Svarik and the company I :)

[VisAnastasis]

Cernunnos ate few bites of fruit here and there, not having time to eat right now, as he was too busy with meddling with something by the fire, hurrying to finish on time of their leave. By the time king finished with the tasty food, he was pleased to have managed to make an extra doze of tea for Xia, which he filled into the same cup as yesterday that she could drink from on her own, and a special tea for Svarik to which king could feel his senses were drawn to, as it smelled rather nice and pleasant, despite having some strange pinkish bluish color, sprinkled with petals of a forget-me-not flowers.
" I promised you tea. This is for humans. It will help. " he just said kindly, and poured Svarik a generous cup, being pleased to have been able to do it on time, but a little embarrassed as he did that, too, as his hands were shaking a little and he spilled a bit of the tea as he was doing so.

[Mirach]

"You also make a tea for humans?" Svarik asked. "Thank you, I will gladly try it. Emil taught me your recipe for the tea for yokai yesterday. It's very nice..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, he did? I am pleased, then. Your little Xia and your friend Erdel could have good use of that tea, to help them grow up healthy. " Creature smiled suddenly, as in sank into the armchair again faintly, right now having nothing to do as the tasty rabbit meal was cooling down a little so he couldn't pack it for the journey just yet. " It's actually not as hard as it may sound to make, it's just not as strong when it's for humans - I still haven't figured out universal formula. But of course I tried to figure it out in my time. I just love you humans, you guys are so lovely, I always wished you well." he shared his knowledge with eager joy, though with some timidness. " With humans, each tea is crafted individually. But there is a tea that pleases demons, and then there is another tea that pleases spirits; and humans are just in the middle of the scale. Trick with making human tea, is finding out which particular person is closer to on scale, spirit or demon, then making them that tea, and adding few additional herbs that enhances niceness for them. You are, with permission, so obviously leaning to the Spirit side of the wheel, kind little prince - I just made you a tea that would please a Spirit, and then added a few extra nice herbs, just for you. I fear it is not my best work - but it's to no wonder, little one; as each human tea formula is made for specific individual, I would have needed to get to know you must longer than a few days, alas, to perfect it; but I judge and hope you would find it feels nice none the less.... "

[Mirach]

"It will not make me sleep though?" Svarik wanted to assure. "And the one you made Xia and Erdel now, is the recipe a bit different, or just the dose weaker?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Just make you feel nice. " demon reassured him shyly, his look growing somehow absent as he spoke now. " I am glad if tea Emil made you made your lovely friends fall asleep... But lot of conditions need to be met, for that outcome. Safe environment, lack of fear, trust in people around you.. I can no longer fall asleep even from strongest dozes. But it is true - what I have made for thee, is a doze weaker; for I have promised to myself never to intentionally make them as strong as to make anyone fall asleep, whether Demon, Spirit, or Human. It is too big power to have - to make someone so fully defenseless before you. " his lip twitched a little, as some shadow of some dark memory passed across his eyes. " I don't want that for anyone, and I do that not anymore. "

[Mirach]

Svarik just nodded, not pressing the apparently unpleasant memory, knowing well how it feels to be defenseless. "I'm glad I can taste your tea as well. I must amit I was curious about it when making it for Xia and Erdel..." he said, smelling the tea first and then tasting it.

[VisAnastasis]

" This one is a variation on tea for Spirits, as I said, made to please humans. Adapted demon tea wouldn't do you any good, little prince, with your rosy fragrant soul. " Cernunnos exclaimed shyly and gently. " You are, what you humans would probably say, deeming us unsavory and Spirits pure - you are very sweet and pure, little prince. Nature of Spirits is strong within you. Drink, please - it will do you well. "

Indeed, it was as old lovely demon said -  as tea rang pleasantly within Svarik's soul, occupying his senses; and it made him feel a little dizzy and weak from pleasure, but also, very nourished and content. Most of all, a little bit like White's waters, but without pain or intrusion of intimacy, it made him feel protected and safe, and it seemed to be designed to make the soul relax and let go of stress and uneasiness, and after stress of the last days before the trip, it was a welcomed change.

