Thread: Light in Shadows (Fates and Flame)

Aezon wasnt exactly sure how to handle the abrupt stream of words that came pouring out of Kaia. He could scarcely follow everything she said, let alone get a word in edgewise. With his brows furrowed, he could only stare at her in surprise. Aezon hadnt met many strangers, but it was possible shed already said more than all of them combined. Hed never seen anyone so excitable about a chance to speak with him. It just seems like you have so much to say, Aezon countered at the end of her jabbering. Honestly, what did she expect him to do, talk over her? Now that he actually had a chance to speak, he didnt even know where to begin. Most interesting perhaps was her quick dismissal of the fact he was Shadow Tribe. He didnt expect to meet anyone who shared Oshais viewpoint of him again anytime soon, let alone the same day. The people of the Mist had more reason to hate his kind than most the Rift was practically on the doorstep of their province after all. Despite the niceties, he couldnt help but narrow his eyes at Kaias nave assumptions. I didnt bind Leiku to anything, he told her flatly. He travels with me because it is his choice. He is my friend, not my slave. He only realized after the fact that his words sounded a little harsher than intended. There was a certain level of abrasiveness that hed adapted through his dealings with people. So exchanging pleasantries would be a work in progress to say the least. Aezon pulled his attention away from the alluring girl, only to find Leiku watching him as well. Never had he been so envious of the spirits lack of communication skills. He couldnt be expected to have a conversation with the girl if he could just turn into a giant wolf and dash off into the fog. Indeed, Leiku was as content as could be to have a stranger around for once. The red insignias had vanished from his inky-black body, but his glowing scarlet eyes made him appear no less intimidating. The same could not be said for his posture, which couldnt have been more relaxed as he stretched out and lifted his head to sniff at the smell of cooked meat wafting across the damp air. Aezon wasnt quite as ready to accept the girl as his friend seemed to be, but if Leiku liked her the least he could do was put in some effort. Sorry he apologized for his tone. Im not so good at this sort of thing. I havent really had a whole lot of agreeable interactions with other people so Aezons voice trailed off. He didnt really expect her to understand his situation, nor did he really have the words to make her comprehend it. She would never be hated everywhere she went. Given her bubbly personality and obvious heritage, Aezon was sure it was quite the opposite. You were half right, he said, quickly evading the negative topic, Spirits are technically formless when they want to be. Aezon raised his hand, gesturing to Leiku. The wolf sat up and cocked his head, and just like that, his shape melted right before her very eyes. In an instant, he shrank to the size and form of a small hummingbird, which hastily fluttered over to land on Aezons pointer finger. The black bird watched Kaia with its trade-mark red eyes shed have grown familiar with enough to recognize by now. Most of them prefer to take on whatever shape they deem fitting, however. For Leiku, thats usually a wolf. But no, thats not true for all shadow spirits. Theyre usually too shy to even reveal themselves. Aezon bounced his hand up, letting Leiku flutter away to perch on a fat cattail instead. He remained in the shape of the bird for now, probably just to remain contrary to Aezons summary. The spirit always did seem to have a stubbornly ironic sense of personality. Though I have to admit, Aezon started, Im surprised youve never seen a spirit before. Ive heard Radiance is full of Light spirits. Thats part of what gives the city its glow. Not that they would ever let me through the city walls to see it myself. Aezon was suddenly aware hed mimicked her mistake, presuming things he clearly knew nothing about. You know he stammered, running a hand through his shaggy black hair as he chewed on his words, Not to assume or anything but you certainly look like you came straight out of Radiance. Why you would ditch the capital city and come down to the swamp is beyond me. I mean, those stuck-up fancy Light Ascendants are no picnic but at least you can see more than 10 feet in front of you there. Aezon forced a short awkward laugh, consciously aware hed been twice as insensitive in his attempt to brush aside his assumptions. It was probably best he stopped talking for now, he realized, as he looked upon her with a shy smile. Maybe she would just chock it up to nervousness. He did warn her he was bad at this sort of thing after all More likely she would take offense though. Perhaps by the end of the day, hed be back down to having only one friendly face left in the Mist.