Svarik and the company I :)

[VisAnastasis]

" I could listen to the people's voices, and tell you if some of them mentions the hour, or if it's time for lunch, if it's alright. " Willow offered kindly.
" Are you two sure, sire? " Erdel bit his lip, seeming to be somewhat uncomfortable, guessing reasons behind Svarik's decision. " I am alright, really. You need not spare me. You wanted to go through lot of the land, to travel, meet lots of people, and rest... I am meant to protect you, not hinder you. Would you not prefer us to continue the journey now that morning came? "he bid, seeming to be rather weighted down with fear that he may be a burden to Svarik, as since he came, he seemed to have only worried the meadow king.

[Mirach]

"Staying here makes me feeling better too, you are not the only one in that," Svarik smiled slightly. "We spent a long time in the fortress filled with miasma, and don't have any more White's flowers. I think we will all feel better during the rest of the trip if we stay here a bit longer."

[VisAnastasis]

" I see.. Alright then. I apologize for questioning you, sire... " vampire replied shyly, and nodded lightly with some respect and relief both. With that reassurance that it's helping Svarik feel better, and that king doesn't only stay for demon's own sake, seemed to significantly improve his mood as well. He seemed to genuinely feel better as he observed how more relaxed and at ease everyone were here, despite he was glancing more often at their peculiar host Willow, frowning a little at creature's ill flesh and skin overground with bark, as if wondering what he had missed and why he looks so sick, and why it's treated as not a big deal. He did not ask questions, though, and stayed his distance whenever asked to, just like Willow in turn never asked them anything against their will to say, not inquiring either about their histories, how they all met, miasma their mentioned, or obvious fact vampire was addressing Svarik as royalty and one above himself - respecting their privacy and life choices like they respected his.

[Mirach]

Svarik enjoyed playing with Xia and the other animals in the candy land, and encouraged them to go to Erdel as well.

[VisAnastasis]

They didn't need to be told twice - as, besides Svarik, Erdel was the caretaker they spent most time with, and that looked after them very well, so they felt safe with him, playing with him, and running around him freely, biting his fingers or clawing him to climb up his clothes until he would chuckle at their efforts and caress them and play with them.
From that point on, they spent a rather carefree couple of hours, until Willow a little reluctantly, but obeying their wish, informed them that he believes it's around noon time.

[Mirach]

"We will have to say goodbye then," Svarik said regretfully. "It has been very nice to meet you, Willow, and San as well. Thank you for the nice time we spent with you..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It's been a while since I've met such a diverse group as yours, little one, and it ended up without a bruise or two on my end, and you are all very easy going like me, so for that, I am thankful San led you to me. " Willow grinned kindly. Despite his gentle words, he was probably going to miss them as he grew fond of them, so he reached across his barked face, as if drying tear that wasn't there on the surface. " Before you leave, I would like to bid you one thing, though, if I may, little child of men. " he asked more seriously. " You offered to send messages to some of my friends to outer world, if I have some. I told you the truth - Spirits and Yokai both frown down upon me since war started, and I have no friends anymore. Still, there are some people of whom I often wonder, and I see you have the eyes of a Spirit, and blood of both Sun and Earth Spirits in your veins - do you perhaps know some more Spirits? I have no messages to send, but if you're willing, I'd gladly make a deal with you to learn some news about Spirits you know, for I may happen to know some of them, as I knew many kind critters on both sides once. "

[Mirach]

"Yes, I actually know quite a lot of spirits," Svarik confirmed. " Tell me which ones would you like to know about, and I can tell you if I know them, or ask those I know if I don't."

[VisAnastasis]

" I guess I know too many of them for you to know them all... But even if you'd recognize one name, it would mean much to me. If you know none, thought, I'd bid you to forget the old sentimental demon for asking and not let my unanswered questions trouble you. " Willow smiled faintly at him, and nodded head to him with respect, before he began to list names of Spirits he desired to know news of, trying  not to sound too greedy by asking too much, but intently watching for any sign of recognition in Svarik's eyes - and there were around twenty or so names that Svarik did not know of, but there were some that he actually heard of - Death, Solstice, Gaia, and Two headed Raven were on Willow's list.

[Mirach]

Svarik told him about those he know or heard of, and what he knew of their fates since the beginning of the war until present.