[Mirach]

"That's nice..." Svarik murmured, closing his eyes. "And you feel very nice..."

[VisAnastasis]

" You flatter me. I am happy to please. I am very much obliged, my young guest... " demon said shyly, with his weary gray drawing blanket he was covering himself with closer over his face, as if trying to adorably hide himself with it so king couldn't see how flustered he is. " We have not enough time now, but I want you to feel nice. Some of those herbs needed for human tee are more rarer and harder to find, but you promised to come back by the end of your trip.. If you do, and if you bring me ink and parchment like you promised, I'll write you down the recipe, and give you a heap of some of the rarer herbs, for you, little one, if you do come. "

[Mirach]

"I will," Svarik promised, smiling with the nice and relaxing feeling that spread through his body. With that relaxed sensation, he obeyed a sudden impulse and embraced the old demon. 

[VisAnastasis]

Such gesture was unexpected, and creature seemed at loss and tense for a moment, not daring to move.
" E..easy there, little one.. I could have... cut you... " he stuttered, checking carefully if some of his long nails did not scratch Svarik accidentally. Seeing he did not cause him harm, and feeling Svarik's relaxation and warmth, he suddenly smiled a little then. " You need to be careful... You are soft and you are the light. I would hate to hurt you, kind little prince... " he whispered tenderly, but Svarik's warmth seemed to have encouraged him, and he slowly returned the embrace, holding him carefully and softly, like a tiny fluffy bird, mindful to make sure he feels safe in his hold. Though at first uneasy about such sudden burst of intimacy, he seemed to like its sincerity and warmth behind it, and a subtle timid joy came with it, and meadow king could smell it as a flowing fresh scent of spring, ever so soothing and pleasant, that would sneak its way into the air when Demon was content.

[Mirach]

Svarik seemed to realize what he was doing then. "Sorry if I overstepped a boundary..." he murmured, but still continued enjoying the embrace together with the relaxed feeling from the tea and for the pleasure it caused to Cernunnos.

[VisAnastasis]

" I try to make a habit of not getting angry at younglings over such silly things... Younglings are too important to be berated over such things from us grown ups, little one... " Cernunnos replied softly, and hesitantly he passed over Svarik's back with his elegant fingers, in timid caress. Also, as if in subconscious protectiveness, in some distant way reminiscing one of Melody, he cradled him very lightly without even seeming to realize he's doing it, responding to eased waves of king's emotions and enjoying to mirror its pattern, and he covered king front side with the blanket he was wrapped in, as if in desire to keep him warm and at ease.

[Mirach]

"I'm sorry for having to leave..." Svarik sighed regretfully. "I don't really want to right now..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, but I do want you to leave, little one... " creature chuckled a little, its laugh a little wistful, but sparkling with sprinkled gentleness and grace like a spring of fresh mountain water. " If you'd linger in my shadow too long, you would certainly grow ill. It would not please me. Asking you to stay any longer, it would be selfish of me... And selfish I am not... To leave, it will do you most well, I know... " creature whispered gently, but it embraced Svarik closer, as if trying to both reassure him, and to hold onto a precious little memory of king's warmth, to keep him warm when he remains alone anew.

[Mirach]

"I know..." Svarik sighed. "We should go, right? But we will return..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It will do you good to be away from here. I would be pleased if you left now.... " creature brought itself to say with some difficulty, and his voice was hoarse and a little vulnerable, as saying such a sweet white lie fell hardly upon someone so terribly lonely and isolated. He still was being of great power, as he still brought himself to gather all his strength to smile faintly at king as he slowly let go of the hug. " Do you have any quick parting questions for me, little prince, still? If so, now may be best bet to ask them. Thanks to your company and care, my soul is brighter and thoughts of my own are clearer - but alas, it is winter, and I am creature of summer. My mind often goes wondering in this times of year when I am weakest, and I lose myself. If you have any questions urgent, I urge you to ask them now, when I can trust my mind to give you best answers... "

[Mirach]

Svarik sighed, knowing they really have to leave now. "No quick questions," he said. "A proper talk, when we are passing here on the way back. Alright?"

