death..." Svarik said hopefully.

[VisAnastasis]

" It sounds like something that would be sweet in theory, but not quite wise in practice for me - I would not quite be keen to have growing little Death remember handsome friend that visits you once in a while is a fugitive of his precious law, despite it certainly sounds like fun. " he grinned, but there was little more wistfulness in his expression than humor as he added. " I think you're onto something there, or I do hope so earnestly, at least. I may not be able to really take part in such things, being easily recognizable by Spirits that would come around your home as a demon-friend, but you could do it. You could help raise Death in more tolerant and peaceful environment than everyone ever before. It is too devilishly great opportunity to waste. I hope what you have seen in this home where Spirits, Demons and Humans are equal under one roof will give you something valuable you can pass on to that ancient changeling child... If there is ever a good chance to win him over, it would be in aftermath of times when he's injured and vulnerable like this.  "

[Mirach]

"I hope so. We won't get any second chance like that," Svarik nodded quietly. 

[VisAnastasis]

" I may not be there to be able to advise you of much in that time... But let me tell you at least this one thing before it's too late... " he paused dramatically, before adding innocently. " Death is very perception-driven creature, so overflowing his senses with to him pleasant tastes, sounds, caresses and hugs may be very neat asset to you. Chose extremes that can enrich his life - very sweet, very bitter, very spicy, very warm, very cold, very tender. Everything he can learn to grow curious about and have chance to explore. His soul is strange, in lot more like demon than spirit one - it feeds and blooms with strong positive feelings, my souses say. Explore wit lot of teas, because Death's biggest hobby is coming up with great teas that taste good to him, so it seems like great thing to add to it. Make his life gentle and soulful, and make sure he is not stranger to soft and caring gentleness of your demon friends Xia and Erdel, if possible - you won't get second chance like that. "

[Mirach]

Svarik nodded thankfully to the advice. "We will not take this chance lightly," he promised.

[VisAnastasis]

" I am glad. I look forward to see, what will turn of it. " Lllyr said with interest. He then started slowly. " I hope my admission had not saddened you too much, Svarik. " he called him by the name. " I barely hoped that being reassured that we'd be safely away would please you. We knew that to share ourselves and our stories with you would cost us this, but we wanted to share it, so you could see the side of truth your Spirit friends conceal from you and pretend it does not exist. We wanted you to have clear look in how things really can be. We wanted to give something precious and warm to a child of the emperor, to help him heal, and not be tempted to walk the path of the old empire. What a sad would would it be, after all, we thought, to see one ruler we have hopes in, grow to not bloom, but form a barren dessert in his heart? We wanted to help in our way, for you. We as well, you see, did not take this chance lightly. " he explained simply and earnestly.

[Mirach]

"What about your herbalist friend then?" Svarik asked. "I have no clue about her identity among spirits, and if I do not see her, she should be safe, right? I would really like to show her how to make this tea for Tide's sake..."

[VisAnastasis]

" She is a guest currently. She will leave soon none the less. " Llyr said slowly. " Besides, you said it yourself - Death can see not past, but future. Think about what that means. Unless there is some highly unlikely future path in which you'd meet her again - he can not know. He only seen images of *your* future lines when he gazes into your eyes, you dummy... " he grinned playfully. " Not images of your past. He can not see you with Garnet, unless you will meet her again, and Garnet only uses to come once every couple years, when we need her or she feels like it. No, dear - it are not future lines where you see her I am worried about. However, I am quite certain, I could swear on my life, that there would be quite few future lines in which you would meet me and Tide, if we stayed here - and even more future lines where your friends, Xia ans Erdel, cross their path with us, because both grew fond of us. That is why safest thing to do is go somewhere where we can make sure we'd evade you for quite a while, decisive not to go back here - that way, I hope, future lines in which we can be tracked down through indirect contact with you by Death will be minimum. My hopes are more bright, now that he is king no more, and has no servants to do his bidding for him. I feel like I may just pull this of, if it doesn't cross his mind to check in your future lines in more details. One tip - Falcon said it is possible, but not too likely, that you will seek immortality. Think what that means - that your future line possibilities will stretch into potential eternity. " Spirit added quietly with undeniable intellect to his statement. " It's bad enough that now Falcon's future line stretch like that, and our only hope is Death never stops by to look into his future closely, because I am sure it'll be embarrassingly eventful and compromising for us. If you can, I'd just bid you to hold off getting immortality until Death is a child again. That would be super helpful. That would be far more helpful that just not coming along to a tea party now with me and Garnet. "

[Mirach]

"He said it's not likely? Then he does not believe I would do it for him..." Svarik sighed. "But I would wait as long as you need, if it helps."

