Thread: Adventure Horizon~{KayLove&GrinningGentlman}

Nothing could invigorate a lone traveler, than the sound of celebration. Tireless eyes had gazed towards the fires, with a glow of joy, as well as excitement. The normal traveling pace, had been tuned, and his step made a run, as he rushed towards the celebration. The last few days, his travels had been uneventful, and his adventurous heart, longed for company. Company, he would soon find, in the small village of Nox. He knew nothing of this village, but entered it with a wide smile, and open heart. He wanted to learn, what he did not know. Wanted to see, what he'd not seen before. Wanted to feel, what he'd once again forgotten. Nox opened her arms to him, letting him embrace the celebration of a village by her name, finding joy under her moon. Asking the villagers, not even all of them knew that they were also named after a God, as well as the powerful flowers. The village embraced him, not only as a guest, but a valuable friends. He gathered crowds, telling stories about the mysterious God, their village had also been named by. He joined crowds, dancing hours on end, romancing, flirting with the local girls, as enchanted by his smile, and steps, as he was by their open, joyous hearts. He felt welcome, as he'd done before. Something he'd never be tired of. The mysterious man, was appreciated for exactly that. He had powder, that invigorated their bonfires, causing it to lick the night's shadows even harder. He had wine they never tasted, that sweetly soothed the elder's throats. And he shared everything he had, freely, like they were all his friends, and demanded no payment for what he gave. This generosity, made him part of the family, and brought him deep into the celebration. He even met someone they called a 'blessed one'. That this culture could consider someone, who would possibly become an outcast in other cities, a blessed one, was magical to the mysterious man. He allowed the blind girl to touch him, to know him, and the way she could ignore the scars she carried, and still smile and giggle like any other girl her age, was a blessing in itself to behold. The man spent the rest of his evening with this girl, making her feel as special as she was to him. This blessed them both, with a night neither of them would forget soon. The morning after the celebrations, the man would take his departure, to many's displeasure. He claimed to have places to be, and thanked the village many times for their hospitality. He tried to thankfully decline the gifts he was offered, but the villagers insisted to repay him for the wine he'd shared. He received foods, and drinks, for several nights ahead, as well as a good bundle of the magnificent flowers they were known for. He was also taught how to use them, in various ways, and he thanked them many fold for this blessing. There was always a side of him that hurt, when taking his leave and saying goodbye to the ones he learned to love. For his big heart, had found a place for the little village, named after the Goddess of the Night. The worst was the farewell, to the muse of the late evening. The young woman, scarred and blinded by her past, but still smiling with her present. He left her, with a kiss on a scarred cheek, and the words Never change.. You are the most beautiful woman, I've seen in ages, and you warmed a cold heart tonight. Never change. Once again, this mysterious man left another beautiful place in his wake. He left, them both richer with a new experience. The reason for this rushed departure, was the stories of a 'Haunted Temple'. A place few would tread. Many stories of a mysterious figure, appearing and then disappearing from the Temple again. To some, it was not as much fear, as it was respect, not wanting to tresspas on this creatures home. They had not said it directly, but the traveller felt he knew why. They thought the figure linked, with the forgotten gods. Either a messenger, or the remnants of a God's manifestation. His adventureros heart, could not ignore a tale like this. A meeting with a manifestation of a God? If Ancient Ruins were not exciting enough, that meeting was enough to lure the traveller towards any horizon. Arriving at the Temple, he could see several connections, with old Gods he'd heard, and read about before. The most evident of this, the Goddess of Night Nox. Not really a surprise, but still made the man smile proudly at his own insight. He walked the steps with a mixture of excitement, and pride. Once again, he braved new grounds, left, forgotten and feared by so many others. Brown eyes ran over the many broken solaps, and dented surfaces, of the old Ruins. With slow, respectful steps, he walked up the platformed entrance, eyes focused on the shape standing out the most. A beautifully crafted, and maintained, statue. His brown eyes widened, with every step he took towards the creation. Beautiful. The details was enchanting, and almost unbelievable, to a very non artistic person. He'd often wished, that he'd been artistically creative himself, but never felt he had to the time to practice. He had 'things to see, and places to be' as he'd said so often to himself, and others. The lightly armored man, crouched down before the statue, once he was within reach of it. His eyes was enthralled, as they looked over every inch, and crevice of the statue. As he had done so many times before, he lived himself into the life an artifact might have lived. Imagining what it would have seen. Experienced. That is were his joy for old things came. The many things they must've seen. The man reached out a hand, placing delicate, gentle fingers on the statue's cheek, tilting his head down to see it's face. What birthed the pain, that made you kneel in such melancholy? Did you watch your home crumble, while you remained intact? And how did you manage this? To maintain this beauty, while the walls around you took the hits of history? The man whispered. The first symptom of loneliness. The man always did this. Asked objects, what they'd seen. He never expected an answer, but always hoped for one. He wanted to know. He wanted to hear. He wanted to learn. The man smiled, as he stroked one of her horns, before reaching into a small pouch on his belt. Out, he brought a Noxentine, looking back