[VisAnastasis]

" A proper talk on the way back... " Cernunnos repeated quietly, as if trying to reassure himself about it - to reassure himself that, with lingering effects of Svarik's music, he hopefully won't grow worse in following days that much. " I hope I will be able to provide it to you, little one, but I can make no promises. This year's long night has taken a big toll on me. My thoughts waver and I often lose them." he said quietly. Then, he narrowed his eyes a little thoughtfully at king, and after some thinking, he plucked out two emerald strands of his own hair, and quietly offered them to meadow king. " I do know not when your travel will end, and I can not follow well all what happens in my forest at winter. Please, take this, for the sake of my peace. I wish to know if you are safe - so when you go out of my reach, before you go to slumber tonight, burn down one of those stands of my hair, as a sign to me that you are alright. I wish to know when you will come back too, so day before you are to come back to me, burn down the remaining hair, so I may know in advance, and hopefully be of enough strength of mind to make you a nice meal again. " he smiled a little, before his face grew more serious. " However... If you happen not to make it out of the forest somehow, and find yourself in trouble from things that lurk in it.. bad dark things... Throw both strands into the river or beat it into the ground, little one. I can not do much for you from here, but hopefully I can do enough to buy you little of time, so you can flee and fly away... Do not fight - just run, please... And when you can, take a bath, please. " he suddenly grimaced a little sadly, as he tried to add with some grieved humor. " You shouldn't have hugged me.. You have my stench all over you. Should get rid of it, little prince, as soon as you can, just in case. You can never be too careful around here. Emil can give you spare pair of clothes, if you wish. Maybe some snack,too... "

[Mirach]

"I'm sorry for causing you more worries..." Svarik apologized. "We will be out of the woods quickly. We will fly straight to the south, high and without stopping, and when we are safe, I will let you know with your hair."

[VisAnastasis]

" If you don't accidentally get the hair strands wet when there's no danger around, or if you burn them but don't come in time - I will do my best to try to trust you and your friends to keep each others safe. " Forest God said gently, and he laid his hand lightly on top of Svarik's head absently, as if in some kind of archaic greeting or blessing gesture. " In any case, I will bid you to please do destroy them in any case, should you for some reason have to go home before coming back to me. You seem to know many Spirits there, and I want not anyone ill to scent my essence upon you. It is best for both of us. Before you go... I'd just like to ask few important, small, small quick questions... Has Emil been good to you? Is he doing well? Did he teach you word *yokai* for my sake? And are your tiny kitten and fox okay? They'd have grown ill if they stayed, but I have so longed to know of their being since I met them. " he suddenly blushed with sentiments. " I would have offered to answer a question back for each of the questions you answer yourself, like when we met.. But our time is ending and I see old traditions are pretty worn out on your generation... And I can just ask what interests me just so, directly, right?  That is the arrangement? "

[Mirach]

"Yes, you can ask whatever interests you," Svarik smiled. "Unless you would prefer to keep the tradition... Emil has been very kind to us. He is well, but misses you. He has been taking care of Yiska and Sunshine for all the time we are here, so they are very well with his care, too. And yes, he did teach me the word 'yokai'. I did not know any other term but demon, and I had no idea that term was disrespectful... I'm sorry for using it before. And don't worry, I will not carry your hair to any spirit. I will not endanger you or Emil in any way, I promise."

[VisAnastasis]

Creature was nodding lightly, seeming delighted to get a little glimpse into what his son was doing, despite he had chosen to see him so rarely, trying to protect him from getting ill, having to be the one that drawn the line just by that cruel twist of fate that kept them from enjoying each other's company despite their love and respect for each other was immense.