[VisAnastasis]

Willow listened intently, paying head to each word, despite not letting it show on the outside, listening with the bathed breath. He was especially pleased to hear about Solstice being well and being proclaimed next King of Spirits, as God of Sun was probably well loved once by both sides, and loved by many surviving loners still, for his warm personality and strong character. He accepted little news of Gaia as probably being alright without complaints, thankful war did not seem to touch her at least, by what king knew - but news about Death and Two headed Raven seemed to touch a painful string, and he seemed saddened to learn more of it, but nodded thankfully when king ended his speech none the less.

" I didn't know Ravi as well as some, but he was always nice to be around - he respected out kin very much, that one, and did his best to help keep up good will and warm connections between our two kinds. I am sad to hear he had done all those ill things afterwards, or that he desired to kill Death. We all loved the young black feathered lad, he was a real charmer, and he sought to understand us instead of judge us. " he whispered quietly. " Before the war, I never thought I could, but I guess I understand how fate led him to despite Death so much, though. When I heard of Death's fairies demise, I was heartbroken. I yet knew not he killed our King afterwards, and I rushed to Death's palace, hoping to learn more, to help him deal with his grief... But all that I found were armed forces that insulted me most foully and tried to kill me in cold blood, even thought I swore I meant no harm... Unarmed, I was... I barely escaped with my life, and had had to run since... " he shook his head with some sadness. " My feelings are confusing.. I am glad, still, I think, that he has that human offspring that loves him so dearly and tries to help him. " he brought himself to smile a little. " At least something in this terrors worked out for someone I knew.... "

[Mirach]

"Death *is* confusing," Svarik said. "He is quite a mystery to me. I don't think anyone can actually guess what he thinks or what his reasons are. Maybe not even himself, since he lost a layer of his soul..." he continued thoughtfully, as the thought just occured to him. "It may have changed him somehow, so that his past actions don't make sense to him anymore..."

[VisAnastasis]

" He lost a layer of his soul, yes? " Willow repeated wonderingly. " Then.... I am even more glad he has a human offspring knowledgeable in the ways of soul healing to look after him. I can not guess his thoughts from back then and if he's changed, but I can say as much as - people do awful things when in grief. And you must understand - I am not blind enough to claim it was only one thing that prompted him to start a war. He had been a king, and he had seen lot of the ugliest parts of us, the most awful crimes, the most defiant souls... It is drop by drop that fills the glass of anger until it boils down, and when he at last reacted, he reacted out of rage and grief. I do not justify, but as a Yokai, I can understand that. When you feel something, you have to act by it, it is known, but I'm only grieved myself he reacted in such way. If you are his friend, still... Please, look after him. " despite his try to sound indifferent, his lip did tremble with feelings, as he in the past seemed to have looked up to Death and respected and admired him deeply, and not even suffering he had been through could quite erase love of a Yokai, once it takes root. " When part of your soul is lost, you lose everything that was engraved into it... The memories, the feelings, the scars... It's just one layer lost, but still, it's such a vast soul of his, that it's a huge loss. It's a very deep and throughout cut, and it can damage you deeply if not healed properly. The pain of having to live like that must be terrifying... His soul never rests, it's always wavering with souls of the dead, and it must be always hurting. " he shook his head with grief. " And pain, constant pain can corrupt anyone, little one, and you don't want the force of Death to end up corrupted. Look after him. It would be in your interest, anyway, to help him, since you will sooner or later die in any case, little human. You don't... want personification of Death itself... the most soulful healing force in the universe.... to corrupt... "

[Mirach]

"That really wouldn't be good," Svarik said gravely. "Nammy is doing what he can to help him..."

[VisAnastasis]

" If he's as secretive and withdrawn person as he was when I knew him, as much outside help as possible would be welcome, because usually, little of it works. He has high sense of privacy - and he is an introverted person, like your kind little friend Erdel. " Willow whispered quietly. " I hope, from your words, that he had changed at least in that regard - because he's going to need all help he can get... Even if it's just tiredness, for someone like him, it's alarming sign of weakness, something that shouldn't be possible or normal... A grave and bad omen... Do not share his weakness with just any Spirit or Yokai, little one. Only those you feel may help. Many Yokai I knew of would gladly use it to harm him. Nobody with ill thoughts should know he is vulnerable now. To be honest, even I am not sure what I would do if I had seen him weak - for my desire to see him and love for him is as strong as wrath I feel, naturally. "

[Mirach]

"I only told you because you can't get out of here," Svarik admitted. "He really is very withdrawn, it is hard to help him."