[VisAnastasis]

" That would be of great help.... " Llyr said thoughtfully, observing Svarik and Xia that was cuddling up with king tightly, with some longing interest, appearing a little sad he won't see either of them for quite a while, or possibly, never. " I won't make you put it of for too long - I wouldn't want your glorious golden hair to get gray. " he smiled gently, choosing more neutral part of Svarik to compliment on, not wanting to remind him on his yesterday's flirting by chance. " But, again - if you could wait with that, until Death becomes a child, that would go super neat in my plans not to end up discovered and killed. It would go down tremendously - as tremendously as if you'd perhaps, if you can, put an effort to gently make sure our dear Falcon stays as far away from adult Death as possible. "

[Mirach]

"The two of them are not overy fond of each other anyways," Svarik said. "I think that should be doable."

[VisAnastasis]

" Still, Death lives in his mansion, so for now, I'd bid you to make sure he's, as he usually he, cautiousness personified. " Lllyr noted, and then he took deep breath, as if gathering some mental strength, before saying with little smile. " So, what about you? " he bid. " Are you just gong to stand there, you sweet silly dummy - or are you going to a tea party with Garnet and me? Death is no here, and he can not find out of us, as long as you're not there before him to glance into your eyes and see your future. There's no better time for a party than now. "

[Mirach]

"You are sure he can only see the future, not past? Or read thoughts?" Svarik asked. "I have little understanding of how his mind works..."

[VisAnastasis]

" As far as my understanding goes, he is ever present in reality as a force and potential of death is in everyone and everything, and that's why he can see through possibilities of all that is to come, because a bit of him in in everything that lives. Kind of... He's really something Else, so it's hard to explain.  " Llyr said. " But the past - by what I'm aware of, for that, he needs to be touching someone's soul, and be in the process of healing it. He can not force memories out of someone without hurting that someone's soul, so to my knowledge, he never did it, but you can never be sure.. " he paused, before adding slowly. " He only can see the past, the memories of you, at time you die. When Spirits heal, he unravels their painful memories, and treats them carefully and slowly, sipping peace and oblivion into souls that touch him to aid them. He is a healer, after all, he needs to know what hurt you so he can help. To my knowledge, he rarely tried to meddle with living, healing only the dead, so you should be good. Really... Unless he.. um.. tries to forcefully grab hold of your soul to force memories out of you, you should be good... " Lllyr said more slowly, not appearing too confident about it - it seemed he did not quite believe in Death's benevolence as much anymore, healer or not, after he started the war. " I, sure he, um, totally wouldn't do that, so you're good... "

[Mirach]

"I think he really wouldn't..." Svarik nodded more calmly, thinking of Death as he knew him. "Good, I wasn't sure what he can do and what he can't. Let's go for the tea then."

[VisAnastasis]

" I hope you're right. If not and he hurts you - remember, Sage is not a Demon or a Spirit, so he'll hopefully stay out of Death's attention and not end up killed. If Death hurts you... You'll always have at least one human friend here. He'd be happy to lead you to Sea Heart again, I am sure, to tend to you, if you need it anew. You can always come if you desire to.  " Lllyr whispered, and he only said that - as if wanting to somehow mark clear, that his offer of kindness to Svarik is genuine and that he can find help and sanctuary here, even if something goes wrong in the city and after they're gone. He then turned, and quietly lead Svarik further down the lavishly decorated corridors, toward their path to Garnet's laboratory.

[Mirach]

Svarik followed him with Xia in his arms.

[VisAnastasis]

They soon reached a room downstairs, that looked quite impressive - full of various alchemy equipment and lot of glowing objects in bottles all over the shelves on the walls. It had strong pleasant scent of various of herbs, packed together, all over the countless boxes and chests on both walls and along floor line. It was spacious, and there was lot of air.

And at a table aside, in concentration over something closely, king could see a blonde haired maiden, dressed with peculiar clothing, having her hands full in some kind of experiment with a glowing substance. She probably noticed them, but did not feel need to address them without being addressed first, as it was probable people would often come by just to watch her work.  

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/9b/0b/eb/9b0beb3ed29b9a709244859efcb1b0ff.jpg 

[Mirach]

"Greetings," Svarik bowed politely. "Hans said that you would like the recipe for the tea. We could make it together, if you allow us to use some of your equipment."