" It used to make me angry and displeased.. When they called me like that, in the past." he said instead of asking of Emil further, as if he tried to ignore the reminded that boy missed him. " But with the time, I came to accept that it didn't matter how we were called - sooner or later, any term for us would before offensive either way. You could call us *sunshine men*, and sooner than you know it, sunshine would become a bad word. " creature just smiled tamely and sadly, before adding timidly. " We have a really bad reputation, and when in every land you travel in you're but a homeless refugee of war trying to find your place, not a carefree traveler, you are not exactly keen on fixing that reputation, only on trying to get by by all means you have. All I am saying, Spirits hunted down so many of us, some on straightforward by force, some on far less noble ways than they will ever care to admit to you, little prince. I ask from you to not show any Spirit my hair for a good reason. I pale at a thought some more radical or cruel among them may torture or hurt you in desire to find me. That's why nothing I gave you expect this hair is something Spirits could recognize as mine. Gloves are of rabbit skin, book is of parchment, and bearing the fruits that I gave thee is trait I inherited from my grandmother Gaia and bears her scent instead. I was careful, very careful, not to endanger you, so bad people won't come after you. " he gulped, as his voice wavered with some fear at last words. " I wouldn't have asked thee to take my hair now, either, had I not been terrified of living in fear for your lives in next weeks until I see you again. Wondering if you're alive or not would be... Terrible. So many that visited me once have never returned the second time even if they promised, and it always left me anxious and grieving, for I never knew. I'd just like to know you're safe at least, your two tiny animals, your two precious youngling friends, and you, kind little prince... "

[Mirach]

"I really don't want to cause you more worries," Svarik said gently. "Neither to those people waiting for my return at home. I've caused them more than enough worries already. But there is actually a question I would like to ask before we leave... You are so good with animals, maybe you would have some advice. My friend has a falcon that he cares for very much. But he got attacked, and the falcon got hurt very badly. It was dying, but Erdel saved it. He was there, he can tell you more... But when it was healed, the falcon flew away, and would not return to my friend's call. Do you think there is something we can do to help? Or is waiting our only hope?"

[VisAnastasis]

" It flew away right  after being healer after being on the verge of death? Hm... " Forest God grew more thoughtful, intriguing question distracting him from sadness of their parting. He turned to Erdel with interest. " Please. do tell me more, my dear guest.. "

He listened intently while former soldier spoke shyly about the event, often asking little questions to make sure of details. In the end, he shook his head.

" I can not know for certain. But I do have to warn you that the passing form of vampire, that half form between human and demon, is greatly different from your current one. What you could do with ease as vampire, such as that healing, can come to you with some difficulty now, because then it was the one sole thing your limited nature seemed to have allowed you. You are now whole, not torn between two worlds, and with it, comes lot of place for exploring and discovery. " He eased into his conclusion slowly, as if a little fearful he will upset Erdel if he just jumps into it. You are full of potential - I am sure, you'll develop many talents. Who knows how the demon that turned you fully put you together, and what he had enhanced within you. It will take time to master it, and to figure out your own blessing.. "

" Did I hurt her instead of help? Does that mean I won't be able to heal anymore like I used to? " Erdel asked tensely, as evading subject didn't seem to be making him particularly calm. " Please, tell me, is there anything I can do? I need to know... "

" Well, you did heal that little fluff, for certain, and she would be dead without you, and that's very nice of you... But, hm... I think you probably turned her into... something else. A low ranked animal demon, nothing special, a simple familiar, most likely. Please, do not be upset. I am sure you'll handle it with time. I am not certain it happened - but lot of signs are there. You both were hurt and your blood mixed, it was on verge of death and you said her heart stopped beating for a moment, and you desperately wished to save it for your friend... It can happen. You only have to be more careful, so it won't happen on accident again, if I am right and it did happen. When you heal, you accept the pain of one you heal, and you pour your empathy within them, taking their toll upon yourself so fiercely it hurts you in turn. It's a hard thing to do, to go against self preserving. I just imagine you by accident poured a little too much of yourself in someone else this one time. We demons must be more careful than Spirits, because Spirits and humans both breathe oxygen, and we do not, so turning to demon tends to be much more painful and gradual. Always have measure, be more careful when basically what you do is reviving someone who is more gone than not... And do not bite anything you're not ready to kill if needed. Follow those, and you should be safer. As for the bird... If I am mistaken and she's not turned, only under stress, you should leave her alone none the less. If she wants to come back, she will, if she does not, she won't return. It's her choice. That is how it should be with every living creature. "