[VisAnastasis]

" Even if I could, I wouldn't leave San, so I guess it was a good call. Still, you forgot that not all those I know can't leave this place. You clues have not about real numbers of inhabitants here, remember, and I'm not as powerless as to not be able to share around the news I learned from you. " Willow noted, not harshly, but with strange gentle bemused tone. He bowed his head to king not with mockery, but with some note of amused  respect. " Be more careful in future with whom you share those grave news... But I thank thee for thy trust, and I like you, and I loved Death dearly once in a time long passed, so I shan't betray it in this case. If you would be willing, though, I would like to make a little deal with you in his name, if you'd be kind enough, little human. "

[Mirach]

"Erdel, can you please stop me when you next time see I'm potencially compromising someone we know? It seems I'm too trusting and it always turns alright in the end, but maybe once it may not..." he smiled sadly. "Thank you for not taking advantage," he turned to Willow. "What deal would you like to make for it?"

[VisAnastasis]

" You don't seem to have particularly strong sense of self preservation. I find it charming, actually, but someone who suffered more than me at Death's hands may not be so forgiving. " Willow bemused quietly. " And I'd like to make a deal with you, and for that, I'd like you to follow me back to one of my own pocket dimensions. Before that, though... " he smiled a little, observing the vibrant trembling environment. " I think San would like you to pick up some sweets from here. She feels how much you liked some of the goodies, and I deem she'd be content if you'd pick out some of the things you liked, and take it with you, for your trip. I usually have no custom to offer such things, but I'd be pleased if you took with you a few treats. "

[Mirach]

"Alright, if it pleases her," Svarik smiled, and picked a few sweets for himself, but mostly those that Xia liked best - although there were many of his glfavourites among those too.

[VisAnastasis]

When they picked up plentiful of them and packed them in a bag, Willow caressed the candy soil, and hummed something to the ground, as if he cooed with delight, while showing Sun what he desired to do most right now.

As reflection of his desire, San opened up another path to them, into a strange, but fascinating and peculiar land, with many strange giant mushrooms and plants illuminating the vast free space, with fresh, mountain air.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/e2/ad/c6/e2adc6669c1f1422d6625937dcb3caaa.jpg

[Mirach]

Svarik took the candies and followed Willow. He looked around with wonder, and only after a while he remembered to put the candies into their baggage so that he would have free hands.

[VisAnastasis]

Willow chuckled a little, seeming to grow a soft spot for Svarik with such endearing little forgetfulness, and he also seemed to appreciate sincerity of meadow king and his such open carefree enjoyment of beautiful things around them. He led them through fields of strange giant mushrooms, grass and vegetables and plants of all kinds, until he brought them to the little secluded house made within a cute fluffy edible mushroom, red and spotted, with llttle doors and windows, much like from fairy tale.

" Do wait here for a moment, please, kind little human. I will be back. " he told meadow king, and then he went inside, judging by the noises, looking for something.

[Mirach]

"Alright," Svarik nodded, and looked around the house while Willow was inside.

[VisAnastasis]

It was a lovely little calm harbor of peace, and amid the plants, there were many peculiar critters waddling around - tiny little kodamas, souls of the trees, playing around and hiding in the vegetation. They seemed to be some kinds of lower life forms of ambiguous form, not quite demons, but not quite Spirits, either, as if they were some early evolutionary form.

http://68.media.tumblr.com/292678ce33cf7979c93c8fc9d749c86f/tumblr_mp716kwIZv1rdnwxgo1_1280.png

Judging by their relative closeness to the mushroom house, they seem to have liked old demon and were drawn close to his presence, despite never allowed to touch him.

Soon, a whistle of content could be heard from the house, as demon seemed pleased to find what he was looking for. In a moment, he came out, carrying a bundle wrapped in cloth, that seemed to contain couple of jars. Quietly, and carefully, he laid it on the ground before Svarik, and then he stepped back quickly - like as they met, uncomfortable with being close to anyone, and fearful of maybe passing along his illness to others. He gestured at the bundle of the ground seriously, giving king sign to take it.