to the statue with a smile. This is for you. He whispered again, placing the small flower in the small hole between the statue's hand, and lowered head, making sure it would stay, grabbing her hand afterwards, stroking it with his thumb. I leave it with you, asking for an invitation into your home. Promise, I will not take anything from her. It will leave it, as I find it. He whispered, before raising to his feet, letting go of the statues hand. Man had called him 'crazy' before, talking to inanimate objects. But it eased him, whenever stepping onto someone else's grounds. Now, he felt like he'd asked permission, and that he wasn't just invading. He placed a hand on the statue's shoulder on his way past it, as he braved the dark temple, bringing out a torch-like object from his bag, heading into the dark of the Temple. Half way through the day, a group of Scavenger's arrived. Half drunk, throwing their empty bottles around, like the world was their trashcan. They did not speak to the statue, as most of them passed it, two of them remaining to keep a lookout. They were as surprised by the undamaged statue, as the man before had been, but respected nothing. Instead, they brought out pain, as well as pencils from their bags, starting to draw the most outrageous, vulgar drawings on the stone, laughing at their own malice, as they destroyed an object of beauty, hoping to leave it worse for any other visitors. They'd heard the stories from the little village as well, which had probably fueled their destructive hearts, knowing this was a Temple for old Gods. People like this, cared so little for History, and found pleasure in destroying, what had been precious to others. The Lookouts didnt get much more than an hour, spent on drawing and splashing paint over the statue, before the group that had entered the Temple, came running out. Their fleeting feet, was followed by a thunderous roar, ripping through the silence of the dark Temple. One of the men had been badly bruised, holding a hand to his aching face, as they met up with the lookouts. As they did, a figure appeared in the doorway, slowly making his way down the steps. The figure was just the man from earlier, but the men whod been running, clearly had more respect for him, than as a simple man. The freak is a shapeshifter.. Fucking tossed Alak through the room, with one punch.. One of the men groaned, snarling towards the man who slowly approached. Whats his problem? One of the lookouts asked, looking over Alaks bruises. I dont fucking know. We met him a few rooms in, just looking over some things.. He seemed content to ignore us, until Alak broke a vase Didnt even look valuable, or anything.. The man complained, starting to back away from the man who was approaching them. Whats your problem? What gives you the right to claim this place, huh? One of the lookouts shouted at the man, who still slowly approached. The man just stared him down, before looking to the statue, eyes widening. The mans grip on his sword tightened, as his eyes darted back to the lookouts. Leave Leave this place, and dont ever come back! The travelers voice, was no longer the sweet, gentle one, the village and the statue knew. It was a grumbling roar, with an intimidating tone that would cause even the fiercest of warriors to falter for a second. And the Scavengers did, stepping back slightly, keeping the distance that was now between them. The lookout whod called him out, looked to the statue with a grunt. Dont like our alterations? Pitty.. Think it improves on the piece.. Suit yourself, fucker.. We got what we came here for, anyway.. Our score is big enough already, dont need whatever this stupid temple holds.. The man shouted, continuing to walk backwards, before turning around to set a fast pace away. The others followed. The traveller didnt stop walking, until standing right next to the statue, glaring in the direction of the Scavengers. Closing his eyes, he shook his head, before looking back down to the statue. Filthy Scavengers.. Wretches. I almost pity them.. Theyll never see true beauty.. A sad existence.. The man whispered to himself, before sheathing his weapon, looking over the statue a little closer, with another shake of his head. What did they do to you? Erh.. He whispered solemnly, as he moved a hand to gently stroke over some paint on the statues hand. The paint was waterproof. The man sighed, standing back up as he looked towards the river. Dont worry.. Ill get you fixed up again. He promised, looking to the statue for a moment, with a smile, before heading towards the river. The man came back with three canisters in arms, crouching down in front of the statue, bringing out a piece of cloth, and another small canister of some sort of liquid. The liquid was a soap, created to remove paint like this. He always carried things like this, having learned through experience, the destructiveness of lesser men. This was not the first time, he sat down to clean an ancient artifact. The man was kind, and gentle with the stone. Neither the liquid, or the coarse surface of the cloth, would damage the stone in any way, but it cleared the paint easily. Like water, being swiped away by a piece of cloth. The man was thorough, and almost treated the stone like a person, making sure to be both gentle, and humble, as he washed away the sins of others. Many hours were spent like this, and the sun was nearing the horizon, when the traveller finally took a step back from the statue, looking over his work. The man smiled to himself, nodding a single time. There.. Good as new. He whispered, before noticing that the flower had been dropped to the ground, and squashed. Again, the man rolled his eyes at the sins of others, before crouching down, handing the statue a new flower. Beautiful flower, for a beautiful girl The man grinned at his own hints at insanity, before finally stepping away from the inanimate object. The man spent the last hours of sunlight, preparing a campfire, just down the stairs, and to the left of the platform for the statue. Here, he sat at the fire, roasting a piece of meat hed salted a few days back, keeping it good till now. Having himself his dinner, he lay down to rest, just as the sun disappeared in the distance. He smiled to himself. Another day, well spent.